Instant Friendship

This has always irritated me. I won't admit that it troubles me greatly, because in honesty I've never let myself become too concerned with it. But it's something I wish wouldn't happen - and it happens all too often.

I have best friends, close friends, good friends, and then they taper off into the people I see occasionally and then vague acquaintances. Some of these people in the latter two groups are courteous and friendly to me in return, but others I can tell merely put on a mask and pretend to be that friendly, smiling person towards me. Often they'll do this with a hint of scorn on their face, something which has always kept me from making much of a great effort to talk to them. If they're going to look down upon me in such a way, why would I bother trying to associate myself more with them, if I'd just receive more of the same reception?

And here comes the clincher, the thing that really gets me - when the people like this suddenly become your best friend. I bet you know why. Because they want something from you.

I can detect it a mile off. Sometimes, in all my good nature, I'll be happy to help. It gives me a sense of superiority over them for once, and I can do it nicely, show them what a good human being is like without having to pretend. Because I'm not pretending. I'm nice to them because... it's a waste of time being otherwise. But other times, if they're not pretenders and outright show their distaste for me, it's often not worth even giving them the time of day. They'd never help me out if I asked, and I'm not about to do a favour they'll never return.

But for the pretenders, I like to show them how they can avoid becoming one of the nastier types. There is hope for them yet to come out of their self-absorbed pretend sponge world.