By: Ariana Wiggins (’19), Staff Writer
If you’ve ever looked yourself in the mirror trying to find where the words “PLAY ME” are printed on your forehead, you’re not alone. Let’s be clear, the person being played is never the one to blame. But if you want to catch some early signs of a player in action, this guide is for you. Drawing on my own experiences and those of my fellow women, I created a list of three tactics that men often to use to play women, each paired with a tip to cancel out that tactic. You’ll be able to know a player as well as he knows his game controller.
- Only wants to hang out in private. Lots of “let’s watch movies” and “come through and chill,” sometimes in the wee hours of the morning. It may feel like he wants your quality time, but he’s probably just trying to finesse.
Tip: Meet up in public settings. See if he acts differently, or if he refuses to meet at all… because that would be sus.
Why: If he’s serious about you, he should be pretty consistent with how he treats you in any setting.
- Has you on a rotation. Just to have options, you know. Don’t wanna get used to just one person. Since he’s single, it’s ~technically~ okay, but the odds are, he’s probably keeping his rotation a secret to make you think you’re special
Tip: Don’t catch feelings too soon. In other words, don’t get attached to the idea of him. Respect the present situation and continue going through life as usual.
Why: This won’t steer him away if he is actually interested in you. If anything, it would only draw him closer to you. And to be real, he can’t play you if you never had feelings for him in the first place (woo, I love loopholes).
- Speaks straight fictions. He lies all the time about little sneaky things that you probably wouldn’t even notice, just to keep his lifestyle on the low and leave you unsure of how he truly feels.
Tip: Trust his actions, not his words. Read between the lines, sis! Patterns and abnormalities in someone’s actions can tell you everything you need to know.
Why: Some people tell the truth, and others lie. But actions? They’re undeniable.
Of course, everyone is different so these tips may not apply to each situation. Before anything, you should always trust your instincts. Remember that you have the power! Now use it to power off the game they’ve been trying to run. I hope they had fun while it lasted.
