Talk:Friendship/Archive 1

I think that study is wrong
Of the friendship page, there's a statistic which says friendship is dwindling because of homosexual fears. I believe that the real reason friendship has diminished is because of technology (like computers and television). I know if I didn't have a computer or television, I would have nothing to do. I would just come home, do my homework and stare at the wall. I think that technology has allowed less desire to go out and socialize and in a few more years, that statistic will rise to 50% and the number of meaningful relationships per person will go down to 0.5

--Headcuff 21:00, 15 October 2007 (UTC)


 * My counter-anecdote would be that technology has increased the opportunity to create and the ability to maintain friendships for me. For good or ill (good and ill), a study carries more weight than your guesses or mine. --Malirath (talk) 17:36, 7 January 2008 (UTC)

Initial comments
This article interprets certain mythological and biblical stories as examples of friendships, but they have also been interpreted by many scholars as examples of same sex romantic relationships. The article assumes the heterosexist and naive interpretation to be true. It would be best to use examples of friendship that are not ambiguous. Otherwise, the authors will need to include a discussion on the homoerotic aspects of same-sex friendships. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.126.151.171 (talk) 02:10, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Friendship in animals is a pointless subject. This page needs major attention. Gay is a term of happy. that is how it makes me feel.

This is an encyclopedia, NOT a glossy magazine its some one u can actually trust AND NOT A STUPID ASS FAKE
 * Is the rewording more acceptable now? Nevertheless, there is still plenty that can be done. Feel free to help out! :-) --HappyCamper 23:06, 9 July 2005 (UTC)

I agree that the long passage about animals, making up the bulk of the first paragraph, is rather dubious. I'm sure that many people would doubt whether even gorillas, let alone "some birds" can have real friendships... sounds to me like one user's rather off-the-wall speculation. I'll leave it to others to edit as they see fit.

I find it curious how the author of Friendship page quickly stuck to talking about friendship among animals, while giving no actual info on what friendship is. Friendship is an ethical term, and ethics does not apply to animals. Yes, there can be a relation between a human and an animal and even between two animals and it is commonly called friendship, but this is not the essential, defining characteristic of friendship, nor does it say anything about it (much like the page on friendship that exists now). Source 19:16, 16 September 2005 (UTC)


 * I completely disagree on what you've said above. I believe friendship, even if is it viewed as an 'ethical term', can be applied to friendship between animals, and if not it can definitely be applied to the relationship between humans and animals.  To support your point, you need to define what you consider the 'defining characteristics of friendship'; our conceptions might be different.--DragonFly31 18:13, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

In the first line appears 'human relationship', as probably discussed before, this is an encyclopaedia (meaning huge and where all theories have a place), and not a pro-humanist/anthropocentrist gossip paper. Remove it? Whatever, i've placed it between brackets.--Lord Snoeckx 19:15, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

A contribution
An anonymous editor wrote (and later deleted) a moving piece on wartime friendship. I thought I would copy it here so it would not be lost:
 * Comradery is the greatest form of friendship in my eyes it all depends on what you call it. to me and many soldiers being a Comrade in arms means taking care of the guy next to you. its the buddy system. put your buddy first. Would you say that you would do that in true love or friendship. comradeship is about sacrifice. i would do anything for a comrade in arms. ANYTHING. even frag a poor leader if i had the opportunity. it is not developed strictly against a common enemy but through the hardships you face together. i have seen the most heroic acts of self sacrifice due to comradeship than you can imagine. people stand on top of a vehicle in open machinegun fire in order to throw a grenade and much more. but what truely defines comradeship is the bonds you establish in battle can never be broken even well after peacetime. i would do anything for a handful of people i never talk to or see today and they would do the same for me out of FRIENDSHIP. the relational bonds you establish in wartime are unparalelled by any type of bond known today. truely unique. if randy ask me to barrow 1000 dollars i would gladly give it to him without question. i never see him, havent talked to him since right after we came home but that bond we have is untouchable compared to "friendship" today. friendship through comradery is far greater than friendship through anything else. period.

Haiduc 03:47, 31 October 2005 (UTC)

Seen from my point of view I'd say he and Randy had passed the state of comradery and become friends since their support for each other are now based on personal respect rather than the feeling of a shared cause.

That said I understand that he uses the words differently than I do. So perhaps it might be an idea for the article to mention that terms such as friendship and comradeship can have varrying meaning depending upon the circles you're in.

Also it could be an idea to mention in the article how other forms of supportive behaviour such as a those arising from having a common cause, shared interests or a work relation can develop into friendship(if there is any research into that).

2nd person
The use of the second person "you" needs to be reworded somewhat I think... --HappyCamper 04:18, 12 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Hi! Agreed.  I hear ya; I've only been adding wikilinks to relevant terms in this article recently; I trust these are fine. E Pluribus Anthony 04:28, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
 * hey! yup. i agreed with that..

