this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2025
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i don’t really need advice yet, it’s just a question. a girl im friends with acts really odd. we are friends, and we used to talk a lot, but then she started getting quieter, making less eye contact.

she also started being tenser/snippy at times.

when she’s not snippy, she’s just very quiet, which is most of the time. sometimes she’ll scoot over next to me but then scoot away, or act like she wants to sit by me but then goes away.

she doesn’t seem to be acting rude at all or mad at me. she will be nice, like smiling and waving and saying “hello”, or energetic when she can respond over text, so i don’t believe i’ve done anything to hurt her, but it’s just been really odd. what, from your experience, make a friend start acting this way? (especially girl because idk about guy friend behaviors)

most of the time, she acts normal, and i appreciate our friendship, and she seems to not hate me or anything like i said

update: i asked bc i was curious abt her behavior as friends, not just wondering if she liked me or anything even if that’s the impression some of y’all get 😭

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Stress is the obvious answer. You won't be able to guess what is causing it, so don't start speculating. You can try to impress upon her that you are a safe outlet for that stress if you are able and willing to really be that for her, (Don't just jump at it because you are curious. You might not like what comes from it, and it's worse to pull back after the fact than to not offer at all.) or you can just be a source of stability while she works through it herself. Use your best judgement.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago

She is doing better 😊

[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I mean I'm a pod person but, how about you literally just say all this to her instead? Ain't nobody psychic. Assumptions are stupid, get the facts.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (2 children)

ok tysm, last time i tried to ask she just said she was fine

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Yeah that's tough when you run into a wall like that. Maybe just reiterate that something seems up, and then if she refuses to admit that, you can at least expand on your observations and why you think something is up. Ultimately, if she still refuses to talk about things, you have a binary choice to make. Tolerate it, or walk away.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The one thing I'm fairly certain of with women is they are never just "fine". And if they say they're "fine", they most definitely are not.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Agreed, as an AFAB person myself

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago

As a girl, this reads like positive emotion that makes her feel embarrassed or guilty. Is she in a relationship with someone else? Maybe she's fighting something she feels towards you.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

it means you have a crush on her

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

just a lil bit

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

OP has a crush on her and is trying to know if she's interested in them as well

my two cents

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

yeah kinda

but her behavior was also confusing me even in a friend way

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 days ago

A bunch of randos on the 'net won't be able to tell you any better than she can. If she says she's fine reaffirm your friendship and tell her you're there if she needs to talk and otherwise carry on. Not much else you can do without jeopardizing the friendship.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

As others have said, but I want to make more clear, she could be dealing with shit she isn't ready to share. (Death, Failing Grades, etc)

Reaffirm the friendship. Let them know you are there for them. Ask if they want to do something districting. Hikes, movies, or sit silently looking at the wall.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

I was gonna ask if she had gotten herself into an abusive relationship OP doesn't know about.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Is your friendship close enough that you could just mention some of the behaviour you've observed and ask what's up?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

She just says shes fine, its so weird

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago

It can mean one of six thousand different things, none of which will ever be made clear to you.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

How old are you?

Have you considered asking what's up?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 days ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Well let me share with you the wisdom of age: often you can just ask someone what's up.

This also works on dates: you can just ask someone out. You don't have to go all in your head about it. If only someone had told me when I was a teen, alas.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Thank you so much ^_^ yeah ive asked and she just says shes fine

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Oh man. I thought you were saying that you asked her out and she said she was fine.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

ah no i just asked her how she was doing bc she seemed upset

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago

You have considered? Or you have asked?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 days ago

Glad to see teens on Lemmy. I hope that you can fix it with your friend.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago (2 children)

What is up with all these personal questions lately?

I don't wanna sound cliché, but go touch some grass. Don't you all have IRL friends to ask in place of internet randos (such as myself) who know jack shit about your life?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Growing up in the late 80s, early 90s, I would have loved to ask strangers a question so I wouldn't have to worry about them asking me for a follow up later! That's what those advice columns were for!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

That's fair, just that there's too many of these lately. But I guess we're not big enough to want to have specific community for personal advice.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Just my two cents: maybe give her some space, leave her alone for a week or two, while checking in every few days. Also, do you have mutual friends?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

we do!! she’s better now, i cant ask them bc they’re friends w her ex who has a crush on her

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Quite a tricky situation. Are you romantically interested in her?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

Well then, good luck and take it easy!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I know you've said that you've asked her, and she's stated she's fine, but I think it matters how you ask. Sit down with her, mention the behaviors you've observed, explain how these things make you feel (I assume you're worried about a friend), and just let her know you're there for her if she ever wants to talk. Try not to make it too much about yourself, but be honest with your emotions... and try not to offer fixes for anything unless she asks. Myself and a lot of other women aren't always open with men, even friends, because it can be exhausting dealing with their problem solver personalities; we normally know how to fix things already, but doesn't mean they don't weigh on our minds.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I have asked her and she just says shes fine. She also can act completely normal and seems friendly, like shes not upset with me or anything, just normal, and doesnt indicate shes upset besides that, but its really odd. Its like she wants to hang with me but something’s preventing her? She even said i could go to her house so…

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 days ago

Idk man I think she might like you. I used to be like that as a teen, extra self conscious in front of my crushes

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

How confident are you that she also sees things as 'just friends'?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

she supposedly likes someone else that she broke up w 2 yrs ago, unless she likes two ppl at once

ig not all ppl are openly flirty when they feel this way but still. i did act avoidant towards my crushes.

if she didn’t see things as just friends, it might explain a lot better, but im not confident, i just assume no