An excerpt from a message sent this morning from a friend of 13 years:

I found it interesting that you felt that friends were pressuring you to help out with their projects. I’m on the horns of a dilemma: either hard-selling you on helping me with my company and endangering our long-held friendship, or respecting your wishes and leaving you alone.

I decided to go for the hard sell, since I’ve never really liked you that much anyways. And I’m pretty sure that none of your other friends are showing any kind of scruples whatsoever.

Sigh and grin.