Friendship section
Just to say that this friendship page is very interesting in many of the principles that it advances. It is true that there are many kinds of friendships and that some are limited because of societal standards; and it is such a special relationship when you can go beyond these standards, that I encourage everyone to experience it; then it is truly a bond where you can, without doubting it for a second, know that your friend will always be there for you. It is not even something that is said, it is just a fact, a deep trust and understanding between two similar and kind peoples, without any second thoughts or complicated or complex feelings. --DragonFly31 05:05, 5 January 2006 (UTC)


 * It seems like an easy thing to give but a difficult one to find. It has a lot to do with not seeing relationship as a business deal. Cheers, Haiduc 04:51, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

Well, if you mean by business deal giving something and expecting the same thing back, then I can see what you mean. But there are truly so many types of freindships -- more than the three stated by Aristotle for me. The type of friendship I said above is truly rare; it is also spontaneous, difficult to describe, but so pleasing -- these are nothing at all like business deals. --DragonFly31 05:05, 5 January 2006 (UTC)


 * Perhaps that's why they are so rare - in a world of shopkeepers. Haiduc 05:30, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

Very well said -- completely agree.--DragonFly31 15:40, 5 January 2006 (UTC)


 * I wonder whether that's why people are so fond of saying that a dog is man's best friend - because a good dog will offer you that kind of friendship, and people have forgotten that it can also exist between human beings, and don't seek it and don't offer it. Haiduc 23:41, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

You really hit the nail on the head -- I hesitated on giving the friendship between a man and a dog as an example (just because people can misinterpret that), but it is a similar kind of relationship to that which I described above. A trust and bond based on the natual wilingness of humans to know each other, the wish to support each other, and pleasure given by frienship (not in the way of a businessman as you put it but just a nice, simple, but very strong feeling), and also through this the willingness to help each other because we truly care about each other's welfare. Very rare feeling and fragile but so nice.--DragonFly31 17:59, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

Friendship in Russia
Hello, I live and Russia and I am not sure that information about friendship in Russia is correct and/or up to date. Never saw two men holding hands. Hugs are ok sometimes, more so in criminal spheres, or while intoxicated with alcohol. Speaking of general society of course, 'cause clouds of change and chaos are around Russia now, thus many subcultures arise especially among youth. --83.149.205.223 20:56, 30 May 2006 (UTC)explosion [31.05.2006 0:56]


 * Well, I'm from Russia... I also found the section strange/uncorrect. 1) I affirm user explosion 's info. 2) Naming a person with the diminutive form of his first name doesn't always involve real friendship, but is ok between e.g. acquainted students in university. Using full first name + patronymic name is polite, but between young people, relatives, etc. it would be just idiotic. ellol 11:32, 21 July 2006 (UTC)


 * I honestly don't know what the article is talking about. I suppose the researcher considered Brezhnev's behaviour typical of the Russians, even though it was seen as very odd when he was alive. --Humanophage (talk) 21:29, 12 September 2008 (UTC)

phallocentric
why is the entry on friendship so focused on "male friendship"? well the literature on friendship is very phallocentric but at least the entry on friendship could discuss how and why it is so male centred.
 * I somewhat agree with this. Perhaps a section on the similarities and differences between male/male, male/female, and female/female friendships? Applejuicefool 14:55, 21 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Male/female friendships are acceptable, but differential and restrictive if the two agree to be "just friends" without going to the level of any romantic feelings towards the opposite sex (most romantic and marital relations began as "friends" first). Alike the fear of homophobia and "unmanliness", males in North American society don't want to appear "close", too interested or falsely accused of sexual harrassment or inappropriateness from occurring, again most opposite sex friendships are mutual.

I'm sure married men and women (couples or individuals) can have friendships, but it's not the same because of gender differences exist between them. Women rather talk about feminine issues among other women, but men are less open to other men on masculine issues and men/women may well be extra cautious on talking about gender identity with each other. It's frequently said women are able to develop stronger emotional bonds with each other that can last longer and more beneficial emotionally or spiritually.

It would be nice for men to understand how women go through pregnancy, menopause and feel subordinate in a male-dominated society. Also women need to see how men struggle to be "strong", tries to play a major role in family life and hold in emotion all the time. I believe a gender-equal/neutral society free of sexist attitudes about "girly men" or "butch women" but in line of a sense of equality can help male/female friendships, as well to keep marriages for a long time (over half of them end in divorce now) and two-parent families raising children together in shared responsibilities.

Male friends of women claim they can express more emotions and feelings, and felt they are brother-sister (siblings) to have no romantic or sexual attraction. Some women prefer to minimize male friendships if it bothers them or in a romantic/marital relationship that prohibits close casual amity with other males (most conservative cultures around the world, except for 21st century western societies has less gender stratification). Male-female friendships are more common than half a century ago, though the level of intimacy is restrictive in order not to cross the lines of sexuality. + 71.102.53.48 (talk) 06:00, 10 May 2008 (UTC)

Pic in the article
the pic should be replaced with mature people, I mean both sexes to remove bias and should not look like Kids Friendship.Holywarrior 16:48, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

Please don't add anymore pictures of smiling kids and dogs and stuff. It is irrelevant for the article. A picture like that does not add anything to the content of the article. Ehjort 11:05, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

Camaraderie
Camaraderie redirects to friendship, yet it's mentioned in the article only once. The text says "A group of friends consists of two or more people who are in a mutually pleasing relationship engendering a sentiment of camaraderie, exclusivity and mutual trust." Now, if you were reading this text and had no idea what camaraderie meant (and you were browsing friendship, not camaraderie), wouldn't you want to click it and see what wikipedia has to say about camaraderie? It's a bit confusing, especially when it's used like that in the text. We should either change the word from the text to friendship, or somehow explain it. Thoughts? Pasi 12:53, 10 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I think Camaraderie should be a separate article.--BMF81 20:34, 10 July 2007 (UTC)

