Miss ZebraFor weeks I've walked around campus seeing various flyers for the candidates running for positions in student government. President, Vice President, Representative, Andrew, Nathaniel, Catherine, etc... Eventually the names run all together, right? Until they come to life...
"Hi, my name is _______." I look up into a talking poster - not really, but a face that has been plastered across the walls recently was now standing in front of me, talking. The conversation was short, but he seemed a nice enough guy. I invited him to a student organization meeting a few days later and he said he'd come, but I seriously doubted it.Elections are a week away; of course he had to say he'd come, right?
But he did! We ended up talking for an hour after the meeting ended and I kept thinking, "Wow he really is a nice guy." But that is when reality hit...I was totally being campaigned.
Elections were in less than a week at that time, and I was involved in a department he had never touched really before with campaigning. My "duh" moment of why he was being so nice really was revolutionary. I left shortly thereafter, saying I had voice lessons (dismissing the fact they didn't start for another half hour) and breathed a sigh of relief.
But that's what politicians are supposed to do, right? Like everybody, smile a lot, have everybody like you so you can get their votes. I don't have a problem with that, I really don't. So I proceeded the friendship with that in mind.
So elections have come and gone (he won) and though the email messages have slowed down, they're still there. I don't think he's flirting or interested (there's an eight-year age difference between us and vastly different belief systems, as far as I can tell) but it made me start to think, how in the world can you tell if someone who is a politician or has a politician-like personality is really interested in you or is just "doing their job"? They HAVE to like everybody, so when do you know when it's different with you? Have you ever been in this situation (in either position?) What did you do and how did it turn out?
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Comments (8)
Well, the only thing I can think of is.. time will tell. It's not like you can strap them up to a lie detector within five minutes of the first flirtatious statement. Nor are they going to say, "I'm only being nice because I want your vote. I'd also appreciate it if you'd tell your friends what a nice man / woman I am so they'll vote for me too. Thanks, you're a sexy woman / man."
If someone is up for waiting, possibly liking them back, they'll find out whether it's for real or if it's for a vote. That's the only way. You can never really predict what a person is going to do, or their motive for doing it.
an hour is a long time to dedicate to a single vote. i wouldn't sell the guy short.
They're supposed to be composed, but they don't have to like everyone. Being charismatic is part of a "good" politician's repertoire. Plus, an entire hour for one measly vote (no offense) wouldn't be a very efficient use of his time. This is just the other way of looking at him. Maybe he was after your vote, after all.
I agree with everyone else, but you have to remember that if he won your vote, theres the possibility that you would go and tell your friends, and they would vote for him as well.
I think if a politician is interested in someone they would spend more time with that person than what is normally required. I don't know.
I like how you said "I just got campaigned."
That's a gray area, but I would be flattered nonetheless. Unless you actually LIKE this guy, can you really complain about him being nice to you?
mmm... it's nice he's nice, but its kind of their job isn't it?
I've been in a similar situation: I couln't tell if he was only interest in the help I could give him or if he really was interested in ME...
He likes u a little, but this type of ppl are willing to do almost anything to get what they want, so I wudn't trust him that much, I'd always b suspiscious...