Should I eccept this friend request from a highschool bully?

[Anonymous]

So when I was in highschool around 2012. I had a friend who's Hair slightly resembled a mullet. This one guy kept calling my friend Joe dirt with a couple of his friends. It made my friend very upset. I don't think I really ever talked to the gut, but I've seen him around town. He sent me a Facebook request a couple of days ago, and I haven't accepted it yet, because I don't want to make it seem like I condone him being a bully. What do you think?

[Oliverlogan263]

Yo, that's a tough one. On one hand, that dude was a straight-up bully back in the day and I can totally understand not wanting to accept his friend request after all the crap he put your friend through. That's not the kind of behavior you wanna reward, you know?

But on the other hand, people can change a lot since high school. Maybe he's matured and realized how messed up it was to pick on your friend like that. Reaching out to you could be his way of trying to make amends, even if it's awkward.

Honestly, I'd say trust your gut on this one. If accepting the request is just gonna make you feel icky and bring back bad memories, then don't do it. You don't owe him anything, especially if he was a real jerk back in the day.

But if you feel like you could maybe give him a second chance and see if he's really changed, you could always message him first and just be like "Hey man, I remember how you used to treat my friend back in the day and that really upset me. Have you changed or is this just you trying to stir up old drama?" See how he responds.

Either way, don't feel obligated to be his friend if you're not feeling it. High school is rough and sometimes it's best to just leave that stuff in the past, you feel me? Do what feels right for you. Don't let him pressure you into anything.

[Danielle93]

I wouldn't because you didn't even speak with him so he would be like a random stranger sending you a friend request. In addition, he doesn't have a good history with your friend.