The most common trick a friend can pull to keep you company is to pretend you’re in a serious mood.
But in reality, they’ll probably be more interested in playing a video game or watching TV than you are.
The trick can be a great way to make new friends, but it’s also risky.
In fact, you might be doing the other person a huge favor.
“People can make a lot of noise and be a bit insistent and aggressive,” says Kristine Gossett, a marketing professor at the University of Michigan and author of the book “Don’t Be An Idiot.”
“The best advice I can give you is to be polite.
The worst advice is to just be obnoxious and keep doing the same thing.”
But be mindful of how you act in public.
If you’re too friendly or appear too excited, that could be interpreted as a sign that you’re ready to make a move, says Gossetts.
So, if you’re not playing video games or watching television, don’t let yourself be too outgoing.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to do anything that will make you seem more attractive to your friend,” she says.
“It may be that you might even come off as too enthusiastic and self-conscious.”
So, whether you’re playing video game, watching TV or talking about work, Gossets says it’s best to be respectful of the other people around you.
“If you don’t have a friend who can play games, don.
If your friend plays a game, don, too,” she advises.
“The person playing the game should always be a player, too.
That’s why it’s important to have friends who are comfortable with the way they play games.”
The bottom line is that, while you might think you’re having fun with your friend, they’re in fact playing a game to make you feel good about yourself, says Kari Tuck.
“That’s what it’s about: They’re trying to make people feel good and comfortable and not get frustrated or depressed,” she explains.
“When they’re doing that, it’s not going to be because they’re having a good time, it will be because that’s what they want to do.
If they’re making you feel bad about yourself because you’re doing something that they don’t want you to do, that’s a sign of weakness.”
And when your friend is doing something you want to be, make sure you’re willing to make the effort to make it work, she says, even if it means taking a bit of a backseat.