Asking Eric: Friends constantly cancel plans, tell me about this news in (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/10/asking-eric-friends-constantly-cancel-plans/)

In the “Asking Eric” advice column published on September 10, 2026, titled “Friends constantly cancel plans,” a reader writes to columnist R. Eric Thomas seeking perspective on how to deal with chronically unreliable friends.The letter writer shares a history of acquaintances and friends repeatedly backing out of commitments at the last minute, sometimes offering dismissive or outright rude explanationssuch as canceling lunch plans because another friend (“John”) suddenly became available to hang out instead. Frustrated by the lack of respect and reciprocity, the reader explains that their strategy has been to pull back emotionally and maintain a civil, polite, but distant stance toward these flaky individuals rather than continuously putting effort into one-sided arrangements.In his response, Eric validates the writer’s frustration and supports their decision to create distance. He emphasizes that while life circumstances can occasionally disrupt plans, repeatedly ditching a commitmentespecially to trade up for a supposedly better social optionsignals a disregard for the other person’s time. Eric advises that remaining civil while setting firm boundaries is a healthy way to protect one’s energy, and he encourages the writer to redirect their social efforts toward people who genuinely value and respect their presence and commitments.