Sometimes in friendships one friend pisses off another through things they have said or done, I have always understood this and when I see these types of problems arise between me and friends of mine I try to open up a dialogue so that we can talk about the issue at hand and work on systems for resolving it. However there is one obstacle in combating conflict that is a hurdle I've never figured out how to jump and that is the silent treatment. I want to open up the taps so that I can find the problem and work at a solution, I don't mind being yelled and screamed at and insulted because it helps to get to the root of an issue. My friendships are very important to me and I like to save them where I can, but nothing seems able to be done if this wall can not be breached and I end up feeling like my friend never really cared about me or my friendship at all when I'm willing to take the steps to save the friendship and they are not. I do realize this may not be the way the person not talking to me at the time sees it, they may just not be able to handle the emotion of it at the moment or something. Basically what I'm asking is why do friends (or even partners I suppose.) use the silent treatment? am I too assume a friendship is over when this point is passed? What can I do to open up a dialogue?