How to Tell if a Friend Really Isn’t a Friend? It’s not unusual to be in a situation when you realize someone you thought of as a friend isn’t a real friend.
How to Tell if a Friend Really Isn’t a Friend?
Nevertheless that realization can be hard and make you angry with yourself. But identifying a fake friend due to their behaviors will make it easier to understand and stop ruin your friendship.
Understanding how to tell if a friend really isn’t a friend will help you move forwards and start trusting people again. Here’s a complete guide that’ll help you identify a not-so-good friend.
The Early Signs of A Fake Friend
Sometimes it seems like your friends will always support you no matter what, but at times they may be fake friends who’ll leave when they don’t get something out of you. Here are some early signs that’ll help you spot them.
1.They’re convenient.
Fake friends won’t be easier to be found than real friends; rather you yourself find them. Fake friends see you more like an easy option than a friend they can rely on. So whenever they need some kind of favor or attention, they’ll reach for you. But it’s those who’ll support and encourage you for any small achievement or situation that’ll remain your real friends as they know the worth of friendship.
2. They don’t listen.
Real friends will always listen to you and try to offer helpful advice, but you won’t feel that bond with a fake friend. Mostly they’ll never listen to whatever you talk about, and if you start talking about yourself they wouldn’t even care to listen. Also, you won’t be able to recognize when they’re unhappy because they won’t share their thoughts with you.
3. They’re contradiction personified.
Fake friends will try to contradict everything you say. If you’ll try to talk about your idea or plan, they’ll be talking against it and eventually try to make you feel it’s impossible and the things you tell don’t really make sense. This type of behavior is really seen when your fake friends come in a group and think it’s perfect to mock or tease you.
4. They’re only social when it’s convenient.
False friends won’t be as social as real friends are. They’ll only appear when they need something, or if it’ll benefit them in any way. Even when you call them, they may be happy to invite you for their plan if it’ll work for them.
But if you don’t fit their plan or satisfy their need, you won’t get response from them. And if you ask them for help they might either make an excuse or try to help you for a selfish cause.
5. They’re jealous.
This is a very common thing when it comes to fake friends and has been around since long. They’ll always talk bad about you when you shopping around and might get irritated if something doesn’t go their way. They’ll also be uncomfortable when you outstrip them when it comes to work or social standing.
6. They love drama.
Fake friends usually get mad at you and prefer to have a loud and unhappy resolution when a problem arises. This type of situation happens more if the problem is between three or more people. However, real friends talk it out and try to have a happy ending.
7. They use their friendship.
A real friend will always support and respect you at all times. On the other hand, fake friends always try to use you and take advantage of you. They don’t really care about your feelings, rather plays with it.
8. Cancellations.
No matter how busy they’re they’ll always try to make time for the people they care about. But if you notice your so-called friend often cancels their plan or appointments with you then you need to reconsider if they’re actually a real friend.
Concluding Your Friendship
After reading this guide, you may have identified people who aren’t really friends, but associates. And that’s okay, associate is better than a fake friend. Friends come in all shapes, sizes, colours and ages, so if you lose one, you can still have another.
How to Tell if a Friend Really Isn’t a Friend?
Nevertheless, sometimes we need to learn the hard way and simply accept that a person isn’t a real friend. Before you cut ties, be honest and direct with them.
Explain the condition in a polite and respectful way and let them choose how they want to go forward.
FAQs
Do fake friends exist?
Yes, fake friends exist all around us. They don’t always come out in the open and can be hard to spot but they’re still around.
How do you know if your friend is a real friend?
You can tell if your friend is real by looking at the way they treat you and whether they offer genuine support or not. If they make you feel valued, listen and provide honest advice, they likely are a real friend.
What do fake friends do?
Fake friends often try to take advantage of you and use you for their own personal gain. They may be jealous of your accomplishments, take advantage of you, use your resources, and never put in the effort to get to know you.
What does it mean to be a ‘fake friend’?
A ‘fake friend’ is someone who pretends to be your friend in order to take advantage of you or gain something from you. Fake friends often make excuses instead of showing up for events, don’t follow through with their promises, and only reach out when they need something from you.
What are some signs of a bad friend?
Signs of a bad friend include someone who is unreliable, controlling, jealous, manipulative, and dishonest. They may also gossip and spread rumors.
These types of friends don’t have your best interests in mind and will likely bring you down.
What happens when you lose a fake friend?
Losing a fake friend can be a painful process, but it’s often necessary to build healthier relationships. When you lose a fake friend, you should aim to remember the lessons you’ve learned, forgive them, and focus on real friends instead.
Conclusion
Friendship is an integral and fundamental part of life. Unfortunately, sometimes we find ourselves with a fake friend instead of a real one. Luckily, there are signs to look out for to identify fake friends and put an end to the relationship. Understanding these signs can help you identify and remove a fake friend and move on to healthier relationships.