Cleanup
This article needs major cleanup, rewriting and structuring, in addition to the attention of an expert (sociologist/anthropologist); I also removed some vandalism. Will start work on this but know naught on topics such as friendship in russia, Japan etc. Ehjort 12:27, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

Will remove picture of "two friends" pretty soon. Ehjort 14:28, 29 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Done. Find a better picture if you like. Ehjort 16:35, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Friendship quotes
This long section was moved from the article beacause it is too much and does not realy belong in this article. Some of the content should be moved to wikiquote, some should be left on the talk page and something put back in the article. Ehjort 19:23, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

friend quotes "the only pure love in the world is that between bestfriends" --TJ Sanders [1991 - Present]

Friend Quotes & poems ...

You're... My Friend, my companion, through good times and bad my friend, my buddy, through happy and sad, beside me you stand, beside me you walk, you're there to listen, you're there to talk, with happiness, with smiles, with pain and tears, I know you'll be there, throughout the years!

Google's photo software. It's what should've come with your camera.

BEST FRIEND QUOTES :

"True friendship is like sound health, the value of it is seldom known until it is lost." - Charles Caleb Colton

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." - Anon

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus

"Friends are the bacon bits in the salad bowl of life." - Anon

"Friendship is one mind in two bodies." - Mencius

"If you should die before me, ask if you can bring a friend." - Stone Temple Pilots

"If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I would be at the bottom to catch them." - Anon

"Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say." - Anon

"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere." -Tim McGraw

"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart." - Anon

"Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher."

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it is a comfort to go hand in hand." ~Emily Kimbrough~

"People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." ~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross~

If you have one true friend, you have more than your share. ~Thomas Fuller~

“When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there.”

"Together forever, never apart. Maybe in distance, but never in heart.”

"Promise you won't forget me, because if I thought you would, I'd never leave." ~Winnie the Pooh~

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." ~Walter Winchell~

If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I would not follow, I would be at the bottom to catch them when they fall. ~Source Unknown~

"If I had one gift that I could give you, my friend, it would be the ability to see yourself as others see you, because only then would you know how extremely special you are." ~B.A. Billingsly~

"A true friend is someone who knows there's something wrong even when you have the biggest smile on your face."

“The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.” ~Unknown~

"It is by chance we met . . . By choice we became friends."

"Tears may come and go, But there's one thing I know. All my life you're a friend of mine. You can depend on me. I'll be fine... 'Cause you're a friend of mine." -Clarence Clemens

“One can't complain. I have my friends. Why, someone spoke to me only yesterday.” ~Eeyore~

“Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait to hear the answer”

“How lucky I am to have known someone who was so hard to say goodbye to” ~Unknown~

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." ~Helen Keller~

"A circle is round it has no end, that's how long I want to be your friend!" ~Anonymous~

"It takes years to build up trust, and just seconds to destroy it." ~Source Unknown~

Some friends are simply irreplaceable. A true person easily becomes a true friend. True friendship is indeed rare. Some become our best friends....

Cute best friend sayings, Quotes for Best friends ....

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend."

I believe in angels, the kind that heaven sends. I'm surrounded by angels, but I call them my best friends."

"If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it."

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend."

"A friend is someone who knows all about you... and loves you anyway."

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to them, their own."

"No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever."

"Friendship is one mind in two bodies."

"I live for the nights that I won't remember with the friends I will never forget."

"Friends are God's way of apologizing to us for our families."

"True friendship isn't seen with the eyes, it's felt with the heart."

"Friends are the people God gave us to keep us company... Best friends are the siblings God forgot to give us..."

A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway. -- Fr. Jerome Cummings

Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends. -- Cindy Lew

Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure. -- Jewish Saying

"Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you." -- Elbert Hubbard

"Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure." -- Jewish saying

What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies. -- Aristotle

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.-- Albert Camus

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.-- Abraham Lincoln

Hold a true friend with both your hands. -- Nigerian Proverb

"A faithful friend is the medicine of life." -- Apocrypha

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.-- Anonymous

Friends are like melons; shall I tell you why? To find one good you must one hundred try. -- Claude Mermet

"Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil." -- Baltasar Gracian (1647)

"Friendship needs no words..." -- Dag Hammarskjold.

"Friends are the sunshine of life." -- John Hay (1871)

"The best mirror is an old friend." --George Herbert

More Friendship quotes :

One who looks for a friend without faults will have none. -- Hasidic Saying

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.-- Walter Winchell

Friends are needed both for joy and for sorrow. -- Samuel Paterson

Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world.-- John Evelyn

Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.-- Swedish proverb

A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.-- Anonymous

Count your age with friends but not with years - Anonymous

Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness. -- Lois L. Kaufman

"I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship." -- Pietro Aretino (1537)

"There is nothing worth the wear of winning, but laughter and the love of friends." -- Hillaire Belloc

"The rain may be falling hard outside, But your smile makes it all alright. I'm so glad that you're my friend. I know our friendship will never end." -- Robert Alan

"Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit." -- Aristotle (4th century B.C.)

