Dear ABBY: You often respond to a person who has been “ghosted” by a friend or relative. I have the opposite problem. I have a long-time friend and colleague who has started to drive me crazy, creating anxiety and anger whenever I have to deal with them.

I am a nice person, but every time I communicate with them, they respond by texting and emailing multiple times a day. They only have four access topics — one of them being the weather. I don’t know how not to hurt their feelings, so ghosting seems like the gentlest approach. Ideas? — FUTURE GHOSTERS IN OREGON

Dear Future Ghost: Explain to this colleague that your schedule is busy. Then stop responding to unnecessary messages and emails.

If the person asks why or what has changed, repeat that you are blocked and do not have time for personal exchanges during business hours. Period.