On declaring your nominal friends as 'non performing assets'.

In a world replete with manipulators and Svengalis, it becomes imperative to measures the value of friendships. A real friendship signifies a relationship where both parties are equally benefitted by virtue of the relationship. Friendship, however, can turn into a lopsided relationship where the benefits accrued by one party outweigh the benefits accrued by the other. This is where the party (hereinafter "affected") whose costs go up and returns go down as a result of the friendship, has to do something to salvage the friendship, and if the salvaging fails, he must (strive to) end all friendly relations with the other person to preserve his sanity.

If the affected chooses to salvage the friendship, he has to talk it out with the other person in person. The affected has to conduct an inquiry into the other person and confirm that the other person is genuinely leeching him. The other person must be given an opportunity to be heard, but the final arbiter must be the reasoning capacity of the affected. If the affected finds out that the other person was genuinely exploiting him, he must choose a semi-termination route before completely ending the relationship,

Non-Performing Asset

In economics, a non-performing asset (NPA) is a loan whose principal and interest are not repaid by the debtor in a long time. A negative term in economics, must be viewed as a quasi-negative term here, for a non-performing assets can create some returns.

An Iobovian Non-Performing Asset (hereinafter "INPA") is a person who is ceremonially your friend, but is not your real friend. An INPA could be a brutish, gaslighting, manipulating individual whose very existence repels you. However, this person and his notorious traits can be steered to your advantage if you are scrupulous enough

INPA as a Lab Rat

The affected decides to smother his relationship with the INPA for a variety of reasons. They can include, among other things, non-reciprocity, prying into the private affairs of the affected, manipulations, and in rare cases the inability of the INPA to understand their wrongdoings (Hanlon's Razor)

The affected, in return, can use the INPA, i.e. his nominal friend, as a lab rat for a while. He can perform experiments on the INPA, play the devil's advocate on matters personal and global, or even manipulate him. What the affected gains from these experiments vary.

Enter T-INPA and P-INPA

The experiments and results must be recorded for perpetual memory, and must be reviewed often. The affected has an option to keep the nominal friendship for a lifetime and keep the INPA as a permanent lab rat (hereinafter "P-INPA") or terminate the relationship with the temporary INPA (hereinafter "T-INPA). Towards the end (if the affected chooses to end the relationship for once and for all), he must create a detailed report of the test and scrutinize the same for any revelations. 

As far as T-INPAs are concerned, the final report must be kept safe somewhere and periodically reviewed and compared with itself and with existing literature or newfound literature for self-discovery (and to an extent, the understanding of human nature, because understanding the same can help the affected stave off dangers).

As to P-INPAs, there is no final report, but periodic additions to a single report that must be compared between itself, and with existing literature or newfound literature. 

Enter Dead Asset

A T-INPA, once its uses are fulfilled, must be declared a Dead Asset. The affected must disappear for once and for all from this person. The affected must also block all channels that the T-INPA can use to come back to the accused.

Conclusion

A P-INPA is preferred to a T-INPA for its dynamic and long term nature. However, curating a P-INPA can take a toll on the mental health of the affected. Besides, sometimes the P-INPA can, in the course of time, realize that they are made into a virtual lab rat and can strike back.

A T-INPA is a safer choice, but the rewards are narrow. They cannot be studied in light of the vagaries of time, and the abrupt ending of relationship and the subsequent disappearance of the affected following the experiments can make them grow suspicious and unleash a manhunt for the affected.

(On how an INPA can be curated will be featured soon)