[manarth]

  > the boyfriend is well within his rights to unilaterally break off the relationship.
  > But if he broached the issue with his girlfriend by saying
  > "Would you rather be just friends or simply not see each other any more?"
  > in order to distract her from the breakup, she would rightfully be resentful.

That's a tricky one, because, as you say, he can unilaterally break off the relationship. By providing options going forward, most people would see that as looking for the most positive way to move on. Who would resent that?

Unless he deliberately did that to distract from the breakup…but even then, it doesn't exactly seem all that negative. Having made the decision to break off the relationship, providing options to deal with that and offer positive ways forward doesn't seem all that bad.

For me, I'm struggling to see how the example fits. Sure, she may be upset at the breakup of the relationship, but providing options for responding to that seems more positive than negative.

I don't disagree with the principle, but the example: a relationship is based on mutual consent, and withdrawal of that consent isn't a trick or unacceptable.