Leave them. You can't always be nice, especially to people who don't deserve it. There are people out there that are willing to be your true friends.

It's not ok to cop it. Friends should be there for you regardless and these mates are leaving you to stand alone take the blame. Is that a mate?

It is NEVER ok to 'cop it'. These 'mates' you speak of are no mates. Find new ones!

Depends on what type of mates they are. They don't sound like very good friends. Some mates you need to leave behind in life to move forward. If they are not helping you or making you feel good, their not your mates. I would cop it in the name of friendship but stop hanging out with the so-called mates that bring you down.