If you’re curious what someone thinks of you, ask them. The effectiveness of this method is due partly to its unexpectedness. Conventions would have you come to conclusions through indirect means, by observation or by accumulation of evidences from conversations. Ask directly “do you respect me?” or “do you hold me in high regard?”. If “yes” is their answer, there are two possible scenarios behind it, both of which provide you with a positive outcome.

Scenario 1: they genuinely respect you. This is a positive outcome for obvious reasons.

Scenario 2: they say “yes” but “no” is really more accurate. Scenario 2 requires further social domination on your part in order for it to yield the positive outcome it can potentially grant you. All that is required is the blunt declaration “You either mean what you say or you don’t. If you do, that’s fine well and good and thank you. If you don’t, your lying is a testament to your lack of self confidence, you harbor a fear of confrontation.” It’s possible, indeed necessary, that if you were unsure which scenario the “yes” answer belonged to, the above declaration would need to be voiced even in the case of scenario 1. Their reaction to the declaration should provide sufficient material for you to determine the honesty of their “yes” and conclude whether or not they were attempting to master deceit.

If they answer “no” you have met a formidable opponent who doesn’t waste time living the child-like ‘two-faced-friend’ status.