Hm...I've broken up with(and been broken up with) several different ways.
My usual style if things are on the rocks is to kind of allow some emotional distance occur, and then just to talk with him and end things gently. I don't want to hurt him anymore than I have to.
I've been mean only once, and it was only after I put up with 7 months of verbal abuse. It had come to the point where I absolutely could not stand to look at him for one more second of my life because he didn't deserve it. I kept my cool,, but I flat out told him that he was going to leave instantly and that I did not want to see him ever again. I told him I'd had enough of the meanness and fighting, and that he brought all the pain of the breakup on himself. Mean of me, but I had reached my breaking point. I learned from that experience(I was 17 at the time) how horrid that makes you feel, and that I will NEVER put up with anything like that again. No girl ever has to allow that to happen to herself.
Probably the hardest breakup for me was the spring of '06. I totally fell for a guy I was dating for several months, but we had a rather intense and tumultous relationship.
We were in a class at college together, and one day after class, he just blew up on me for not remembering to bring my notebook to class. So stupid a thing for him to get mad about...it didn't affect him and I didn't even need it for that particular day in class. Soo...one thing led to another...I got upset...and we spent over 2 hours in his Jeep breaking up, arguing, me crying my eyes out...the works. Finally, he made one last nasty, juvenile remark as we were talking, and he was shocked because I just coldly got up, opened the door of his Jeep, looked him in the eye and said, "Goodbye Brandon", slammed the door shut, and walked away across the parking lot in the darkness. He sat there speechless and didn't start his car until I got into mine and left. That was the only part that felt good.
h34r: I don't suggest to anyone to break up using that method. It's terribly unpleasant.
As you get older and more serious, breakups tend to become more painful and difficult. It sounds ominous, but it just comes along with the territory. lol That's why you have to learn from your mistakes early on, try to handle things maturely...and most importantly NEVER forget who you are and what you're worth.