Flakes. Everyone knows at least one.
You probably have an individual that comes to mind every time you hear the word. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, perhaps anticipating a pal with a dandruff problem or a huge cereal fan, you are far from considering the correct suspect.
A flake is an individual who makes plans and cancels them last minute, ie they flake out on you and your plans. This friend is the one that always says that they want to do brunch or see a movie or just hang out, then suddenly can't go for whatever the daily fabricated reason is, whether it be parents, work, illness, or some other bologna garbage excuse.
Sure, we all cancel plans from time to time, but for the flake, it is a chronic habit. You come to realize that plans with them are rarely ever plans at all. An air of spontaneity is needed when dealing with them, and even then, the threat of cancelled unplanned plans still looms.
With that, I propose a question to all the flakes of the world. Why???
I guess I just don't get it. It's one thing to make plans and cancel ahead of time ( which honestly isn't much better but at least then you don't have to change out of your pajamas) but a constant cycle of yes-yes-just kidding no makes for heavy damage in the reliability department. No one can trust a flake. No one can rely on a flake.
The flake becomes the back burner friend, and more of then than not, also the forgotten friend, due to their inability to hold a commitment.
If you don't want to hang out with someone, tell them!! If you have other plans, be open about it! It doesn't do any good to get someone's hopes up only to cancel over and over again. Starting with a "no, sorry, I'm not feeling it" or a "my mother/boyfriend/sister/dog/boss needs me" keeps intentions clear and evenings free.
Don't waste my time and my chance for a fun adventure on your unreliable half-accepted plans. It's no fun waiting around for someone to hang out with, but it's even worse to anticipate a good time and get slapped with a cancellation or an excuse.
To the flakes of the world: get yourself together. It's rude and unfair to hold someone else's time hostage like that, and it makes you look like irrelevant company. Nobody wants a friend that only cares when convenient.
Bottom line: don't be a flake. Own up to your own preferences and be decent enough to give a warning when you can't be tied down. Don't be that guy.
