All those “cut ‘em out” articles feel like victim blaming. The advice to “just cut them out” is unhelpful for those dealing with narcissists. They won’t change their behaviors if you “just talked to them,” because radical honesty doesn’t work on narcissists. The consequences of cutting them out may be harsher than occasional tolerating their BS. One may choose instead to go “grey rock” and keep things safely superficial with them.

Thank you for this thoughtful, truthful piece. I found it comforting.