It’s crazy how impossible it is to actually know what’s inside someone’s head. One moment a person is laughing, looking normal, and the next moment they’re doing something so dark that nobody around them ever saw it coming. We’ve all seen it — people who seemed “fine” suddenly take their own life, or someone who looked like a loving parent turns out to be capable of the worst crimes. Humans can be unpredictable as hell.
The real problem? People are unbelievably good at faking. That’s why, the moment someone feels “off,” I don’t argue with it — I distance myself. No drama, no second chances, no trying to decode their scent or their vibe. If a person is pretending or hiding something, you’re out. Simple.
And some people genuinely might as well have “snake” stamped on their forehead. You can’t always explain it, but their energy tells you enough. Staying away saves you peace, time, and sometimes your life.
So who are these “snakes”?
Mostly people who lack the basics that make someone human. Research usually points to a few patterns:
Low empathy: They don’t feel what others feel. Other people are tools, not humans.
High manipulativeness: They can put on perfect charm while planning something selfish underneath.
No remorse: They can hurt someone and sleep peacefully afterwards.
Impulsiveness: They act without thinking, and everyone else deals with the fallout.
Emotional instability: One moment they’re calm, next moment they’re chaos.
Narcissistic traits: Everything is about them; they believe they’re special and entitled.
Lack of social connection: They can’t integrate into normal society, so they move through people instead of with them.
These traits show up in personality disorders like antisocial personality disorder or certain forms of narcissism, and they don’t magically get better because you were “nice” to them.
The truth
You can’t read everyone’s intentions, and honestly, you don’t need to. You only need to pay attention to what they consistently show you. People who have lost all sense of empathy, responsibility, or reality — those are the ones to avoid.
And avoiding them isn’t paranoia. It’s smart survival. You don’t owe anyone access to your life.
Sometimes walking away early is the best kind of wisdom.
