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."