Friends and acquaintances

Post Reply New Topic

There are quite a few posts by others here saying they don't have any friends. I can't help but wish to know more. What kind of people would you consider to be a friend and likewise, an acquaintance?

I'm asking cos I think everyone's view of what they consider to be a friend or acquaintance can be very different.

Sometimes by simply understanding our inner definitions of what constitutes a friend and so on from different perspectives, we might gain new insight or better understanding into our past and present relationships with others; and hopefully some of us can reconsider whether any change is necessary in the way things are being perceived.

I shall start by sharing mine.

Friends to me are those who you can totally be yourself when you are with them - they know your flaws, fears and desires, but would never exploit or manipulate you in any way for cheap fun, ambition or ill-will.

Acquaintances are just people who I happen to know their faces or names. Colleagues or classmates can be acquaintances, for example.

Ehlien, I am on par with you about friends vs. acquaintances. Some people do see or define these differently, sometimes they do it naturally without realizing it and consider some acquaintances friends.

I have to have that connection, or i just can't say someone is my friend.

My boyfriend is EXTREMELY social, and has a large number of real friends. He has been careful to cultivate a network of the most open, accepting people I've ever met. I am able to be myself in front of them in a very short period of time (well, short for me. 3 or 4 months, maybe?), because I know what type of people they are. But, even though I'm surprisingly comfortable around them, they aren't MY friends. They're his.

I feel lucky to have two friends, that I can be myself, around, who accept my kinks and quirks.