"Friendship is essentially a partnership." -- Aristotle (4th century B.C.)

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe unto him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." -- The Bible: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

"A friend loves at all times." -- The Bible: Proverbs 17, 17.

"A companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself." -- James Boswell (1763)

"Friendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another." -- Eustace Budgell (1711)

"Friendship is Love without his wings!" -- Lord Byron (1806)

"Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing it." -- Cicero (44 B.C.)

"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost" -- Charles Caleb Colton (1825)

"Every man passes his life in the search after friendship." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"We do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need." -- Epicurus (3rd century B.C.)

"Friends show their love in times of trouble..." -- Euripides (408 B.C.)

"One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives." -- Euripides (408 B.C.)

"A good friend is my nearest relation." -- Thomas Fuller (1732)

"My friend is he who will tell me my faults in private." -- Solomon Ibn Gabirol

"Your friend is your needs answered." -- Kahil Gibran

"Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit." -- Kahil Gibran.

"Let your best be for your friend..." -- Kahil Gibran

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures." -- Kahil Gibran

"A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother." -- Homer (9th century B.C.)

"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over." -- Samuel Johnson

"However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship." -- La Rochefoucauld (1665)

"A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care to acquire." -- La Rochefoucauld (1665)

"I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, who has sight so keen and strong That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend." -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"You can make more friends in two months by becoming really interested in other people, than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." -- Bernard Meltzer

"Love is rarer than genius itself. And friendship is rarer than love." -- Charles Peguy

"There can be no Friendship where there is no Freedom." -- William Penn

"No man is useless while he has a friend." -- Robert Louis Stevenson

"Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends whom we choose." -- Tehyi Hsieh

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with." -- Mark Twain

An honest answer is the sign of true friendship.-- Proverbs 24:26

"A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else." -- Len Wein

"You cannot be friends upon any other terms than upon the terms of equality." -- Woodrow Wilson

It is not what you give your friend, but what you are willing to give him that determines the quality of friendship. -- Mary Dixon Thayer

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world. -- Leo Buscaglia

Advice from your friends in like the weather, some of it is good, some of it is bad. -Anonymous

It's the ones you can call up at 4:00 a.m. that really matter.-- Marlene Dietrich

Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen. -Samuel Paterson

Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. -- Sicilian Proverb

Good friends are good for your health.-Irwin Sarason

The language of friendship is not words but meanings. -- Henry David Thoreau

True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation. -- George Washington

I have lost friends, some by death, others through sheer inability to cross the street. - Virginia Woolf

Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence. -Sydney Smith

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business. -- Mahatma Gandhi

One of the surest evidences of friendship that one individual can display to another is telling him gently of a fault. If any other can excel it, it is listening to such a disclosure with gratitude, and amending the error.-- Edward Bulwer-Lytton

A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success!-- Doug Larson

A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else. -- Len Wein

Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends. -- Czech. Proverb

Friendship is to be purchased only by friendship. A man may have authority over others, but he can never have their hearts but by giving his own. -- Thomas Wilson

Cute Friendship Quotes :

Love starts with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear.

Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you. Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. You can only go as far as you push. Actions speak louder than words. The hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love somebody else. Don't let the past hold you back; you're missing the good stuff. Life's short. If you don't look around once in a while, you might miss it. A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have. If you think that the world means nothing, think again. You might mean the world to someone else. When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there True friendship never ends. Friends are forever. Good friends are like stars....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Don't frown. You never know who is falling in love with your smile. What do you do when the only person who can make you stop crying is the person who made you cry? NOBODY IS PERFECT UNTIL YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THEM. (Isn't that the truth?) Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end. Most people walk in and out of you life. But only friends leave footprints in your heart. Send this on to everyone special in your life, even the people who really make you mad sometimes. Whether we realize it or not, everyone we know is very special to us. When we look back on our younger years, we will remember the people who went to school with us, the people who made us laugh, the people who hung out with us when nobody else would, and the  people who made our lives much better simply by being a part of it.

There may be somebody who is thinking about you RIGHT NOW and wishing that you were around. That's the wonderful thing about friendship-you always feel loved and cared about.

The most important thing to remember is... Always appreciate the friends that you have. A fight may come and go very easily, but a friendship could last forever. For every second spent in anger, a minute of happiness is wasted. So send this to your friends and let them know that you care.

"A circle is round it has no end, that's how long I want to be your friend!" ~Anonymous~ a friend in need is a friend indeed —Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.44.117.31 (talk) 17:39, 5 October 2007 (UTC)

'''This is not wikiquote. Please move this elsewhere.--207.68.235.128 (talk) 14:36, 10 July 2009 (UTC)'''

Photo
I added a photo of two boys in Nazareth, Israel who are friends, and I think illustrate the concept well. There's no need for this page to be completely photo-less, and I think this is a good one. They are at an age when friendship is quite pure. -- David  Shankbone  21:44, 15 January 2008 (UTC)


 * All good- but be sure that you didn't simply add this photo because you took it. Its illustration of the topic is close enough that I'm not going to take issue with it, but it is far from perfect- the boys look too far apart in age, I am more prone to view it as an image of two brothers then of two friends. Rudy Breteler (talk) 04:22, 4 March 2008 (UTC)

Decline of friendship in American society
I strongly believe the article could examine the issue on the decline of close mutual friendships in society in the United States other than basic myths of "homophobia" and "masculinity" to discourage any legit or mutual bonds of human amity. I think three things are the cause in the decline of friendships and changed intrahuman relations in 21st century (North) American society:

1. Work, we're much busy and spent more time in the office, where fraternization is impossible or often restricted by workplace policy and that can be a major factor. We spend over 60 hours on average at work 6 days a week (10 hours a day) plus 1-2 hour commutes to or from home...and we're too focused on our jobs, professional skills and advancement to be bothered by casual relations with others. Overworking equals less free time, and that means less actual friendships will develop, despite office parties or our natural instinct to become acquintescenes with anyone in a formal setting like the office.

