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I saw a news piece today about how many hundreds of thousand of people are using FaceBook to connect with friends. Also, here on CS and other sites, people are making ‘friends’ with people they have not or may never meet in person. Makes you wonder what friendship is.

What does it mean to be a friend?

Has friendship changed in the recent past; that is, is it different than it used to be?

How do you choose someone to be a friend? Do you have criteria to be met for someone to be your friend?

Is it OK to have someone as a friend because that person can also be useful to you?


Do your friends affect your perspective on life, your decisions, your morals and values?

I am also on facebook and obviously on CS. I am so busy with my work and studies, etc. and technology has made it easy to communicate with friends.

But yes nothing beats a good old BBQ with close friends.

For me true friendship is a two way street. Someone that will alway's be there no matter what, listen, never be judgemental, never say 'I told you so'. I have many acquaintence's but 3 people i know are always there for me, my daughter and very special friend in UK and one person i have met on here.

Yea, I agree. I've got about 3 or 4 people I consider real friends, people who have been around for years and weathered some storms with me and in the friendship too, at least one of them, ha ha.

Thanks for replying to the thread. You're a gem.

i love your threads there a tonic on here!

I have found out the hard way, you can think you have loads of friends until life get's tough.

Thank you

Friendship is what I am after. To me, a friend is someone you can call any time and hang out with, call with a problem, share a new joy, do almost anything with that you would do with someone you are dating except for kissing and sex. I don't think you can have too many friends, but then I never hear anyone complain about having too many anyway. I am happy to be friends with male OR female, no matter what the shape, age, religion, race, etc. I think when you start getting real picky, its not real freindship any more.
quietwoman

Is it "real" friendship as long as it stays on-line, or does it need to be in person friendship to be real?

I am on Facebook..not really to make friends..but i have Family here that is on it..like brothers/sisters/sister in laws and so on..I have Family that is far away who use facebook so that is where i keep in contact with them...My honey of course is on there becos my Family far away has not met him yet..so they can email him there and see pictures...but i have a few friends that are on CS and that are on there as well...

Yes, I think it is a problem a lot of people have nowadays, being so busy with work it's easier to connect with friends on line--used to be the telephone, I think. But, I agree with you, in person meetings are the best.

How do you know when a friend is a real friend and not just a virtual friend or a casual friend or temporary, or whatever? What makes a friend a real friend?

I think it definately needs to be in person friendship to be real. Sure you can become friends with someone on line, but I would not consider it real friendship unless I actually met the person. True friends are there for each other. I too am on Facebook but not to make friends its more to keep in touch with my family in Australia..

To me a real friend is someone I open up to ... someone who I share my inner feelings with.

I agree with both your posts

Real friends are the ones who put their arms around you and hug you when youre struggling with life...virtual friends are good for offering words of support and comfort but can only become real friends by meeting and sealing the bond......jmo

well said

I hear about facebook, but do not know what it is. Can someone tell me if it is worth joining, and how would I do that.

Kitty i am there and so many on CS is there...you can meet new and more and family on there..Eric is there becos my family from far away wants to see him and his pictures and maybe talk with him

I would not mind joining to find out if any of my family that I have not seen in years is on there, how do I join.

Go to google and type in facebook.com..and add a profile..