Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why nobody likes me?

96 replies

thornfortea · 31/10/2019 20:29

I know people will read this thinking "Well she must just be a twat" but I honestly throughout my life tried so hard to be nice and kind to people and also funny, friendly etc but it never seemed to go anywhere.

I was very shy in primary school, didn't speak at all for the first 2 years (selective mutism, I wish I could remember why I chose to be like that) though I did still have friends who included me. Eventually I came out of it and while I was quiet throughout primary school, I eventually became like all of the other kids.

Moved to another town for secondary and there was only one girl who I clicked with who left in Year 9, I never had friends after that. There would be times were I'd get talking to someone and it would look promising but then after a while during conversations it would die after I said something, they stopped saying hi to me etc. This happened a few times. I don't understand it, I wasn't one of the oddballs. I loved the typical stuff all of the popular girls like, went in every day in make-up with my hair done etc. Loved fashion and music and boys. Yet nobody ever engaged with me about it. Only time I got bothered with at school was with lads who had a sexual interest.

Went to college optimistic having been told by everyone I'd make loads of friends, the same thing happened. A group was formed in the first few weeks (none of them knew each other beforehand) and originally they seemed interested in me but eventually the group really solidified and they forgot about me. I remember thinking I hadn't been outgoing enough and added them all on Facebook and only one or two added me back. The course we were on had 2 groups and I remember one day overhearing they were all moving to the other group. Later on in the group chat I said something along the lines of "Has the teacher rearranged the groups? Who's going?" and they all read it and none replied. I phrased it in a way that sounded like I'd heard it from someone else and was curious about who was going rather than me trying to work out if it was to do with me. The groupchat went dead after that, they must have made a new one without me in it. In my second year at college a new girl joined, I went to sit next to her one day. I said "Hi," thinking we could chat and she just said bluntly "Do you ever smile?". It really hurt me. It eventually turned out that a lot of people on my course thought I didn't like them. It really hurt, and I cried a lot about it. There was nobody I actively disliked on the course, they were all nice. Whenever I saw someone struggling with work I would try and help, I always said hello when seeing them in the corridoors and yet nobody made the effort with me. I eventually realized people were frightened of me. I have never had any conflict with anyone in my life.

Work was the same. Never invited to works dos etc because apparently I look as though I don't want to be invited. I'm engaged now with a baby on the way now and I think the only reason my partner stuck with me is because we met online and so he got to know me before seeing my miserable mug in person. Dreading baby getting here and then having to go through it all again at baby group and the school playground etc.

I think I'm just intimidating. Yet there's that once in a blue moon person who says I'm funny and kind and great company once they get to know me. I feel so upset that I seem to carry around this bad atmosphere.

OP posts:
FelixFelicis6 · 31/10/2019 20:34

I’m so sorry OP, this sounds really painful.

Sorry to be blunt, but do you have “resting bitch face” at all? I think I do a bit....! however, nothing excuses the horrible behaviour you’ve described. School children can be particularly cruel, but so can adults.

Why do you think people would find you intimidating? Are you particularly tall or physically intimidating in some way?

Flowers
KathySelden · 31/10/2019 20:40

I could have wrote some of this post four years ago, then I had a baby and found my people. Through my new friends I have learnt a lot of people feel this way, When I was pregnant I desperately didn’t want my lo to think I was a loser and decide to put myself out there. I met other mums at a group and asked them if they wanted to meet for coffee or lunch and it went from there. They are now the first people I go to when I need someone. I guess I’m trying to say it will happen but you do need to make it happen a bit. Good luck

StartsAtTheMeadow · 31/10/2019 20:40

I don't understand it, I wasn't one of the oddballs. I loved the typical stuff all of the popular girls like, went in every day in make-up with my hair done etc

This bit doesn't make you sound very nice tbh, it's pretty judgemental (and yes, I'm probably someone you would say is an oddball).

Other than that, it sounds like a major case of Resting Bitch Face, but I'm not sure how to overcome that.

blaaake · 31/10/2019 20:41

Darling you must have a 'resting bitch face'. I have one too and always have done but I generally don't mind it Grin my friends always comment that I look fuming if they see me and I don't see them.

CamdenTownie · 31/10/2019 20:48

I dunno, I have this problem too, I think I'm just not a likeable person. Partly because I'm not attractive in anyway at all, so this doesn't draw people to me.

I have dh now so don't really need friends- at least this is how I feel now, but it is very difficult, I just can't make friends, even though I'm quite a positive and generally happy person.

I hope things improve for you and you can make new friends once baby arrives, it's easy to talk to others when you have little kids.

TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 31/10/2019 20:48

Ah, sounds like you have generally been trying to get in with the wrong group

forget about the "populars" and try the oddballs Grin

seriously, do. we are much more inclusive

Kittenbittenmitten · 31/10/2019 20:53

Haha. I agree. Steer clear of the very popular people. Grin

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 31/10/2019 20:54

Oddballs aren't so bad! Come over to the dark side!

Seriously, unless you're really not young it's best not to focus on who is and isn't popular and just stick with people who you click with

Pinkarsedfly · 31/10/2019 20:57

My heart goes out to you, reading your post.

I’m sure you’ll meet your tribe sooner or later.

Flowers
KindOranges · 31/10/2019 20:59

How did you discover everyone was ‘frightened’ of you? Why would they have been?

