The closest word I can think of is a sycophant but that’s a strong word. The word I’m thinking of has negative connotations and it’s for someone who is friends with different groups but only at a superficial level and isn’t necessarily honest about who all they’re friends with. This person would be seen as untrustworthy.
I’d call them normal.
credo@lemmy.world 8 months ago
You all are harsh.
“A social butterfly is a slang term for a person who is socially dynamic, successful at networking, charismatic, and personally gregarious. Usually, social butterflies don’t belong to a particular group, but rather jump from one group to another.” Wilipedia
Pat12@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Hmm I think it’s fine if someone is a social butterfly, they don’t have bad intentions etc. I am talking about someone who seems like you can trust them but actually they have other loyalties, I live in a place where people get arrested for supporting democracy for example
wahming@monyet.cc 8 months ago
If we’re talking where consequences of their friendships get you thrown in jail, traitor is a pretty good word.
reinei@lemmy.world 8 months ago
I heard them called “bats” because they flap around between different groups and are associated with darkness thus “shady”!
pantyhosewimp@lemmynsfw.com 8 months ago
In the USA, one term we have for this kind of person is “poseur”.
credo@lemmy.world 8 months ago
What about perfidious gadabout?
I think your focus is on the disloyalty, but really there are two aspects of your description that make it difficult to find s single word which fits well. I’m also thinking the individual isn’t necessarily disloyal, but rather loyal to an unseen cause. E.g., disingenuous. If the person is a plant, then “mole” comes to mind.