[Aliantha]

What about if you think you're an inner ring, but you're actually an outer ring? I know a lot of people who like to put themselves closer to the drama so they can get some of the inward flowing sympathy, even if they probably aren't the one it should be directed at.

Teenage hierarchies come to mind in this instance. They all want to be the victim, except that one guy who wants to be all tough and say they're all shit.

I saw a lot of this trying to be 'inner ring' when my Mum was dying. Not to say my Mum had a lot of fake friends or anything, just that when it came to the crunch, I was the one doing all the supporting of friends and family coming to cry over Mum when it should probably have been the other way around.