2. "Family values", the movement to consider families as the main source of emotional healing, but the majority of Americans do not have close kin (biological or marital) within 10-20 miles from each other. Humans have a natural need to develop close relationships with others available to them, but does it have to be related by "blood"? We don't want to pursue total strangers for human compassion, but more and more of us don't have regular contact with biological family members than we used to, esp. a large country where one may have family on the other coast or other side of the country (i.e. imagine your parents live in New York or Oregon, while you're in California or Florida) or even in foreign countries. Who can you turn to for regular and important human relationships? You could use a friend in need.

3. Individual "responsbility", especially for males are taught not to depend on others to assist you when you really need the emotional or financial help, since friends sometimes assist each other in dare finance crises or can't share emotional ills without sounding like a "worry wort". North Americans are taught not to talk about their problems with others, although close mutual friends should help each other in tough times in their personal lifes. Americans are the least "friendly" people when it comes to mutual emotional bonds between persons who aren't biogenetically related or in romantic relationships. +71.102.53.48 (talk) 06:09, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

There's something seriously wrong with this article...
It really doesn't get to the core of the issue. Seems more like a rambling series of points related to dubious psychology. More references to classical philosophy would be much appreciated, but I fear I am not educated enough to do it justice. I am thinking it may require a cleanup tag or something similar, but im not sure. Xenharmonic (talk) 05:32, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

Wow
This article was a mess 2 months ago, and look at it now! There's so much more substance to it now. Score +1 again for the Wiki. --HappyCamper 14:00, 15 October 2005 (UTC)

You know what else is amazing? That the information added is unsourced, and biased.--207.68.235.128 (talk) 14:34, 10 July 2009 (UTC)

"Interspecies Friendship"
...erm, far be it for me to have a go Dr Dolittle and Catwoman, but isn't this just wishful thinking and evidence of anthropomorphisation of pets? I'm not saying it's a Bestialism through the back door exactly, but it's a bit too much of a leap to suggest that just because a Robin hops into your allotment and appears a bit more tame, doesn't mean he's trying to become your mate Rob! Or that Fido leaps on your lap wagging is tail and slobbering all over you that he's exhibiting a trans-species behaviour: he's a dog. I can picture it now... I'm just off to the pub with a badger and couple of gnats. ...come on, it's not "Monty-paedia"! Can we just remove or qualify this section, as it just in't encyclopaedic is it. MacDaddy 212.159.117.182 (talk) 11:26, 7 January 2009 (UTC)

Another type of friendship
there is something I still do not understand.
 * "“Friend” is a standard euphemism for tantric consort." Source: Gyatso, Janet (2006). A Partial Genealogy of the Lifestory of Yeshé Tsogyel. Harvard University. JIATS, no. 2 (August 2006), THDL #T2719, 27 pp.
 * "She composed the following verse in response to her critics:

"Vulgar prophecies are the devils' deceptions.

Sexual friendship is to befriend the devil of adverse circumstance.

Even the patroness comes in chased by the demon of shame.

How can this possibly help sentient beings?" Source: Biography Of Machik Labdrön from the Tibetan Renaissance Seminar

There is something in it which has to come out yet. Any idea?
 * Austerlitz -- 88.75.216.105 (talk) 10:32, 5 April 2009 (UTC)

Merger and cleanup
I will be merging Cross-sex friendship into this article shortly. I expect I will delete most of the content from the merger after I bring it in, but it probably will make an acceptable addition to the list of types of friendship. In addition, I will combine the "further reading" and "bibliography" sections as they appear to be identical in purpose in this article. I know this is a modestly high-traffic article so I will try to get it back to a clean state quickly. Thanks! Jminthorne (talk) 22:59, 7 September 2009 (UTC)

Russia
Some information about Russia is wrong. Unfortunately, my English is not good enough for I edit the article by myself. The addressing by first name alone and by diminutives is very common and may be used in many cases. Addressing by full first name plus patronymic is approximately equal to using mister/missis/miss in English. Men don't kiss each other and don't walk hand-in-hand (unless they're gays:) ).--Никита Тэ (talk) 22:29, 13 February 2010 (UTC)


 * I have to agree with much of what Nikita has said, although I'm not familiar enough with Russian culture to edit this article. I've spoken and written with several Russians, and first names are acceptable and in fact very common for many acquaintances. It's certainly not reserved solely for close friends and family. Dagojr (talk) 20:48, 23 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I removed the section. It had no references at all.  Lova Falk     talk   17:25, 24 June 2010 (UTC)

Friendship Analysis Section
Is this section really needed or valid? It seems to have all been added by one person to explain an image which is also created by them. The source links back to the image on his/her own website - which has no further explanation.

