The Audience says: that's a lie. Seeking "discomfort" is a hallmark of desire not rejection. And, your choice to leave is driven by the same engine that drove your choice to engage. Take this one thing with you, please:

You responded to an article saying “I need no false friends” with “fine. I don’t like you anyway.” YOU see YOURSELF as a false friend.

And now that you have responded, I do too.

You are not welcome until I am a person. Not a platform, not a cause, not a victim in need of a hero. And you get no pity for finding my refusal to be otherwise hurtful, John. I don’t need to hear about it either.

Be well, but be well elsewhere, please.

~Catherine