Originally Posted by
zlefin
is the friend willing to take some steps to make things easier on you if you ask them?
would they be willing to try to avoid upsetting you/raising their voice?
or at least willing to agree to a deal whereby all contentious topics are avoided, and if one is raised either can simply note it's contentious and it will be dropped entirely?
have you asked them whether it actually irritates them? maybe the actual irritation is something else; or they'd simply understand if you describe your problem to them.