第2101期：那些总在最后一刻说“不好意思来不了了”的人

I bet you know someone who always cancels on you at the last minute, and they give various bizarre excuses

These people are quick to promise and break it at will. They always bail on plans or appointments they agreed to.

They bail on you all the time. They stand you up without feeling shame. They just flake on their plans constantly.

They chose other more “important” things to do over keeping their promise to you.

上周末跟一群老友聚会，提前一个月就定好了日子，九个人说来的来的，结果到了聚会当天早上，一个说不好意思家里临时来了亲戚走不开了，一个说哎呀早上突然感冒了不去传染你们了，一个说老板忽然来电话叫去公司紧急加班……

一个了解这三位大侠的朋友说一点都不惊讶，认识他们二十年了，基本上每次都这样，答应得比谁都痛快，爽约得比谁都随便，bad track record。

这种行为方式令人生厌，嘴上不说，人人都不舒服，一种被忽略被糊弄的感觉。

这些人可以统称为 promise breakers吧。

这种行为在美国俚语中有个专门的词： Social zapping

Social zapping is a phenomenon of inherent self-interest, where individuals cancel appointments spontaneously (at the last minute) with others to pursue options they deem best for themselves.

很贴切。

我一般把这种人暗暗称为 last-minute-promise-fuckers.