Everybody has that one mate in their friendship group they wouldn’t mind seeing the back of. You know it. I know it. They probably know it too.
The top reasons for this are apparently them being high maintenance and having no shared interests with you and yet still they remain within your friendship circle.
In fact, four in ten people admit they have at least one friend who they see regularly that they can’t stand. Anyone springing to mind?
The study was commissioned by Lifetime to mark Real Housewives’ Tuesdays, featuring episodes of top U.S. reality shows Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules.
Lifetime channel director Koulla Anastasi said:
It is quite surprising to see so many people struggle to get along with others in their own friendship group.
You end up socialising with people you wouldn’t usually choose as a friend, perhaps through work, friends-of-friends or through your partner.
The study of 2000 UK adults also found the average Brit to have 16 friends, usually with three they don’t like and struggle to get on with.
A quarter of people have told this ‘friend’ they don’t like them and half have had rows leading to them trying to phase them out.
Two thirds of people claim, however, they don’t like to get involved in the drama.
So, without further ado, these are the top 20 reasons for not getting on with someone:
- Nothing in common
- Too bossy/controlling
- Differing opinions
- Behaviour when drunk
- Too high maintenance
- Leading different lifestyles
- Language used
- They’ve let you down
- Sense of humour
- Treatment of their partner
- They’ve changed
- Politics
- Treatment of children
- Their friends
- Deliberate blanking
- Borrowing money
- Personal hygiene
- Dress sense
- Flirting with your partner
- Don’t get on with your partner
There are also 20 ‘modern rules of friendship’ we’re all supposed to adhere to too:
- Never give away their secrets
- Being a shoulder to cry on
- Always there for advice
- Always giving them your honest opinion
- Always telling them the truth
- Never let jealousy get in the way of your relationship
- Reply to messages as soon as possible
- Hug rather than handshake when you see each other
- Always invite them on group social events
- Go for a drink even if you don’t want to
- Helping to get them out of a bad date
- Don’t communicate with your friend’s partner without them
- Don’t be the one in the group chat who ruins all the plans
- Always offer to lend them money if they need it
- Always offer to get the first round in
- Always take your side in an argument
- Not tagging them in pictures on social media before they’ve approved them
- Don’t swipe right on friends’ ex-partners if they pop up on Tinder
- Don’t post unflattering or embarrassing pictures on social media
- Don’t give TV or film spoilers until you know your friends have seen them
Taking the idea of ‘being woke’ to a whole new level over a decade-long career in sport, court and online news, George has worked for titles and agencies including ESPN FC, Eurosport, LADbible and Court News UK. He may not have a degree but does have an unhealthy obsession with Lord of the Rings.