- Avoid the fake person
Avoid the fake person. Whenever you’re dealing with someone who makes you feel annoyed or disrespected, your best move is almost always one of the simplest options available. Simply avoid the person who’s aggravating you. Hang out together as little as possible. The less time you spend with this person, the fewer chances s/he will have to get on your nerves.
The best part of this policy is that it’s also a subtle way of punishing someone for acting fake. When they act this way, they don’t get the privilege of hanging out with you.
- Talk to your other friends about the problem
Always remember that you never have to fight fakeness alone. If you’ve noticed that one of your friends has been acting fake, odds are that your other friends have too. When your fake friend isn’t around, discuss what’s going on with them. They may have new perspectives or inside information that makes things easier to understand. Together, you can come to a decision about how to deal with your friend’s new behavior.
- consider having a heart-to-heart if the problem is serious
To a certain extent, what your friend chooses to do is his or her business. However, if the desire to be ‘fake’ cool leads your friend to do things that are unwise, it’s your duty as a caring friend to intervene. You may not be able to stop your friend from doing these things, but you can let them know how damaging you think it will be.
- Ask questions to get to the bottom of the fakeness
Understanding why your friend is acting this way can make it much easier to overcome his or her fake behavior. Asking your friend questions about his or her new behavior is a good way to figure out what’s going on, but it’s important to stay respectful. You don’t want to upset your friend when you can avoid it.
- Be willing to ‘take a break’ from your friendship
Ultimately, you can’t force someone not to be fake. If you’re having trouble getting your fake friend to ‘see the light,’ take a step back. Let your relationship cool before you start hanging out again. Avoid hanging out with this person one-on-one and limit your interactions when you’re hanging out in a group. Showing your friend that fake behavior makes it so that you don’t want to hang out may persuade him or her to stop. If not, at least you’ll limit the amount that this person can annoy you.
