"After interviewing over 200 people for various articles and keeping a notes app full of overheard coffee shop conversations, I've noticed patterns in how people behave when they secretly can't stand someone. The fascinating part? Most of us do these things without even realizing it. These micro-behaviors are so subtle that they fly under the radar, yet they speak volumes. They're the social equivalent of a poker tell, revealing what someone really thinks while maintaining that polite facade we all hide behind."
"Ever notice how some people never seem to move past weather talk and weekend plans with you? That's not coincidence. When someone genuinely dislikes you, they create invisible barriers in conversation. They'll answer your questions but never elaborate. Ask them about their vacation, and you'll get "It was nice" instead of the funny story about missing their flight or discovering that amazing hole-in-the-wall restaurant."
People exhibit micro-behaviors that signal covert dislike while maintaining polite façades. Conversations remain surface-level: questions are answered briefly without elaboration, and personal stories are avoided. Physical orientation often shifts away from the person, with feet pointing to exits, shoulders angled outward, and objects placed as barriers—a body-language pattern called "deblocking." Such behaviors are consistent across cultures and may include positioning that favors escape routes. These subtle cues accumulate over time and can reveal deliberate distancing even when verbal interactions appear cordial. Noticing patterns like restrained storytelling and turned-away posture helps identify when someone is keeping another at arm's length.
Read at Silicon Canals
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