Dear Prudence,
I’ve noticed people have a habit of saying things along the lines of, “I miss you,” “We should catch up,” or even further with, “You’re such a good friend,” but don’t always mean it or follow through. I wouldn’t think of telling someone their friendship meant a lot to me or make empty offers to get together if I didn’t truly believe it. I wonder what someone thinks they’re doing for me by saying it, and it’s made me a little more guarded in general and reluctant to open myself up to friends who seem to be sincere. Why would someone say these things when they don’t mean it, and how do I distinguish between genuine people and everyone else?
—Only Living Boy in New York