Text message, ignore them and hope they get it, or have someone else tell you.

Through a note. I think it's a little more personal, but you don't have to do it in person. Also gives you the chance to say everything that you want without being interrupted.

Ignoring someone and constantly saying "I'm at work/busy/etc" is the worst way to do it, imho.

Worst would be ignoring and hoping they faded, though the impersonal ones are pretty harsh, and would leave that person nervous for quite a while. If one long relationship ended with a text saying we're done, the others could too

I think anything that cuts off almost all contact pre-breakup is just not a good idea. With a phone conversation, you have to at least tell them yourself, but text messaging/social network sites/someone else just rubs salt in the wound.

I think you should be a bigger person and do it face to face

Either by disappearing/ignoring them or getting a friend to do the dirty work.

I've had two breakups that were exceptionally bad: one was through text message which just made me angry at the guy's cowardice, and the other I was just ignored. I have to say being ignored is the worst because it really messes with your feelings of self worth. It also leaves questions unanswered.

Anyway not in person would be terrible

Oh I voted wrong, ignoring them is what I meant. Not knowing is the worse feeling in the world!

defiantly ignoring them is the worest

I was broken up with by being ignored and a text message, by the same guy!! I was so stupid in that relationship.

These are some of the worst ways to break up.

All of those are pretty awful. In-person is the only way I'd ever do it, unless there were extenuating circumstances like a LDR or something.

While texting or over the phone is bad, ignoring the person until they go away is the worst. That's just a coward right there.

Through any form of writing or getting someone else to do it in any way

I had one ex who did the "ignore you until you get the point" thing. It was childish and silly, but by that point I was ready to be over him anyway and gave him a verbal pat on the head for being a clever boy before I moved on to my new life.

My husband broke up with a girlfriend through email once - after trying to break up with her three times previous, both in person and over the phone. She ended up having a hysterical tantrum with screaming, crying, begging, guilt, etc. When it was over the phone she immediately went over to his house to continue the crying tantrum on his doorstep. Each time he agreed to "think about it" just to get her to shut up. When he emailed her saying it really was over, she came over and pounded on his door for over an hour, according to neighbors.

Kind of not hard to figure out why he broke up with her, is it? So while it can be a cowardly way to do it, there are situations that will be exceptions.

Ignoring does remain the worst way in my mind, though. Right up there with asking someone else to do it for you.