FRIENDS who always cancel plans to go out do not like you and are not your friends, research has found.
The rise of ‘flaking’ or cancelling your attendance at a social occasion at the last minute has been blamed on career burnout, communications overload, and social fragmentation, but not its actual cause: your unpopularity.
Sociologist Dr Frost, not her real name, said: “Got those friends who always cancel? Wondering if the fetishisation of introversion in our digital society is the cause? Bet you are, loser.
“In situations like this we experts look at every possible reason, from the prioritisation of mental health to the demands of emotional labour, but at heart the problem is very simple. Nobody likes you. You’re annoying.
“That single explanation covers why your mate Cameron, not his real name, flaked on clubbing at the last minute last week, why your sister blew you out for New Year’s Eve, and why your best friend Alison didn’t even turn up for a quick coffee in Starbucks.
“Essentially they look at their phones, see you, they’re overwhelmed with a powerful need to avoid gazing at your slack face or hearing your whiny voice, and they cancel. Good news is, soon we’ll develop AI that will do it for them.”
Joe, not her real name, of Oadby said: “Right. I suppose I knew that really.”