Have you ever felt like someone is pretending to care about you? Well, if you have, there’s a chance you’re right. Not all people have good intentions.
I live in the southern United States, and I can tell you from experience that some people are just pretending to care about you. Where I live, there’s something called “Southern hospitality,” which basically means,
“I’ll make you feel comfortable while I figure you out.”
I’m serious. I had to learn this as I grew up, and then roll my eyes when I see the surrounding people welcoming strangers. I felt bad for these newcomers.
And for the rest of you who don’t live in the southern United States, this is also the case. There are people around you who don’t really care. I know it’s hard to hear, but it’s true. Although it may appear differently depending on where you live, the signs will be universal or very close.
Are they pretending to care about you?
Have you ever felt like the person you care about is saying all the right things, but something is wrong? Well, they might be playing pretend. Let’s take a look at some signs that someone is faking interest in you.
- Pretend to listen
Just because you connect with someone doesn’t mean they care about what you have to say. They may nod their heads and say “hmm” but that doesn’t mean they understand or agree with it. One tip is that they never disagree with you because they don’t really listen to you. This is a huge red flag.
Another way to tell that they don’t really care about the things you say is that they don’t remember any of it. To them, what you say doesn’t matter because they don’t care about you at all.
- They are only there while you are successful
If your friend supports you when you succeed, but disappears when you fail, he is not your true friend. This is a huge sign.
Fake friends feed positive energy into others. If you make a lot of money, attract attention, or receive expensive gifts, you will be there for your blessings to flourish. You can tell when someone is pretending to care about you by their presence in your life.
- Strange body language
You may not be an expert in body language, but even a beginner can tell when someone is being insincere. When someone pretends to be interested in you, they will have open body language. This means extended arms, good eye contact, and thoughtful expressions. There will be a hint of a deep connection between true friends.
However, those who are not real friends will have exaggerated expressions, fake laughs, and may be more physically withdrawn. Not all of these indicators apply to every situation, but you’ll know when someone’s body language is suspicious.
- They use gas lighting
I’m sure you’re tired of hearing about gaslighting by now. This manipulative style hits so often that it seems as if it spreads like wildfire.
When someone pretends to like you, they will clear all your friend boxes, oh yeah. But they will sprinkle gaslighting elements throughout your life. They are so thin and precise that it will take some time to recognize them. Well, now that you have this list, you can beware of them and contact them to take action.
- They say the same thing to everyone
Don’t get excited when that questionable friend tells you that you’re special. You may discover that they say this to everyone they know, even strangers. When someone cares about you, and I mean really cares, they will have things to say just for you. These are things that have deep meaning in your relationship.
You’ll recognize a fake friend by the way they use “cookie cutter” statements. They will praise and adore you while using the same words to praise and adore someone else later.
- You never remember important things
You may notice how your friend always forgets important things that you want him to remember. They will use excuses like,
“You know my memory is bad,” or “I can’t remember everything!”
Don’t be fooled by this. Counterfeiters don’t care about the things you want them to remember. They’ll probably forget right after you tell them. While some people have a real hard time remembering things, yes, those people who pretend to care about you only remember what helps them the most.
- Contradiction
True friends usually help you just as you help them, right? Well, a person who pretends to be interested in you will not be consistent in this area.
For example, if they need someone to talk to, you’ll likely be more than happy to support them. However, when you have problems, they will always be too busy to talk to you. This relationship will be one-sided most of the time, with enough reciprocity to keep you hanging on in case they have to take advantage of you.
- They are self-absorbed
If all these other indicators don’t point to selfishness, I’ll just say so. They only really care about themselves.
One sign of this is when you notice how everything has to go back to what they need, what they want, and what they think. It may take some time to figure this out, but you will do it. They will be easier to see, as the spotlight will be on them.
