How many friends do you have? You might call many people friends, and you might call few people friends. I, personally, call very few people friends. Although a specific scenario may demand I use the word, I would consider a select few true ‘friends’.
I believe that the term ‘friend’ has become demented (just like the word gay… but that’s a post of itself) horribly. The question is, what is the definition of a friend? Well, today it seems to be something like ‘a person who you see once and learn their name’. This, to me, seems loose even for the word ‘acquaintance’.
So what should a friend be? He should be someone you enjoy talking and being with, someone who holds similar views to you, someone who will encourage and build you up, someone who will correct you if you fall. A friend should NOT be someone who will bring you down.
As for me, I’m proud to say that I have few friends. It’s probably just because I’m used to being the opposite to everyone else in every way.
*sigh*
I do love being an eccentric. Of course, sometimes situation demands that I use the word ‘friend’ for politeness’ sake, but that is just because it has become so mutilated that it is necessary not to offend. Think about who your friends are. I do.
Wow. That sounded extrodinariliy dull and lecture-/textbook-like. Sorry to put you through it, but I sorta wanted to get the message across. It IS a good point. I mean, really, you have to be careful as to who you call your friends… you never know when a bad one, pardon, an acquaintance, might lead you astray.
I shall keep this post on the topic of the title and will discontinue my rambling on. Next post will be about the word ‘gay’ and it’s abuse… now THAT is a topic that makes me… uh… red?
Hmm.
Somehow that doesn’t sound the way I meant it. Oh well.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
what about people you know who don’t share similar interests with you, but you are still ‘friends’ with. I know many people too well to be called ‘acquaintances’ but, then I only have maybe 2 really close friends. I don’t think having to many friends is good – I would prefer to have 1 or 2 really close friends, than dozens of ‘friends’ who I can barely say hi to on a Sunday Morning…
Caleb, this is a very good post. I agree with you; the word *is* used in a rather loose way, now. It’s rather, sad, actually, that many words’ meanings change over time.
I too don’t have very many friends by your standards. I have many, many aquaintances, but I have very few *true* friends. You might not think that if you were to look at my “friends list” on facebook, or anything, but I honestly don’t have very many close friends, whom I enjoy being around for hours upon hours, who build me up and strengthen me, and such.
I used to be rather sad about that, but now I see it as a blessing. It’s not as though people don’t like us(for we do have many aquaintances), it’s just that there are a precious few who really, really care about us, and take the time to get to know everything about us. And that’s a wonderful thing, the way I see it. *smiles*
Again, wonderful post, sir. Keep it up, and I shall see you in class!
You don’t have to share the same beliefs on everything, some people consider some of their arguements to be their best and deepest conversations.