According to research, 43 percent of women are guilty of communifaking, as are 32 percent of men and 74 percent of 18-24 year olds. So what is it? Communifaking is the act of pretending to be calling, texting or surfing the web on your phone when, in reality, you're just an impostor. You might be trying to look busy waiting in line, you might be trying to show off your shiny new iPhone for a lady, or (most often for me) trying to avoid awkward conversations with strange men at bars.
Here are some rules when communifaking;
Are you a communifaker? Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the 'faking, you should check out the list of situations where you should and shouldn't be posing.
When it's OK to communifake:
- To avoid unwanted male or female attention.
- When you're at an event and you know absolutely no one and are feeling a bit lonely and must do a bit of fakery for the benefit of your own sanity.
- When you're a child who doesn't know any better.
- When you've turned up to your meeting ill-prepared and are buying time to think.
- You're trying to look productive.
- To avoid looking like a loser at a party because you don't know anyone other than the person who's party it is (they can't hang around with you all night).
- You're on a date and have just realized you've made a horrible horrible mistake and need an escape.
- A friend is boring or annoying the hell out of you and you need to make a break for it before you kill her/him.
When it's not OK to communifake:
- Attempting to show off your new handset.
- To talk loudly and essentially show off about what you've been up to lately, hoping the surrounding people are listening and oozing with jealousy.
- When attempting to shop lift.
- When trying to look cool so you don't look like a loner waiting for friends.
- When on a bus or mrt/lrt. (Believe it or not, but there are still some who haven't realized there's no signal underground yet.)
- When expecting a call. When the phone rings mid 'conversation' you'll just end up looking the fool.
"People experience the need to appear socially busy at all times and 'just waiting' is a no-no. Our basic human instinct is to be part of a group. Alone we can feel more vulnerable."