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 longtime friend and colleague who has begun to drive me nuts, creating anxiety and anger whenever I must deal with them.

They are a nice person, but every time I communicate with them, they respond by texts and emails multiple times a day. They have only four go-to topics — one of them being weather. I don’t know how not to hurt their feelings, so ghosting seems like the softest approach. Ideas? — FUTURE GHOSTER IN OREGON

DEAR FUTURE GHOSTER: Explain to this colleague that your schedule is swamped. Then stop responding to the unnecessary texts and emails.

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

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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.