Even after reading the text added the diagram doesn't make much sense. Patternofknives (talk) 19:42, 4 April 2010 (UTC)
 * Removed as it seemed to use a self-published source. -- Neil N   talk to me  20:03, 4 April 2010 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the answer Patternofknives (talk) 20:24, 4 April 2010 (UTC)

Deleted picture...
Quite a good while ago, I read this article and saw a picture of two Middle-Eastern men holding hands as a sign of friendship, which was to be representative of how common it is over there. I don't know if it was on this article or if it was in the "Holding Hands" article that it appeared, but nonetheless I'm wondering why it's gone? I think it was a good picture. Also, if nobody's going to put it back, can anybody direct me to it? Thanks beforehand! Nederbörd (talk) 14:15, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

Change to the sentence regarding Asperger Syndrome
The sentence that said Children with Asperger Syndrome have an inability to form friendships is incorrect and possibly degrading. I changed it to say Children with Asperger Syndrome have some difficulty forming friendships. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.119.73.40 (talk) 19:33, 30 July 2010 (UTC)

In Our Time
Rich Farmbrough, 03:14, 16 September 2010 (UTC)

Male bias?
There is a huge section in this article that mentions the sexual aspect of male-male friendships. However, it mentions nothing similar about the (alleged) sexual nature of female-female frienships, or even male-female friendships. Has nobody ever thought of this? Also it is never mentioned what form this sexual nature takes. The huge quotes in the article seem too large to be included in a balanced article that is meant to cover all aspects of friendship, as well as being a bit POV. Surely somebody out there believes that some friendships are completely Platonic. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.6.96.22 (talk) 13:10, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

Sounds like nonsense
"However, cross-sex friendships aren't always a socially accepted norm of amity and some of those friendships could develop into romantic feelings"

I'm inclined to agree with this, but....

"but the two partners must agree to pursue the next level or the friendship ends, due to the other partner has no interest in having romance."

What? This seems to be stating that, if one has romantic feelings for the other and the other doesn't want to follow them through, this automatically terminates the pre-existing friendship. I am convinced that this isn't the case at all, and that many friendships do manage to survive romantic feelings for a long time. -- Smjg (talk) 20:38, 12 December 2010 (UTC)

Friendship in Philosophy - this basic section lacking in  article
Eg: Cynic self-sufficiency as rejection of friendship —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.198.51.211 (talk) 19:33, 15 March 2011 (UTC)

Misrepresenting of McPherson, Smith-Lovin, Brashears article
The McPherson, Smith-Lovin, Brashears, discusses a move away from neighbourhood/community based ties towards close family/spouses. This is not a decline in friendship overall.

This undated comment was probably made after: 19:33, 15 March 2011 (UTC)

dawner than association
Any idea what this phrase means? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.147.245.252 (talk) 05:10, 13 July 2011 (UTC)

As it stands this is a misrepresentation of the article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.102.158.15 (talk) 04:20, 28 June 2011 (UTC)

Cross Sex Friendship
The Cross Sex Friendship section is completely lacking references. There are even sociological claims put forth that would require serious research and statistics and yet no reference. I could easily just add that cross sex relationships cause cancer if support weren't required. Support, however, is required. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.37.241.213 (talk) 04:37, 21 October 2011 (UTC)

Close friendships among children discouraged
I think this article merits some text in this article. Although an article on best friends should be created at some time. __meco (talk) 09:24, 5 April 2012 (UTC)

Close relationships & Love table
The purpose of this section is to discuss the inclusion/exclusion of Template:Close relationships and Template:Love table in the article. While both may seem like useful additions to an article on friendship, in actuality their focus is much more on romantic/sexual/marital relationships. This is especially true of "love table", as it is meant for a series of articles, which the Friendship article is not a part of. Which is why I removed both templates from the article.  S enator2029 (talk) 18:21, 8 May 2012 (UTC)

See also section
I have removed items from this section, as they were too broad and non-soecific.--Soulparadox (talk) 08:11, 21 October 2012 (UTC)

Philosophy
(This is what happened. Apollinaire.kim added the book "Plutarch. How to know a flatterer from a friend." to the External links of this article, and to other articles. An editor reverted, I (Lova Falk) reverted in another article and left a message on Apollinaire.kim's talk page. Now I copy our discussion to this talk page, so more editors can comment.)

-> Do you think really "How to know a flatterer from a friend" of Plutarch does not appropriate for Friendship? That is Plutarchs' philosophical approach to the friendship like Aristotles' Nicomachean Ethics in the Further reading. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Apollinaire.kim (talk • contribs) 21:17, 4 November 2012 (UTC)
 * Hi Apollinaire.kim! Thank you for asking me. I just checked with the WP site on external links, and I copy here what it says about what can normally be linked:
 * Wikipedia articles about any organization, person, website, or other entity should link to the subject's official site, if any. See Official links below.
 * An article about a book, a musical score, or some other media should link to a site hosting a legally distributed copy of the work, so long as none of the Restrictions on linking and Links normally to be avoided criteria apply.
 * Sites that contain neutral and accurate material that is relevant to an encyclopedic understanding of the subject and cannot be integrated into the Wikipedia article due to copyright issues, amount of detail (such as professional athlete statistics, movie or television credits, interview transcripts, or online textbooks), or other reasons.


