So many people are fake.

That is hard for you.

It’s probably always happened in the media world but if friends start doing it it’s time to throw in the towel.

I've known a few fake people in my time. One, years ago, used to drop designer label names all the time. She did not have a car, she had the 'Asto'. Her bag was the Ted Baker. I have also known a couple of really quite fake religious people who went around professing their faith to all and sundry. When the crunch came for a bit of help or kindness, they were no where to be seen.

Yes I agree it can be tiring. If it's on television we can have a rant at the screen. If it is people that we know I find there are two strategies that help. One say nothing, do not respond and keep a dignified silence. Two challenge them which usually throws them and they don't know what else to say.

I know several people who shout from the rooftops about bad bad Tax Evaders but they are themselves, it seems to be clever when they do it.

That, in some cases is not always being fake.
It can be that these people are not fixed in their views but acknowledge that things are complex and on oth sides of any question there are right points.
Perhaps to would be better if our politicians actually debated and conceded points - though I know our press would destroy them if they did.
I don't believe any thoughtful person should or can have fixed views.
There are many fake people around but I hope we wont confuse flexibility - or just being polite - with being fake.

I'm afraid I don't quite understand the OP, or else I don't understand what fake means.

It can be challenging. I think we live in an increasingly ego or image driven society and then for different reasons this leads to people continuously altering what they say.
I find it helps to balance this out by spending some quiet time on my own otherwise I’d go crazy!

Yep...the media certainly doesnt "tell it like it is" for sure.

Individual people can be too - and I've been astonished witnessing people being told what to think about someone by someone else they know. I've tried to turn round to a couple of them and, in effect, say "Think for yourselves" and they act like they don't even know what I mean.....but what I mean is "Don't look to identify a Queen Bee (or King Bee), find out what they think and copy it. Think for yourselves".

I'm still wondering what the heck happened to someone here I thought was a friend of mine when I'd done nowt to merit it...but there she was gone and no explanation (and I have asked her to explain why and she won't). I suspect that a Queen Bee she was friendly with told her to drop me in effect and she did so. No reason for it - just someone being incredibly incredibly rude in a great long speech she gave (ie most of us couldnt understand it and she never ever gave a translation) and Queen Bee saw yet another way to ingratiate herself - ie to have a go at anyone who wondered why they didnt understand it (it wasnt in English - and that's why most of us didn't understand it...).

Errr...hello...is there a point in giving a long speech most people won't understand?

Some are people pleasers. They say what they think certain people want to hear. That would explain why they express different opinions to different people. It must be very wearing for them.

I don't think fake is anything to do with not having fixed views. I can't see the connection.

Unfortunately for many people fake is the new reality. They can't think for themselves, are usually quite cowardly and believe all of what they read on the Internet.

I predict things will get worse when Al really kicks on.

HELP!!!!!!!!

I usually trust my own instincts and if something is important will do my own research before swallowing anything someone else says. I have never really cared about fashion stuff, so just go my own way with that, but things that affect us all like climate changes, or flooding in our area, I will try to find out facts, rather than listen to some politician or builder who have their own axes to grind, and whatever they say needs to be taken with a large pinch of salt.

As to friends, at my age I am happy and grateful to have very dear friends that I have known for more than 50 years , and trust them, so would pay attention to anything they thought was important, but that does not say I will follow anyone like a sheep. I can be totally wrong but my mind is my own and what I do in the end will be what seems right to me, and not what anyone else pushs me to follow. When you look at who is friends with who, it can give you some good ideas as to who to trust. So Farage, and his sent to jail buddy and Donald Trump. Wouldnt trust any of them as far as I could throw them. Thought that for a long time and feel that I had got the measure of them, but of course it could just be that I pick up on the things that confirm my own feelings. Still worth being trusting with new people , unless they let you down. I would hate to be permanently distrusting everyone as a basis.

Whats a fake person ? To me it's someone who isn't true to their word.

How do people come to be 'influencers' and its supposed to be a good thing?

If you mean by fake “over egging the pudding “ always have been always will be people who pretend they are better than they are or have more. Perhaps we a
just notice it more as we get older

I’m really sorry but if you have an ‘Asto’ you don’t buy Ted Baker.

Elsi

Whats a fake person ? To me it's someone who isn't true to their word.

Not so much that sometimes, as in sometimes it can be that and other times it could be "flakiness".

Flakiness is very common it seems where I live now - even professional appointments can get missed due to flakiness. Cue for seeing a homeopath (who does home visits) and she came the first time, had obviously forgotten about the 2nd appointment. I made a 3rd appointment and she didnt turn up for that either (or even contact me). Cue for "bin her and next please".

There's quite a lot of flakiness to contend with when an area is a. One that attracts hippies (that would be that homeopath then) and b. Has what is called the "Pembrokeshire Promise" - ie workmen promise to turn up and then they don't and they promise again and they don't then either is something that a noticeable number of them do (hence all the Facebook requests in this area to have a tradie recommended and the phrase getting inserted "must be reliable").

It can certainly seem that way if you are unlucky enough to suffer a cluster of negative encounters Desdemona but most people are genuine, kind and pleasant I find. One bad apple & all that....

Live next to a narcissist to understand fake

It's called Diplomacy.

If we were all of us brutally 100% honest with each other, all the time, there would be hurt feelings all round - at best - but a lot, lot worse would happen.

Fortunately, human communication has evolved to enable us to utilise the ability to adapt to the wide variety of social situations and interactions. Yes, this often involves behaving in a "two-faced" manner but the only alternative, being frank with each other, could lead to consequences that do not bear thinking about.

Menopauselbitch

I’m really sorry but if you have an ‘Asto’ you don’t buy Ted Baker.

Her husband was a second hand car salesman.

Colls

That, in some cases is not always being fake.
It can be that these people are not fixed in their views but acknowledge that things are complex and on oth sides of any question there are right points.
Perhaps to would be better if our politicians actually debated and conceded points - though I know our press would destroy them if they did.
I don't believe any thoughtful person should or can have fixed views.
There are many fake people around but I hope we wont confuse flexibility - or just being polite - with being fake.

I agree, Colls.

Windmill.
It's called insincerity

GoodAfternoonTea

I've known a few fake people in my time. One, years ago, used to drop designer label names all the time. She did not have a car, she had the 'Asto'. Her bag was the Ted Baker. I have also known a couple of really quite fake religious people who went around professing their faith to all and sundry. When the crunch came for a bit of help or kindness, they were no where to be seen.

GoodAfternoonTea I don’t understand . I thought being fake was about how you act and behave not about possessions.

Having a Ted Baker bag is no boast, they are not designer and not very expensive, certainly wouldn’t go with an Asto !,