What is a friend to you?

[Giggly]

Originally Posted by ajblaise

*goes to dictionary.com*

..I actually think this definition is nice and short and accurate:

"a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard."

Nice. I wonder though, if this were between two people of the opposite gender, would this turn into romantic feelings?

[ajblaise]

Originally Posted by Hmm

Nice. I wonder though, if this were between two people of the opposite gender, would this turn into romantic feelings?

I think, if affection is involved, and they are both physically attracted to each other, there is a decent chance of those feeling developing, at least on one end of the relationship.

[bluemonday]

Originally Posted by ajblaise

*goes to dictionary.com*

..I actually think this definition is nice and short and accurate:

"a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard."

That's an F friend. I prefer T friends. Someone who calls me on my shit. Who values the truth above the friendship. That's priceless, and rare.

[ajblaise]

Originally Posted by bluemonday

That's an F friend. I prefer T friends. Someone who calls me on my shit. Who values the truth above the friendship. That's priceless, and rare.

You think a T can't have personal regard for someone and still call them out of their shit? Same with affection? (Though if there is affection involved there will be a possibly higher chance of them being less hard on each other)

[bluemonday]

Originally Posted by ajblaise

You think a T can't have personal regard for someone and still call them out of their shit? Same with affection? (Though if there is affection involved there will be a possibly higher chance of them being less hard on each other)

Sure, I'm just placing the emphasis on what's important to me, which wasn't covered by your def. I have mostly F friends, but I get sick of all the niceness.
Sometimes you just wanna hear it unvarnished, raw and real.

[01011010]

Originally Posted by bluemonday

Sometimes you just wanna hear it unvarnished, raw and real.

Yes. I trust an individual that will give me blunt truth far more than flowery discourse.

Friends to me are select people I've gotten to know over a long period time. We share common interests, experiences, and an emotional connection. They never heckle me if I disappear (communication wise) for a month or more, and I them.

[bluemonday]

Originally Posted by 01011010

Yes. I trust an individual that will give me blunt truth far more than flowery discourse.

Friends to me are select people I've gotten to know over a long period time. We share common interests, experiences, and an emotional connection. They never heckle me if I disappear (communication wise) for a month or more, and I them.

Must be an NT thing.

[soleil]

Someone genuine, loyal, and honest.

[OneWithSoul]

someone who has their heart wired like your own.

[helen]

I consider someone a friend when:

We care about eachother's well being.

There is a high level of trust and comfortableness in the relationship.

We can and do talk about personal struggles and concerns.

We actively seek each other's company and conversation and our friendship exists independently of circumstances throwing us together.

I have often pondered what pre-existing conditions are necessary for these dynamics to come into play between me and another individual. Sometimes it seems so random, you go through life, meeting people, trying to be somewhat pleasant, and some folks just stick around while others don't. I'm not sure what makes the difference. *shrugs*

Another observation: friendship is not like family affection or romance or general benevolence. It has little survival value, but it is one of the things that makes survival most worthwhile.