 * Now, your books are not number one, two or three. As you say, it is a philosophical approach to friendship, and as such, it is not neutral and accurate. Yet I can see the value of including the philosophical view on friendship. The best thing to do would be to write a section "Philosophy" in the article Friendship, and then the philosophy books can be used as references. For now, I'll put your books back in. I'll also copy this discussion to the talk page of Friendship. With friendly regards,  Lova Falk     talk   17:05, 5 November 2012 (UTC)

Proposed merge of Best friends forever into Friendship
Aim of article Best friends forever is unclear. It appears to be a combination disambiguation page, dictionary entry, and rudimentary attempt to attempt to present "best friends forever" as a concept unique to adolescent and post-adolescents. This flimsy content, if it even should exist, would be more appropriate in the general article on Friendship, or perhaps in an article on "best friendships" if we're going to try to get into the nuts and bolts of tight friendships. In its present state, the article is a wordier version of this, and has not improved much since 2010. Cyphoidbomb (talk) 11:56, 28 January 2014 (UTC) Cyphoidbomb (talk) 21:41, 18 February 2014 (UTC)


 * +1 Λίνουξ (talk) 18:04, 6 July 2014 (UTC)


 * Merge Not sure if this will be seen, given the date of the proposal, but I agree that, at best the entry ought to be merged in the friendship page. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Huxley G (talk • contribs) 23:51, 19 September 2014 (UTC)


 * Oppose The "best friends forever" page is about a fad and social phenomenon and has nothing to do with the concept of friendship. That content should not be merged into this article.  Blue Rasberry   (talk)  18:29, 29 September 2014 (UTC)
 * The Best friends forever article says nothing about a fad or a social phenomenon. Had it somehow made an effort to address the fad or the social phenomenon, we probably wouldn't be in this position, but the article only makes weak attempts to explain what a close friendship is. Cyphoidbomb (talk) 18:40, 29 September 2014 (UTC)


 * Oppose as per Bluerasberry and, of course, common sense. - Jack Sebastian (talk) 14:39, 11 February 2015 (UTC)
 * It may have been unclear from the subject header, but the proposal is to move content from Best friends forever to this article on Friendship, not to get rid of Friendship. The problem article is the BFF article. In friendship, Cyphoidbomb (talk) 17:49, 11 February 2015 (UTC)
 * I have since changed the heading for clarity. Cyphoidbomb (talk) 19:16, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * Oppose The article friendship is already bloated with dozens of sections about animals, Ancient Greeks, Agentic friendship (!?), &c. That page needs splitting rather than having more merged into it.  Small is beautiful.   See also Articles for deletion/Bromance (2nd nomination). Andrew D. (talk) 19:02, 11 February 2015 (UTC)


 * Proposed merge withdrawn - Okay, I'm happy to yield on this. It's been open for a year. No sense beating a dead horse. Thanks for the input, one and all. I just wish there was something to do with that horrid article Best friends forever. Cyphoidbomb (talk) 21:51, 11 February 2015 (UTC)

Cross-sex friendships (revisted)
I changed the name from opposite-sex friendships to cross-sex friendships to reflect the more scientific definition. Additionally, a page for cross-sex friendship was just created and I added a link to it. If anyone has any comments on the name switch, or any suggestions to the new cross-sex page, they would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Hokinsc (talk) 21:52, 21 April 2015 (UTC)hokinsc
 * I see that the changes were reverted. I notice that you used inline links instead of wikilinks. Like, if you want to point to an article on caffeine, you use caffeine not . You might want to ask the reverting editor  why the edit was reverted if you're questioning his revert. I'm not actually sure what your question is. Regards, Cyphoidbomb (talk) 05:09, 22 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Cyphoidbomb, practically speaking, I did not revert anything. I just fixed Hokinsc's links to the new page and removed duplicate links. --Neil N  talk to me 13:22, 22 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Sorry, I was zonking out when I wrote that. Cyphoidbomb (talk) 18:32, 22 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Okay thanks, sorry about that. Still new to editing wikipedia and learning some of the basics. I'll make sure I do it in that style in the future. Thanks! Hokinsc (talk) 06:23, 28 April 2015 (UTC)hokinsc
 * Hi . If wikilinks are already in the article body, they are not repeated in the See also section. --Neil N  talk to me 14:11, 28 April 2015 (UTC)

Friendships in adulthood
The photo used for this subsection is of very young adults. A more appropriate picture is needed of adults between the ages of 30 and 50 to better represent this subsection. The people in the photo may even be 18 or 23 very young. too young for this section Boilingorangejuice (talk) 07:56, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

Needs a "Criticism" section
The article would really benefit from a section on the criticism of friendship and would be more neutral this way. Hppavilion1 (talk) 10:59, 6 June 2016 (UTC)

With or without!
On your revert, according to my finding the old long standing version is "without", which makes a lot more sense per context, specially when we know that the last phrase is "repeatedly encountering the person informally," while making plans means that the meetings are 'formal'. -- M h hossein   talk 07:18, 1 September 2016 (UTC)


 * OK, thanks for checking this. I've checked the citation and changed that confusing and contradictory wording. Softlavender (talk) 07:35, 1 September 2016 (UTC)

