Do You Need Friends?

[banker_frank]

Do you prefer a large group of friends and acquaintances, or are you happier with one or two very close friends? Do you, by choice , have no friends at all and happy and comfortable with this?

[bainbrig]

Like all on here, I have no friends on Answerbank. Plenty of people whose answers I like to read (and plenty I ignore).

But ‘friends’? Of course not.

If you’re going to define friendship as ‘knowing’ someone’s invented name, and occasionally agreeing with their loony views, then you’re going to have to invent a new word for actual friends - someone you’ve broken bread with, drunk with, laughed and cried with, whose hand you’ve held, whose tears you’ve dried. Someone whose name you know, who, having not met for decades, is delighted to see you again.

As Mike Hogan said, or nearly said: “Friends? Nah, THAT’s what I call a friend.”

BillB

PS Still think Banker Frank should be called Frank the Banker.

[-SharonA-]

I have a small circle of friends and very much prefer it that way.
We can talk about anything and we help each other.

[retrocop]

I have two,what I call, true loyal friends. I first met them when I was five and we have stuck together through thick and thin for sixty years. Each of us know we would drop everything and come running if help was required. I never met my true brother so I can't wish better than my mates. Anyone else are just acquaintances who I can take or leave. I love my immediate family but can survive happily on my own in solitude. The only serious friends I will always miss are the two dogs that I considered more intelligent and loyal than a lot of humans I have had the misfortune to meet.

[NellieMay]

A few close friends, even though we are not close now in miles, in fact they are not in the UK. One very close relative, again miles away now. Lots of nice acquaintances. We don't do social gatherings, by choice. Most of my Facebook friends are people I know off line. There a few people on here I would like to meet, but I wouldn't class as friends.

[Cloverjo]

I have a recurring theme in dreams, which is that I’m at university on the last day and realise I’ve forgotten to make any friends. I go around trying to squeeze into groups of people but none will let me in.

I did actually have good friends at uni and I’m still in regular contact with two, but it shows I think that the lack of a regular group is bugging me.

[Caran]

We are close friends with two other couples we see regularly, either going out, soirée sat each other's houses or U3A activities. Then there are 3 other couples who we meet up with once a month for a gang meal.
Then I have friends from when I was at work 16 years ago. We have all kept in touch, there was seven of us all female but we Meet up with other halves a couple of times a year for a meal. I moved away so don't see the others as much as they do.
Family is important too, daughter, SIL and five grandchildren live a couple of miles away, we help them out and they help us out. We have a really good relationship.

[david small]

Don’t require friends.