question on friendship

Vivamus

Someone just recently told me his opinion on friendship. And now I am wondering what your thoughts are.

What defines friendship?

What makes one valuable as a friend?

Hugs, Viv.

xenawarrior

okay, I'll jump in here:

What makes someone valuable as a friend?

The best friendships I've had and the ones that have lasted the longest are the ones with folks whom I really matter to and I can feel that from them when I interact with them. And those folks also happen to be the ones who understand the human condition and give me room to screw up along the way or struggle aimlessly at times. And those folks know that I care about them enough that they get that in return. With those people, I know that when things are good, they are genuinely happy about it. I get directness and honesty from them and I give it in return.

They say that in crisis, you will find out who your true friends are. It is very true.

The best friends you can have are the ones you can "grow up" with along the way.

XW

Edited by - xenawarrior on 22 September 2002 3:55:26

blondie

friendship = trust

Europe

A good friend is someone who knows everything about you and still likes you a lot!!!

Gopher

Combining the comments from Blondie and Europe, I have created the following formula:

Friendship = Trust + Intimacy + Compassion

Vivamus

Hmmm, but what is it, that makes others valuable as friends? What makes you think of one person, "that is a friend" and makes you turn away from others. What is it that you seek in people?

Sentinel

Hi Viv,

For me a friend is special. But there are different types of friends. I have some new acquaintances on here, and some that have emailed me. I work every day with a group of people and they are acquaitances, as I don't know them outside of the office. They are acquaintances right now. As the relationship grows, there might be a point in time, where they become real friends.

I've never had lots of friends, and I believe that's because of the way I define a friend. I believe a friend is almost like a fleshly brother or sister, only even better sometimes. Someone who really knows you, how you feel about things, what makes you tick. Someone who has the same belief system going and who will let you know if they think you are making a mistake in judgment, or will praise you when you do something good. Someone who sees all your faults, but loves you the same. And this has to go both ways. One sided friendship doesn't work. Sometimes a friend will make you angry, but this is because friends say it like it is, and that isn't always easy to accept. Friendship is being there for the other person in good times and bad.

My husband is my very best friend. I also have two girlfriends from gradeschool, whom I keep in touch with regularly. My sibblings are my friends.

Friends are a blessing indeed.

Sentinel/Karen

scootergirl

To me, a friend is someone who I can be myself around. They don't judge but love me for who I am. There is trust between us. A friend is someone that I can laugh with, someone who shares my sense of humor as well as me sharing theirs. I chose a certain type of people to be my friend because I can relate to them. I only chose people that I can respect to be my friend.

BadJerry

A true friend (my example) - someone who, because of being " of the world" and you being part of the wts, you don't talk to for 10 years...time goes by - you escape the "borg"...you make contact with friend from the past and he says "no apologies necessary, let's talk Sunday". Hey that's today and IMHO that's what friendship is all about!

Mac

was about to respond but xw said it so succinctly, I,ll just say ditto

question on friendship

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