There are so many definitions of a friend but sometimes the simplest and most straightforward definition is the best.

 Yes, this definition of friendship may seem so obvious to many, but sometimes we can forget it so easily.

It is said that we are lucky if we can count our true friends with more than one hand. I guess I am one of the lucky ones to have more than five in my life.

I also believe that ones loving partner should be our best friend of all.

Are you being the best kind of friend you can be?

Do the people you call your friends have these qualities?

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“Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two (or more) beings. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship that involves mutual knowledge esteem and affection and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis.

Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism. Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship.

A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them.

The value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:

- The tendency to desire what is best for the other,

- Sympathy and empathy,

- Honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart

- mutual understanding.”

(from Wiki)

i'm not dare to count tho'

AAAum > do you mean you don't dare to count how many real friends you have? or don't dare to count yourself as a friend?

PeeMarc>> amm...interesting... you made me think... can i take both?

Are you talking about ..... "Just Friends" OR just "Friends" as there is a difference, lol

On a serious note, my best friend is my wife !!!

Luckyphil > i was just talking about "friends". We all tend to use the term so much and the true meaning seems to get diluted.

And Im really happy to know that your wife is your best friend too. Well done mate

AAAum > that simple description of friendship seems to be the one with which I agree most. If I am committed to be someone's friend then I would hope I could live up to those simple values for them. And if someone were to be considered my friend, then I would hope they would do the same. Everyone falls down sometimes, but as long as we try our best thats all that matters.

PeeMarc>> "And if someone were to be considered my friend, then I would hope they would do the same"....

i would rather agree for what you said... but at some points, i wouldnt... do you know which bit? ... "then I would hope they would do the same"...

i agree when i give something to someone... both intangible (heart, feeling, nam jai etc.) and tangible (things).. i would "expect" or "hope" to get "something" in return... maybe just a word "thank you" or a smile or a good feeling...

well, anyway, just a hope that they would do the same... if they dont... i can do nothing... or i just feel sorry for myself...

AAAum > in one way you are correct. One should not give, just to expect something back. But friendships are a little different. A friendship is like a mutual agreement between people. Kind of like a loving contract or bond. In order for the friendship to continue to exist (or even exist in the first place), then it really needs to be from BOTH sides. In this way "it takes two to tango"

Roger

AAAum > so... reading the above description of friendship, and with some discussion, do you still "not dare to count yourself as a friend, and also don't dare to count how many friends you have?

haha... still : )

oh well...

So far, on TF, there are two guys which I consider to be "true" friends.

You: PeeMArc, and "Beej", (real name suppressed) are those two friends.

Both of you match the definition stated by you above, in every way.

AAAum; I also consider you to be a true friend, and you have an incredibly

insightful character. You and PeeMarc have qualitatively nice, unique and

very similar qualities.

As a doctor, I pride myself on professional character judgment. Having said

that, I don't think I have ever bothered to count the number of friends I have.

However; True friends are hard to find indeed.

Enemies are also not easy to detect, sometimes we don't see it right away,

other times it is apparent from the onset, like a disease.

Oh and Geee, I forgot about Ghee!!!

Amata>> thank you : )

Amata > how many drinks have you had?

PeeMarc>>> i think he had margaritas as you did yesterday

err.....WE did dear...

Haven't had a drink in over a week.

BUT: Highly reconmend you try this ASAP, it's a lover wine

BARON PHILLIPPE

De ROTHSCHILD

MAIPO CHILE

CABERNET

SAUVIGNON

Ville Central 2006

One of the VERY best wines in the world.

a good friend is like a hard bed

whenever someone asks me for a definition of 'friendship'....

i'll say the name of my best friend right away with no second thought!!

A friend will bail you out of jail at 2 am. A true friend will be sitting next to you in jail at 2 am.

For sure there are friends and real friends,it seems that most people in a life time could count real friends on their fingers.

its interesting to consider what words we use to describe people to others. for example when telling a story or relating something that happened or who you were with at a party, etc. what words do you use to describe them - do you call that person a friend, a mate, a buddy, a dude, or someone you have known a long time, etc. this can reveal exactly how you characterize the relationship in your mind.