Trying too hard?

United States
January 14, 2010 9:07pm CST
I've noticed how a few people try so desperately to make friends and are so eager to please, that they drive away the very thing the most crave...friendships that work! Have you come across people who just try too hard and in the process, tend to drive you away? If so, what is it that, to you, is off-putting about that kind of approach? Karen
5 people like this
26 responses
@farazkh1 (1153)
• Pakistan
15 Jan 10
True.there are kind of stupid People who wants to make friend's but as soon they make friend's the frequently they change them and these kind of people have no priority in specification for becoming a Good friends.however these are the kind of dreamers who believes in making the progress in non-creative manner and Just Grow Social circle Thats it....!
2 people like this
@farazkh1 (1153)
• Pakistan
15 Jan 10
I always have considered Quality friends instead of those who are more popular or beneficial for the time beings,thats why i Have few Friends but they Adore me and I Adore them,I hate Extra social people except those who needs Public Relations for there Carrier etc......!
• United States
16 Jan 10
Oh yes, a select few true friends beats a hundred "fake" friends every time. As you said, socializing for one's career is a whole different matter :) Karen
• United States
15 Jan 10
Hi Farazkh Perhaps that is it...the number of friends matter more than the quality of friendship? That is sad, though, for quality of friends beats numbers every time. Thank you for pointing out that possibility :)) Karen
2 people like this
@ken789 (4)
15 Jan 10
I've also came across people like that, but i usually just ignore them.cause thats how my personality goes haha, if i dont like him, i wont even bother trying to hear what they got to say or anything.
2 people like this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hello Ken I think none of us likes to be hounded, so yes, you are wise to avoid encouraging that right at the onset if there is simply no chemistry or reason to pursue a more active friendship. Karen
@vijayanths (7877)
• India
15 Jan 10
As long as they are good I would tolerate their irritating approach. I will be friends with them.
2 people like this
• United States
15 Jan 10
I commend you for your kindness and patience, Vijay. I would be friends, but from a distance, rather than having someone hanging off my skirt each day lol. You are a good person! Karen
1 person likes this
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Jan 10
Hi Karen, Yes. A hard sell friendship will not last. along the way the consistency of things fail. you can feel the sincerity without forcing it. lasting friendships allow each other to grow along the process and provide space to know and appreciate each others uniqueness and differences. the best thing i like is giving me the chance to improve myself without asking me to change.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hello Ms You said something wonderful...the opportunity to improve yourself with no one asking you to change. We can really only change ourselves, anyway. And yes, the hard sell just comes across as a bit insincere! Thank you for your input. Karen
• United States
18 Jan 10
And I consider you one, too...a warm feeling :)
• Boston, Massachusetts
17 Jan 10
thanks karen. a good and lasting friendship is free flowing...no pressure of being one but along the process the bond is developed and you'll be surprised that you're able to established a certain relationship worth keeping. i know i established such kind of friendship here. i considered you as one of them karen!
1 person likes this
@esjosh (912)
• India
15 Jan 10
You are picking my vain again. Normally God is very kind to me gave such beautiful life, parents, friends, colleagues, myLotters. etc.. But for the things for that I pay some extra desperation leads me to pay very extra efforts. I have to try bit harder. For that I sometimes complaints also to great GOD but more than that I asks him to give me the strength to full fill those efforts and achieve my I desire.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hi Esjosh I am glad you've been so blessed in such important areas. I think we all have areas, though, where we do indeed have to try extra hard to achieve what we wish. I would hope, though, that friendships come naturally between us and certain others :) Karen
• United States
16 Jan 10
You're very welcome! Enjoy your friends, for they are a blessing.
@esjosh (912)
• India
16 Jan 10
Thanks for the replay dear, Yes friendship is the relation that comes naturally. I am in for it for every one.
1 person likes this
@tangurama (204)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Yes I've met a few people who are like that. They follow me around, constantly ask me questions, and don't know when to stop. I get so irritated that I want to burst out like a madman. I know they want to make friends, but this isn't the way to do it. It just annoys the heck out of people. Even though they bother me like crazy, I accept them as one of my friends.
