When do you consider someone a friend?

Hey everyone,

It's been crossing my mind lately but what are the signals should a person be looking out for when they can consider someone their friend?

A lot of advice nowadays is to go out, be social and make friends. But when can you really consider someone your friend?

From my point of view I have no idea, the friendships I have are really strong and the only common thing about my friends is that we all went to the same high school or college and that's about it.

If I would have to contribute I would say that:

  • Being comfortable with expressing all your ideas and opinions to them and vice-versa without being offended.

  • The ability to discuss anything with them.

  • Being able to talk shit or make fun of them without feeling offended and vice-versa

  • Hanging out often.

What about you guys?

16 Comments
 

I have some friendships like yours, and others that are different. It really depends on the person and the circumstances, as well how loosely you use the word "friend." Check out Nichomacean Ethics by Aristotle and read his portion on Friendship. I like the way he categorizes friendships- we all do in a way.

**How is my grammar? Drop me a note with any errors you see!**
 

I read so many depressing stories about social life after college and I think it is about how people pedestalize "the college experience" as the only time when you can make a lot of friends. Then leave it up to countless sites run by millennials putting up depressing story after depressing story about social life as you get older. You were supposed to have had fun in college and then you're supposed to settle down and have kids shortly after.

A lot of this has to do with how so many high traffic blogs, media, and American society have built up the college experience as the apex of social life and everything after it being depressing. It just makes a lot of younger guys so confused, it's like they're supposed to be lonely and depressed after college so they go around looking for answers like OP.

It's pathetic IMO, not just OP but just how much the social experience of college has been pedestalized by American society.

Things are different these days, people get married at an older age, but it seems like popular culture hasn't really caught up with modern social trends yet.

 

You can make friends after college too. You just have to get out there have some fun and meet people.

**How is my grammar? Drop me a note with any errors you see!**
 

We need a "Social skills for 'spergs" subforum.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 

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