What is a friend to you?

[Uberfuhrer]

I'm asking from a philosophical point of view. In your own words, how do you define a friend?

I will not respond to this thread. I'm just interested in different viewpoints.

[Owl]

A friend is someone who shares your deepest concerns in common.

[Athenian200]

Originally Posted by Uberfuhrer

I'm asking from a philosophical point of view. In your own words, how do you define a friend?

I will not respond to this thread. I'm just interested in different viewpoints.

Someone with whom I enjoy conversations, share mutual interests, and whose perspectives I can relate to. And of course, them being able to say the same about me. It has to be mutual.

[Colors]

Someone I willingly spend time with to seek companionship.

Someone who will lend me an ear to listen to my problems- and be sympathetic- while also doling out the verbal smackdown when I'm totally in the wrong (and I can't see it). Someone with whom I'm comfortable returning this favor. Because we both know we've got each other's interests in mind. Tough love.

A friend is trustworthy.

[kyuuei]

That's the person I can punch in the face, yell at, get pissed, and any other crazy thing I can think up.. It's someone I'm never worried about losing in my life. I know they're always going to be there.. there's a deep sense of security in that. And whatever dumbass thing I do, I know they'll still be there when the dust settles. That's more important to me than anything else, is the loyalty. It's what sets friends from aquaintances.

[GZA]

Someone who I can just sit there comfortably with and have a good time. I was camping with my best friend of 9 years and we hardly even talked. We just sat, or walked around, and it was a lot of fun because we really don't even need to talk to eachother to have fun, we both just sort of get it, know what I mean? We don't even really agree on everything or have similar perosnalities, but our personalities click in a unique way where it all works perfectly.

Kyuuei's description is quite good on this one.

[Giggly]

A friend is someone who is supportive and desires what's best for you, and you for them.

[lastrailway]

I've answered in a similar thread at INTPc some time ago and it was then when I realised that I have the lowest standards ever regarding friendships.
People that I can have fun with and they don't wish to harm me in some way. And that's about all of it.

[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."

[Magic Poriferan]

For someone to be a friend, I must have gathered sufficient reason to believe that:

They want what is best for me.
They would put my needs higher than that of a stranger.
I can confide in them.
I can presume their honesty with me.
They want to have me as a friend (seems kind of obvious, and yet, none of the other factors actually guarantee this one).
And lastly, they must be able to understand me to some minor extent. I still can't define what the exact extent is, but it's a problem when someone wants to do all of the above things for you, but can't comprehend your personal goals.

For me, friends are rare. I would not expect anyone to be my friend if they doubted my capacity to meet the above requirements, just as I would be wary of befriending them.