I, too, have cast out friends. It does get a bit lonely. My girlfriend is starting see things clearer just from watching the media -- which is hilarious, because even though she's not always the best critical thinker and doesn't like politics, she has a pretty decent moral compass and has developed a resistance from the mainstream media that I didn't even cultivate.

I thrive on loneliness better than most people though. I'd rather play a game, read a book, build models or develop more skills, all of which are easier when I can shut the world out with headphones and not have people taking me away from whatever I'm working on.

But it does get lonely when you turn back and see the friends you have lost or gotten rid of. It's easy to wish things had gone differently.

But we are stronger because of it; hold on fren.