Areyousorted12 · 31/10/2019 21:01

I have resting bitch face. My lovely daughter told me!!!!
Just be over friendly so people get beyond that. You sound lovely. Maybe one to one relationships will work better than group situations.

TheTrollFairy · 31/10/2019 21:09

Are you shy? I am painfully shy with resting bitch face which makes me pretty unapproachable. Throw in the fact that I have a pretty sarcastic and dry sense of humour makes it really hard for people to warm to me.
Have you looked into your own personality to see if there is anything that would make people not warm to you?

museumum · 31/10/2019 21:12

Do you scowl at people when you’re not meaning to? I had a friend as a teenager who had the worst time with a large number of people because people thought she was “giving dirty looks”. She didn’t mean to and she was quite low in confidence but she really gave “fuck you” looks to people.

CSIblonde · 31/10/2019 21:12

In the nicest possible way maybe your social skills aren't as great as you think. I used to be terribly quiet & a lot of people took it for snobbery & at work it was a real hindrance, I was considered not up to some roles because they were 'a handful of a team'. I thought of an extrovert colleague & observed them & modelled my social behaviour on her. I now push myself to be smiley & always interested in others 'stuff' : not mine. It's an effort but it reaped rewards at work & I am more than capable of not the walkover they feared I'd br. Hello, with an unsmiling face isn't a social norm. It looks like you're fecked off & doing it thru gritted teeth, so it'll come across as jarring. That's prob why you got a brutal comeback (teens are bloody brutal these days I find). Can you model the behaviour of anyone you know whose socially skilled & see if that helps?

VanyaHargreeves · 31/10/2019 21:27

I empathise OP, I've been told on here today that I am "unkind" and "not a nice person" because I find liars frustrating.

I know I'm kind and I know I'm nice

It's hard when people judge off a snapshot, people have freely admitted to me that they are sorry to have made assumptions about me and been wrong, due to stereotypes of the minority I belong to.

Relax more, it will come for you, I hope Thanks

k1233 · 31/10/2019 21:50

I look really pissed off when I'm thinking. I think a lot LOL It took me years to figure it out.

I make a point these days to warn people I work with / who work for me. Say it lightly, ask them to give me a second to register they're talking to me and wait till I turn around so I can put my smile on - then do a demo. I'm making fun of myself while letting them know my cranky face does happen, but it's not intentional or directed at anyone.

I also make sure to smile whenever I see someone in the hall etc and say hello. Also smile when I answer the phone - it makes a difference.

partysong · 31/10/2019 21:53

Don't pressure yourself to make mum friends - I never did (and without sounding like an arse, I haven't generally had difficulties with friendships) sometimes the groups are nice, sometimes they're awful- don't pressure yourself, it'll happen or it won't and either is ok

KindOranges · 31/10/2019 22:30

@VanyaHargreeves, I read that thread and I thought you flew off the handle at a poster who suggested, as far as I can remember, that there was a difference between a work lie that could have consequences for you (which you were right to pursue), and a face-saving lie that your sister told to cover up the fact that she didn’t get a job she applied for.

VanyaHargreeves · 31/10/2019 22:37

@KindOranges

Perhaps I did go off at her, but she said I "wasn't a nice person at all" which is a really harsh, upsetting and untrue thing to say. I don't even think my reaction was OTT because she really upset me she has no idea about my life.

SpinneyHill · 31/10/2019 22:40

Went to college optimistic having been told by everyone I'd make loads of friends,

Who was everyone?

Everyone thought I was looking down at them and considered them beneath me....Truth is I could never think of anything to say and dreaded interaction but desperately wanted it ..My 'bitch face' came from being really focused on trying not to look terrified and dumb.

The most effective technique is terrifying...go out into the world of strangers and force really awkward awful conversations and small talk with people you will never see again.

It's practise and it sounds like you need it. If you know these people don't like me and you're making it worse, you make it so. Practise o people..I know that sounds creepy and weird but it's a skill and you perfect your skills by practise

thornfortea · 31/10/2019 22:40

@posterStartsAtTheMeadow Eeek, I see how that reads a bit dodgy. I didn't mean it to sound judgemental. What I meant was that often when I mentioned to family etc that I had friendship troubles they assumed it was because I must have been a bit different or had niche interests that most teens weren't really bothered about. But tbh all my interests were the stereotypical teenage girl stuff that the majority of girls in my year were into. I didn't force my interest in these things etc to be popular either, they were very genuine.

OP posts:
thornfortea · 31/10/2019 22:42

I hadn't heard of resting bitch face before but I think that's spot on. I asked DP if I had it and he didn't deny it and sort of grinned. Least it has a name now...hope baby doesn't inherit it.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 31/10/2019 22:44

Are you particularly tall or physically intimidating in some way?

FFS.

SpinneyHill · 31/10/2019 22:51

As @museumum says, I would have given that exact look because how else do you communicate.
"I'm scared cant let you know im scared, no reason to be scared except no one likes me, if i say too much you will know why no one likes me and I haven't worked it out yet.
This pattern takes about 1.5 seconds and then boom person i m talking to is judging me because I've decided they are
I don't know if that's true but it is crippling

Mogtheanxiouscat · 31/10/2019 23:02

Your life sounds pretty similar to mine from a friendship point of view. Turns out I'm autistic. I just don't fit with the crowd. And I'm ok with that now.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.