14 Subtle Red Flags To Watch Out for When First Meeting Someone

People try to put their best foot forward. They’ll smile and charm you in an effort to make a good impression, but they can’t hide everything. Here are some subtle red flags to watch out for. 

Dumbing Things Down

Confused looking man scratching his head.
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If they’re already acting like you’re too dumb to understand what they do for a living, there’s probably nothing you can do to convince them otherwise. 

Can’t Own Up To Mistakes

Couple pointing fingers at each other to blame each other.
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Watch closely when someone corrects them. Do they accept it gracefully or double down and insist they’re right? 

If you’re a woman engaging with a man, pay attention to how he acts when a man corrects him versus a woman. 

Negging

A mean man points and laughs at his girlfriend.
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Pick-up artists convinced scores of men that the best way to get a date was to insult a woman. They’ll say things like, “You’re smart for a girl,” or “I usually don’t like tall girls, but you’re pretty cool!”

Watch out for stuff like that and avoid people who do it. 

Gossip

Senior man and woman giggling and gossiping.
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People who will gossip to you will absolutely gossip about you. Watch out for folks who start “spilling” secrets the second they meet you. 

Putting You on the Defensive

An annoyed looking woman wearing a flannel shirt with her hand out as if to say "why?".
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Some folks purposely say slightly negative things about you to trick you into defending yourself. When you do, you divulge more information about yourself that they can use against you later. Don’t play into their game. 

All About Them

A smug woman points to herself.
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When they’re happy to spend hours bragging about themselves and don’t let you get a word in edgewise, you can assume they will always be the only important thing in their life. 

Minimizing People’s Feelings

Man shrugging his shoulders like he doesn't care at all.
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A good person will validate someone’s feelings, while a selfish person will minimize them. Pay attention to how they react to hurt feelings. Are they dismissive or empathetic?

Can’t Not Know

Man with a smug smile slightly tilting his glasses down.
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No one knows everything. Someone who pretends they do probably has a massive, fragile ego. 

Talk a Big Game

A man in a loud purple suit shouts into a megaphone to promote something.
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Good people don’t have to share their goodness with the world. People who brag about how “good” they are want others to think they’re good without putting in the work of actually being good. 

Interruptions

Man holding his hand up to amplify his voice so he's loud.
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A conversation should be back and forth. They should let you get your thoughts out before responding. Some folks can’t keep their thoughts in and give others the respect of listening. 

Their Sense of Humor

Man leaning over olding his belly pointing and laughing while looking off towards something different.
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Some folks think they’re funny when they’re just mean. They’re probably not a good person if their humor is all about stereotypes, pranks, or putting others down. 

How They Describe Themselves

An unsure woman scratches her head thinking.
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Many people will describe themselves as they want you to see them, not as they really are. If they have to convince you that they’re nice, giving, and caring, they probably aren’t. 

Oversharing

A man and woman sit on a bench. He's obviously annoyed, but she's oblivious and talking.
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Oversharers can be clingy and toxic. Watch for folks who tell you their entire life story within seconds of meeting them. 

That’s Just How I Am

Pretty woman shrugging with her palms face up on a pink background.
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Mean people justify their rudeness by claiming that’s just who they are. They’re not mean, they’re honest. 

Be wary of someone who doesn’t understand tact. 

They Brag About Weird Stuff

Woman with glasses and one eye closed looks confused and unsure of herself.
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People boast about the weirdest things. Here are the top things people are inexplicably proud of

They Show Signs of Selfishness

Proud looking selfish man wearing a crown looking down on others.
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In this world, you’re all you’ve got. Most people are too concerned about themselves to think of others. While good people exist, it’s harder and harder to find them in the sea of selfishness. 

Here are the top red flags you’re dealing with a selfish person

They Go Along with Society’s Lies

A woman has her hand on her chin and her eyes looking off to the left with a look of confusion on her face.
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Even the smartest among us fall for these everyday lies
 

Watch Out for Wokefishing

woman on a date facing camera with an expression of disdain about her date
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Online dating is a cesspool, and now women have to navigate yet another insidious scheme: wokefishing. Find out why men lie about politics and why women refuse to date them

Warning Signs it’s Weaponized Incompetence

Confused looking mad scratching his head.
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Not sure if your partner is truly dumb or just pretending to be dumb to escape work? Here are some warning signs that it’s weaponized incompetence

Source: Reddit

Author: Melanie Allen

Title: Journalist

Expertise: Pursuing Your Passions, Travel, Wellness, Hobbies, Finance, Gaming, Happiness

Melanie Allen is an American journalist and happiness expert. She has bylines on MSN, the AP News Wire, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and numerous media outlets across the nation and is a certified happiness life coach. She covers a wide range of topics centered around self-actualization and the quest for a fulfilling life.