My friends don't take me seriously.

[ZzKingz]

I might sound like a bitch in this post. Just a heads-up.

My friends don't take me seriously. I know this because of the automatic skepticism I get whenever I express my opinions, which honestly, aren't that far out. Some of my friends ignore my texts. One friend never responds to my messages and I have like 20 sent messages accumulated over months lined up that haven't been responded to. Kinda makes me feel like a loser. I occasionally try to make plans, and either I don't get a response, they're busy, they're "busy," or some just flat out say "no" and give me a brutally honest explanation. It's totally disrespectful to me and I feel that I don't deserve it.

I listen to my friends, ask them about their day (not in the middle of a conversation or anything, so it's okay), give advice when they ask for it, laugh at their jokes, and respect them. I am actually a really sensitive person. I feel obnoxious for saying that, but really, I am. I hate it when certain friends blow me off like this. I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

Take Dylan and Sydney. I've been talking to Dylan since last year, when he actually respected me. This year I eat lunch with Dylan and Sydney. They were nice at first, but progressively I've been feeling more and more insecure around them. There was an incident in October in which we were smoking pot and my "psycho parents" (I sort of agree lol) tracked down my iPhone since I wasn't where I told them I'd be. For obvious reasons they [my friends] revoked my pot privileges. That started a "dumbass" phase where whenever I say something stupid, they'd call me a dumbass, which is fine. Laugh and move on. It progressed the point to which every time I would say something out of line with what they were thinking, they'd call me out on it. Then came the "Austin you sound really gay right now" on top of that. Last week I came out to them and it stopped for two days. I guess they figure it's been long enough so they can call me out all the time without offending me. I'm not offended, I just really wish they'd take me seriously.

I don't know what to say, really. I constantly feel like I bother people, and I want to tell my friends that they are completely disrespectful to me. I don't want to be a bitch though. In addition, what would I be asking by saying that? I'm not going to tell them to respond to my texts. That simply isn't cool.

please don't tell me to ditch them and find new friends. I want to make things better. I have a philosophy that I can be friends with just about anyone (and believe me, I enjoy being around them, I just don't feel like it's mutual) if I'm tolerant and open minded. What should I do?????

[Wooba]

I'm probably going to end up giving you advice you've heard over and over again, but it's worth a shot.

Basically, tell them how you feel - everything. if you do believe that you three are good friends, and they're on the same page, go for it. maybe them picking on you is their way of showing friendship? I will admit it's a strange way to show it, but who knows.

I've always been in the position of having no one to hang out with outside of school, talk to in classes, or just sit next to in lunch. All of my school career i've been separated from my friends, while they all have classes together. It's frustrating, and i know how it can feel.

So just tell both of them straight out how you feel, and if they continue to pick on you without realizing the harm it's doing to your friendship, then ditch them. they won't be worth the added stress.:)

[Gizzie]

I agree with Primal Instinct.
You have to first of all realise that they probably have no clue that they are making you feel bad.
Tell them how you feel.

When you do talk to them though, you might want to decide in advance whether to tell them when they are both present, or talk to them one on one.
This will totally rely on what your friends are like.
I had friends who are decent when they are alone, making it better to talk to them in person, and other friends who would scheme behind my back so it was better to talk to them at the same time so that they couldnt go and discuss the matter before hand.

On the other hand though, you mentioned that you feel like you are doing something wrong.
This may sound harsh, but maybe you are doing something wrong too.
You know, when you see someone being bullied, as much as you think the bully should be punished you can always see that the bullied kid is making himself too much of an easy target.
i am not saying that you are, but in order to protect yourself going forwardm you way want to reevaluate that too.

Anyhow, I hope you can solve things out with your friends.
I admire your patience because if I were you, I would ditch them and move on.

[Mortal Coil]

A lot of this sounds like tough love. They probably don't even realize how bad they're making you feel. If you talk to them and they honestly care about you, they'll probably just stop being like that. If they don't, chances are you have to "man up or GTFO." I know that's the ultimatum given to me a lot.
Sorry your friends are like that, and I hope that the situation gets better.

[Desuetude]

Talk to them, let them know how you're feeling and that it hurts when they call you those things. If you really want to stay friends and make things right between you you need to make sure that they listen to you, that they do take you seriously.
It sounds like you need to gain their respect, just try and join in with them more. Like people have said, tough love, they probably think they're just playing and that it doesn't affect you.
Talk to them, there is nothing else you can do.