What is your take on "friend guarding"? Have you done it or experienced it from others?

There's no such thing as "friend guarding". What there is, is manipulative, controlling, creepy behaviour.

I thought that was more of a grade school thing until I experienced it in adulthood.
Some people never grow past that phase I guess.
I remember getting my feelings hurt when I was young. You know, when your two besties that you introduced to each other are now hanging out and not inviting you.
Ouch the pains of growing up.

Sounds like elementary or middle school.

I've only experienced it once.
I have a dear friend with whom I share interests in yoga, horse riding and art.
Caroline has another friend whom she'd met 20 years earlier via the national trail riders association.

When the three of us joined a week's camp for trail riding, Cherry parked her tent beside Caroline's, her horses in a yard beside Caroline's sat with her at all meals, choosing corner positions that meant the only place left for me was some distance away. If I attempted any chat with Caroline, Cherry would interrupt.

I reacted by retreating and getting to know those who were camped beside me and my horses.

Back home, Caroline told me Cherry had been doing that ever since they'd first met.
Since then, I've avoided any situation where Cherry is likely to be present.

Sounds like the pastime of someone likely to end up kidnapping a friend and keeping them in the basement just for themselves.

Yes. I dealt with this in high school. It was toxic as fuck and I realized my friend never cared about me

yes, I've experienced something like this a long, long time ago. In my teens? It would not have been a term, and it would be light in experience. Jealousy, the idea of possessing someone for yourself can bring out strange behaviour.

Last time I saw it was in the third grade in primary school. I didn't understand then, I don't understand now.

A few times when I was a kid. Seems a little childish of an adult to do.

crazy. if someone did that to me, i would drop the friend

Never, and I’ve not seen that reference. It seems a benign term for some very unhealthy, obsessive behavior. 😳

Sounds like junior high school stuff

Another exampke of stupidity in modern society

It was me at first then I give up. Of course I am jealous at some point where they are having meeting without me. But in the end, I cannot control people. If they no longer interest to be friends with me, I gotta let go.

I’ve had boyfriends do that to me before. But as far as friendships I would happy for them and hopefully we can all be friends

Mostly this isn’t a thing , you just loose the friend- because nobody wants to be suffocated or dictated to by person who claims to be a friend.

Yep I’ve had to deal with it a few times . Some people are very clingy and possessive

My dog did that to me

Bastard

sounds nauseating

ive probably done it. it seems like a self fulfilling sort of thing