Children with Down Syndrome and Friendship
I will be adding a section to Developmental Issues called Down Syndrome. I would like to explore how children with Down syndrome learn to socialize and form friendships. The Wikipedia page “Friendship” only explores two developmental issues that affect how children form friendships, the two issues that are already covered include ADD and ADHD and autism. However, there are countless developmental issues that can affect how children form relationships with their peers and I believe that Down syndrome should be further explored. We will specifically examine how socialization with other children in and out of the classroom affects a child with Down syndrome’s ability to relate to others. Ahuot14 (talk) 18:40, 17 November 2016 (UTC)

External links modified
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History and Philosophy
I would like to suggest the improvement of the History and Philosophy sections, with the treatment of the biblical account of David and Jonathan, and the ideas about friendship of Aristotle, Cicero, Aquinas, Montaigne, La Rochefoucauld, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Derrida (some sources:, ). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.100.142.251 (talk • contribs) 00:54, 1 February 2016 (UTC)

Friendship is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an association. Friendship has been studied in academic fields such as communication, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, and philosophy. Various academic theories of friendship have been proposed, including social exchange theory, equity theory, relational dialectics, and attachment styles. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 103.83.145.246 (talk • contribs) 16:02, 20 October 2017 (UTC)

Aristotle
Aritstotle spent a lot of time discussing friendship. I've added Nicomachean_Ethics to see also, but I think it should be integrated into the article better. RJFJR (talk) 16:14, 13 November 2017 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request fron 27 February 2019
82.38.68.92 (talk) 17:21, 27 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. NiciVampireHeart 17:25, 27 February 2019 (UTC)

Recent removal in the "See also" section
Why the concept of friendship in Buddhism shouldn't be there? Rupert Loup (talk) 23:02, 28 February 2019 (UTC)

Category:Friends has been nominated for discussion
Category:Friends, which you created, has been nominated for possible deletion, merging, or renaming. A discussion is taking place to decide whether this proposal complies with the categorization guidelines. If you would like to participate in the discussion, you are invited to add your comments at the category's entry on the categories for discussion page. Thank you.  Crouch, Swale  ( talk ) 08:34, 24 April 2019 (UTC)

Number of hours to make friends
For what it's worth: How many hours does it take to make a friend? (Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2018) Mapsax (talk) 00:35, 11 October 2020 (UTC)


 * Mapsax, I have a vague recollection that something similar was in the article at one point. It might have been one of the things removed by GreenMeansGo during a major re-write in 2017.  There should be something in the article about the formation of friendships. WhatamIdoing (talk) 05:13, 11 October 2020 (UTC)

Changes
Yes I agree to the changes that has been made Nhiza.M (talk) 15:43, 13 November 2020 (UTC)

Plagiarism
The first two paragraphs are plagiarized. I was able to fix a little bit and add another source, but it won't allow me to fix anything else. If someone else can that would be great. Thank you Pou16003 (talk) 10:49, 22 July 2021 (UTC)

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article is or was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Emanueld42.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 21:53, 16 January 2022 (UTC)

Is friendship an activity?
It has been categorized under human activities. I would have thought it a state rather than an activity. Can anyone explain why it is an activity? Please ping with replies, Cheers, · · · Peter Southwood (talk): 15:39, 7 April 2021 (UTC)


 * Perhaps because it is commonly involved in activities, implied with multiple people. "Human states" isn't a category. ButterCashier (talk) 08:53, 23 January 2023 (UTC)

experience positive changes
renewed 41.114.204.105 (talk) 19:07, 10 March 2023 (UTC)


 * 24.96.131.181 (talk) 08:44, 8 April 2023 (UTC)

Very Human-centric
Understandably, this article mainly focuses on human friendship, as that is what we first associate with the term.

However, as the last part of the article points out & numerous other articles make reference to, friendship isn't an exclusively human concept.

I think this article would benefit from either expanding its scope to encompass the large animal kingdom, or at least renaming the article to "human friendship" to help clarify the distinction.

I'm also open to other solutions, I just found it a bit weird that we have articles such as "Interspecies friendship" that fully acknowledges the concept as a general social state for numerous species, while the friendship article itself is 99% human-focused, with even the opening line describing it as a bond between people (humans) specifically. 2403:5808:8038:0:5944:555E:A362:3AB (talk) 00:07, 9 May 2023 (UTC)

Needs Improvement
Very good article. I would suggest getting sources that are more recent, as well as having pictures that grab the reader's attention to make the article more appealing.Santinag1995 (talk) 20:11, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

DTJT9 (talk) 22:49, 2 May 2023 (UTC) A source needs fixing. The source number 27 is not working. Is there a specific page you want to go?

Pereira1711 (talk) 23:10, 25 September 2023 (UTC) I believe that this article needs more recent articles and that the sources of those articles are more reliable. I don't know if it was just me but the topic of dissolution sounds like a personal experience.

Semi-protected edit request on 27 September 2023
I request to be an editor. Pereira1711 (talk) 02:02, 27 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Full-protection-shackle-no-text.svg Not done: requests for decreases to the page protection level should be directed to the protecting admin or to Requests for page protection if the protecting admin is not active or has declined the request. - FlightTime  ( open channel ) 02:09, 27 September 2023 (UTC)