1. They only contact you to vent
It’s hard to believe that people would do something like this when they’re a bit older and more mature, but the thing is that for some, age doesn’t have an effect on them.
The first way to tell if a person calls you because they’re genuine about their friendship with you or not is by paying attention to the moment they contact you.
If they only call you or text you when there’s something they don’t like and want to rant or complain about, it’s clear that there’s something missing there. It’s not always easy to recognize something like this because of how common it is for friends to share their problems with one another.
“Uh-huh,” “Really,” it seems like the only thing they can say when it’s your turn to talk is, “Oh, well, that’s too terrible.” That, and they’re probably just clearing their throat in preparation for yet another pity party about their gloomy existence.
2. They want something from you
…This might sound like high school drama, but it’s definitely a thing that doesn’t have an age!
When someone uses you for their own gain while seeming as if they care about you, that’s one of the subtle signals they’re faking to like you. For example, they might say that they will call you soon, but they never do.
If you help them with something, for instance, such as taking care of their pet while they go on vacation or helping them carry the furniture to their new home, they won’t do the same for you.
They will surely appreciate your help, and they will also tell you how grateful they are and how they’re going to help you when you need it, but they won’t. That’s when you know that they don’t really appreciate your friendship.
3. They don’t care what you say
You can tell if someone likes you or not by simply looking at them when you talk. When someone likes or even loves you, they will give you certain feedback when you talk. You’ll understand that they really listen to your words by simply looking at them.
On the other hand, when we refer to someone who pretends to like you, things are a bit different. Even though they might give you a reassuring nod and grin, it’s possible that they don’t really pay attention to what you’re saying behind all that fake friendliness.
In a case like this, they won’t remember what you’ve told them, they’ll fail to recall important details you’ve explained to them, and they don’t care about your point of view or prefer to share their opinions and why you’re wrong.
Long story short, they choose to disregard what you have to say, or they can’t wait for you to finish talking so they can vent to you about different things that go on in their lives.
