Ever had someone say, “I’ll call you at 3,” and you believed them?  That’s adorable.  You cleared your schedule, silenced your notifications, and even rehearsed your talking points—only to realize a phone call has stood you up.

Congratulations, you’ve just met Maybe-Might: the Houdini of time commitments, a character flaw we’ve all encountered in some people.

What Exactly Is a Maybe-Might?

A Maybe-Might is someone who operates on the principle of “maybe I will, maybe I might.” They give you the illusion of certainty while secretly outsourcing the decision to fate, their mood, or the next shiny distraction.

Why Do They Do It?

• Power Play: Keeping you waiting makes them feel important.
• Overcommitment: They genuinely think they’ll call… until life happens.
• Low Accountability: They assume your time is elastic and infinitely forgiving.
• Low integrity: Their time is necessary, but yours isn’t.

The Fallout

• You block out time, rearrange your schedule, and maybe even skip lunch—only to end up staring at your phone like it owes you money.
• Trust erodes.  Frustration builds.  And you start wondering if carrier pigeons are making a comeback.  But remember, you’re not alone in this.  We’ve all been there, staring at our phones like they owe us money.

Real-Life Examples of Maybe-Might

• The Business Mirage: A client says, “Let’s talk at 2 p.m. sharp.” You prep your notes, clear your calendar, and… nothing.  At 4:30, you get a text: “Crazy day!  Can we do tomorrow?” Translation: Your time is arbitrary.
• The Social Houdini: A friend says, “I’ll call you tonight!” You stay up, phone in hand, ignoring Netflix.  Midnight hits, and you realize you’ve been ghosted harder than a bad Tinder date.
• The Serial Re-scheduler: They book a Zoom call, cancel 10 minutes before, and then send a cheery email: “Let’s touch base next week!” You start wondering if “next week” means “never.”

Top 5 Sarcastic Truths About Maybe-Might: “Nothing screams professionalism like promising a call and ghosting harder than a bad Tinder date.”

·         “Scheduling calls like eclipses—rare, unpredictable, and mostly disappointing.”

·         “Turning ‘I’ll call you at 3’ into a thrilling game of ‘Guess What Time Zone They Live In.’”

·         “When they say, ‘I’ll call you,’ what they really mean is ‘Cast fate to the wind”

·         “Why respect someone’s time when you can keep them on standby like an unpaid intern?”

·         “Why not treat your friends and associates like undesirable clowns?”

How to Handle Them

• Clarify upfront: “Is this a firm time or just a cosmic suggestion?”
• Set boundaries: “If I don’t hear from you by X, I’ll assume we’ll reschedule.”
• Mirror expectations: Treat their time as they treat yours—politely but firmly.

Humorous Conclusion

So next time someone says, “I’ll call you at 3,” just smile and think:

“Sure… and I’ll be waiting with my calendar, my hopes, and a snack—because this is going to be a long day.”

Call to Action:

Has a Maybe-Might burned you?  Share your funniest (or most frustrating) experience in the comments.  Let’s build the ultimate survival guide for dealing with these time-bandits and bond over our shared experiences.  Your story could be just what someone else needs to hear.