15 %

[happythoughts 0]

The other evening, I was at my fav Italian restaurant. Around 10, the kitchen closes, so the chef joins me at the bar and we get to talking.

I have different boundaries. Different rules to abide by for each.

Stranger, Acquaintance, Friend, Close Friend...

I talk to just about everybody (much to their chagrin at moments ).

If the topics are interesting and the person seems reasonably normal, they become an acquaintance that I'll speak to on our next encounter.

I told the guy that only about 15 % seem to be a type that I want as friends. (This is subjective, my reasons are my own.) He was surprised at the smallness of the number.

Is 15 % a small number? large?
Thoughts?

Some of them are women, but there is immediate understanding of what friend rules are, and no bs games. He was surprised. A lot of people do not have actual friends of the opposite sex. It only seems to work if both parties are married.

[Broke 0]

15% wow I can't make friends out of 1% of the people I meet. Then again it is all in how you define "friends"

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[happythoughts 0]

At another point, it would be more difficult, but I have gotten more self-sufficient.

Basically, no drama, so no need for the "friend to talk to" person. Most of the stuff that people rely on other people for, I'm past. No opportunity for disappointments. That makes it easier.

It's not superficiality, it is not neediness. So I spend time on the important things and the positives.

[popsjumper 2]

Cool!
I've progressed from Stranger into the realm of Acquaintance. I might have a shot at Friend if I got to see you more often and had flying skills up to snuff enough to get on some skydives with you....I'll work on it...



Bill, you're the hoot...

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[freeflir29 0]

That's hire than my percentage. VERY few of the people I meet become "friends." In fact.........I can count the number of people I consider "friends" on one hand. Then you have "close acquaintences", "aquiantences", and that guy that works in that place.............what's his name?

[LuvToFly 0]

Quote

Basically, no drama, so no need for the "friend to talk to" person. Most of the stuff that people rely on other people for, I'm past. No opportunity for disappointments. That makes it easier.

Seems to me though, that this is the way most people find out if they really have a friend, or merely an aquaintance. Friends tend to stick around, while aquaintance can become absent pretty quick if the going get's tough. So not sure could draw any conclusions about who is a friend or not if using that criteria.

"The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment
of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

[CSpenceFLY 1]

I think it depends on what your definitions are.

[PLFXpert 0]

I have a two best friends (my hunny and my best bud since the K-grade), & one close friend.

Everyone else is an acquaintance. Call me selfish, but I often prefer it that way. I don't like being responsible for the happiness of others. My two friends above know I'm there if they need me, would do anything for them, and vice versa. But, we don't have to speak daily, weekly, or even montly sometimes. I generally enjoy doing what I want, when I want, and not having to worry about calling someone to go with.

But, acquaintances can be great to have and I believe are necessary for the sake of communication, relationships, etc.

15% would be high, not low, imo

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[airtwardo 7]

For me anyway...15% is WAY too low.


To have a friend ya gotta be a friend!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[PLFXpert 0]

<---prefers giving good quality Carrie, than spreading myself thin

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[airtwardo 7]

Quote

<---prefers giving good quality Carrie, than spreading myself thin

***

Ya don't have to spread yourself thin....MULTIPLY...don't Divide!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[PLFXpert 0]

I thought it went: Divide, Multiply, Subtract then bring down?

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[skybytch 273]

Quote

I don't like being responsible for the happiness of others.

Then don't be. I don't feel responsible for the happiness of anybody other than myself and I don't feel that anyone other than me is responsible for my happiness.

Takes away alot of the pressure and most of the conflict in my relationships.

I can count my close friends (the ones I'd help hide the body and vice versa) on one hand. Like your's, they're the ones I can talk to about anything, anytime, but we don't have to talk or see each other on a regular basis. Which is good, because most of them don't live near me.

I do have lots of acquaintances. With time, some of them may become close friends and they may not.

I agree,for me 15% is high.

[NWFlyer 2]

Quote

I can count my close friends (the ones I'd help hide the body and vice versa) on one hand. Like your's, they're the ones I can talk to about anything, anytime, but we don't have to talk or see each other on a regular basis. Which is good, because most of them don't live near me.

I do have lots of acquaintances. With time, some of them may become close friends and they may not.

I agree,for me 15% is high.

Totally agree with this.

I used to say that I have four lists of people I have met in my life.

A list - the people I will do anything for. I will travel specifically to see them. If they get married, I'll be at their wedding, maybe even in the wedding party, no matter where it is. If they die, I'll be at the memorial. I'd help them hide a body and bail them out. 15% is way too high for this category.

B list - People I'll definitely look up if I happen to be in their town. I might have their number in my cell phone and we might exchange holiday cards or something. If they get married and the wedding is convenient, I might even go and I'll definitely send a gift.

C list - the vast, vast majority of people I've ever met fall into this category. I'm generally neutral about them. I might even like them. If I run into them in the airport we'll have a nice chat and go our separate ways.

D list - there are also very few people in this category - I don't like to bother with the negative energy required to keep them there. These are people who I really, genuinely dislike and will avoid at all costs. If I run into them in an airport, I'll try to avoid them or get away as quickly as possible.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke