Do you have friends that only seem to call or show up when they want something?

I don’t call those people friends.

I don’t. I have a pretty good barometer for these things and cut the person from my life before I can call them a friend. Similarly, I’ve no issue doing so if we are already “friends.”

Yeah, these people aren’t really friends. I just asked a question similar to this the other day, and I have realized that if someone is only calling me when they want something, that isn’t what a friend is….at all. That’s more like an acquaintance and a rude one, at that.

so I shouln’t worry about not seeing or hearing from certain people all that often.

However, I still feel it may be the only way some know how to “connect” I’ve experienced lonelines before and it is an awful feeling, I’d rather not shut someone out if I like them.

@gottamakeart I agree, I think some people do have trouble connecting with others and maybe SEEM to show up only when they need something but really they are trying to have a decent friendship with you. you bring up a good point, they just might be lonely and feel like they’re bothering you. i surely know how that feels, i think everyone does. hm.

Yup. I have one friend who was a good friend for about a year or so. Now she contacts me for one reason and one reason only – she needs help with her router/television/tivo/computer/etc. And apparently I’m the only non-luddite she knows. Whatever. I roll my eyes when I see her IM window pop open, answer her question, and be done with her. Happens every few months.

I do, have recently stopped answering the phone and returning his call though! Some people have no shame and will just take the p*ss forever if you let them!

Yes, they are called employees.
Usually showing up at my door on Fridays.

I feel like I do this with a good friend of mine, and I do feel awful about it. But she knows that it’s hard to go into the city with a child, and that I dislike being there, and she does not have a car so it’s hard to just get together often. We catch up when I call her to do my hair, or my husbands and now my sons hair. I don’t think it bothers her. We both are flaky people, that’s why our friendship works so well and for so long.

Nope but sometimes I feel like that person and don’t like it when it happens.

Yes I had, he stopped talking to me when he went out with his bitch of a girlfriend. Now that they aren’t together he wants to talk to me. But I don’t want to talk to him.

I am typically a “helper” but in most cases these are people who are generally friendly with me and would gladly return favours. They may also call to invite me to a party or their wedding or something, so they’re not really using me. I have one particular friend who is always calling to ask for favours. But he also helped me out when I needed him once, so I can’t complain. It’s just that he really needs my help and knows I won’t refuse.