2 people like this
• United States
15 Jan 10
Hello Tangurama I have to agree, that the intensity in the trying, or how constant it is does become more annoying than endearing. While I always feel compassion toward these folk, it just wears me out after a while, and then I try to avoid them, however badly I feel for doing so. Karen
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
16 Jan 10
Yes I have come across People like that and I have told them in a gentle way to just be themselves as it is driving me crazy how hard they are trying to be Friends to just let things go their own way It is not so much off putting to me it is embarrassing
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Good for you, Gabs. That is all any of us wish, anyway. For another person to be themselves without tripping all over to vie for attention and friendship! That must get to be very hard work, and pity often leads to annoyance. Karen
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
15 Jan 10
Hi Karen! You see if someone tries to be my friend without any rhyme or reasons and I have no interest towards him/her, I remain non-responsive. I believe that if I am not comfortable with any person, it would be not in the fitness of things to be his/her friend. One feels repulsive towards certain people and cannot be friends with them. Have a nice day! Deepak
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
16 Jan 10
I endorse your views.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
16 Jan 10
I think more than anything they seem fake when they mean well, i guess. I'm very bad about forming a opinion about people the first time i meet them. i never usually change my mind whether it be a good or bad opinon.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hi Jo Yes, such people do seem fake. Sometimes, our first impressions DO seem to be accurate, though. Have a good sleep tonight. xoxo Karen
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
16 Jan 10
I've met someone who soon became my friend. She proved herself too good to be true though. She would do everything to please me. Giving this and that, inviting me here and there but later she proved herself to be fake. She was not herself all those times that she tried to look the best friend I've ever hand. One day her true color came out. She is a great pretender and the biggest liar I've known and so I junked her and refrain from seeing her again.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hi Salonga Some people "lure" us in that way, only to misuse us later, and what a shame that is. I am glad you got rid of this toxic "pretend" friend. Thank you for responding, and have a nice night. Karen
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hey Karen! I most definitely know what you are tallking about! I have had many friends that I have had to "do away" with for that very reason! There are always some people that "try to hard" to be your friend and you find out that they are nothing but phonies. Then there are those that try to hard and they are "leechies with damaged personalities". There are so many different types of people in this world and it is easy to get caught up with anyone type that is wrong for you especially if you are basically a nice person and a "people magnet" like I think you and I are! People like us have to watch out for people like that who will suck the life out of us! If you want more info opal2626@yahoo.com Email me there and we can talk forever! Hugs, Opal/Leslie
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hello Opal Exactly true! And that is very off-putting to me. I think that is why I am suspicious of those who act as if they're trying to sell you something! And the overly-needy type, they can truly drain the energy out of one in a hurry. Thank you for your insights. You said it so well, Leslie. Karen
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
17 Jan 10
I am sure everyone knows someone or a few someones like that. Some people just don't have a good sense of self worth and they want so desperately to be liked they don't realize they have to like themselves first.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 10
Yes, you are right Canellita. Liking oneself first and sincerely is a good step toward making friends without it being hard work. Thank you. Karen
• Boston, Massachusetts
17 Jan 10
You are right Canellita. Before we can truly appreciate others we need to accept and love ourselves first. it's only by then that any relationship that we will establish will be more secured and not forced. It's a process and one needs to be open for whatever it will take.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jan 10
The thing that I notice the most in these kind of people is that they tend to be very needy. They want to always be included in everything that you do. For me, this is off putting because I can't stand to always be on the phone with a person or to always be spending time with the same person. Actually, one of the reasons that I consider myself to be a good friend is because of the fact that I'm not a needy kind of friend, either I get along with a person or I don't but I don't ever try to push the issue.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Jan 10
Hi Dorann Yes, needy is exactly the right word. I think that comes from insecurity and perhaps low self-esteem. It gets hard to maintain such a relationship...they usually wear one out to point of having to walk away. Like you, I feel no need to monopolize any of my friends. And yes, I don't think a friendship is real if it has to be forced on either side. Karen
@samire (54)
• China
16 Jan 10
I do not like people who irks me,I am an introverted person,I hate to always talk to please others who feel they always have lots to talk about,then ,really bores.If they are on my side I woule say to them ,please go away to frends,I need clear,you let me not to work in.I know this not good for them,but I really no way.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hi Samire I do admit to being a bit of an introvert, too, perhaps due to the nature of my work. And it is hard to talk just to please others or if the subject is of no interest. I seldom have the heart to tell anyone to just go away, though. I don't wish to be unkind! Karen
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Jan 10
Hm, well I always thought it was mostly just me, but I do get put off by people who try to get too close too quickly. If somebody comes around acting like my long lost best friend and I barely know them, it just doesn't feel right somehow. It takes me a while to warm up to somebody...
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hi Dawn Yes, I am that way too. I love being friendly in general, but I am not the type who cares to exchange deepest feelings and life stories upon those first meetings. That kind of closeness develops with time and trust, only! So I can identify with you. Karen
@savypat (20216)
• United States
15 Jan 10
I am somewhat shy so anyone who comes on strong tends to make me very slow to make friends with them.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
I can understand that, as I was extremely shy in school, and still have a certain amount of reserve. Those who come on too strong remind me of sales people trying to lure you into something! Karen
@23uday (2997)
• India
15 Jan 10
hi friend, Friendship is a longlasting friends forever. This kind of people i avoid and i don't make a friendship. I don't like to make a hard friendship. friendship is a great relationship and lives forever and ever. have a good day.
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hello there. Yes, if we are fortunate, we do make some of those "forever" kind of friends, and they are a true blessing. Others seek only numbers rather than quality in friendship, or they want to monopolize another, which is not good! Thank you for your response. Karen
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
15 Jan 10
Hi Karen, Fortunately I haven't met this kind of person. Those who want to be my friends are all welcome, for as long as they don't make me feel like they're stalking me, or want all of my privacy. I tend to keep a considerable distance (unless I consider the person a really close friend), and I expect them to respect that. Have a good day!
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hi Dory Stalking, now that is yes, the word that describes the kind of people some can be....they go overboard, and way beyond what natural friends would behave like. Thank you for bringing up the word that fits :) Karen
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
15 Jan 10
Dear Karen, So far I have not personally encounters this to a serious level. However, after thinking about it, I did recall an incidence when a guy whom I dislike keep passing by my house in the evenings... I try to avoid him and this is really annoying. That happens a long long time ago, perhaps 20 years back. However, I normally quite tactful. Therefore, I do not turn down any good friendship. I will find ways to make sure it is at a acceptable and comfortable level. Cheers and take care :)
1 person likes this
@rose66 (378)
• China
15 Jan 10
i think i am not a girl that easy to make friends. first i never go and talk to a stranger intiatively and if a atranger wants to talk to me and make friends with me i won't agree. that's not because i don't believe people, just i don't like. so maybe such people like me are one of the reasons why it's too hard to make friends.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 10
Hello Rose You are still young, and I am sure you will meet true and close friends in due time. I think perhaps you are a bit shy? But there is nothing wrong with being selective when it comes to making friends. :) Have a good day! Karen