7 types of friends

 

I was brought up with a picture of an ideal lifelong friend who is always there when you need. While looking at my current count of 37 friends on Facebook, I felt a little surprised at how come I have got so many friends in my list when my initial intention was to only add those whom I really want to add and how come that having so many friends I still feel lonely often. So I decided to review my friends list and categorize them into the different types of friends, and here’s the list. 

# 1 The “we were classmates” friends

These people are your friends because you were in school or university and happen to get along well together. You have a lot of common memories and stories from the past to share. When you met them you usually talk about past or school related stuff and discuss other classmates or teachers. You also share with them your achievements (describing yourself as super businessman or expert) in order to give them a topic for discussion with other classmates. You will most likely have their names in your cell phone because you have called them once or twice to coordinate social events, but you wouldn’t call them out of the blue “just to say hi”.

#2 The “we hang out together” friends 

These people are usually the ones we call good acquaintances. You were in school/university/work with them. You often went partying or clubing together. You know their likes and dislikes and you happy to see them. But you won’t share with them your problems or really personal stuff. If you were to run into them in the streets, the conversations would only last for a few minutes. You’d start with “HEY!!”, give a big grin, then ask “what are you doing here?!” and end with a “okay, see you!”.

#3 The “common interests” friends 

These are the people who share the same interests with you. You both listen to the same kind of music, like many similar stuff and you think that it will be so cool to be each other’s friends. And that’s about it. These are the kind of friends who easily drift away from you once you start to lose contact, or one of you will give up some hobby.


#4 The “Online” friends 

This is the most uncommon type of friend, but they can also be the most precious. You never met them or probably won’t, but this what allows you to pour your feelings to them. You probably don’t know they real name and can vaguely know how they look, but can spent hours commenting their statuses or posts. You probably won’t be too disappointed to lose them. You do not think much about them in your off-line life. But they can raise up your mood as soon as your are on-line again.


#5 The “business important” friends 

 
These are the friends with whom you are engaged in one business, organization or cause. These can also be influential people who might help you with your business. You will always stay polite with them. You contact them in case you need to talk about business or invite them to some social event. You will always ask them formal questions not allowing yourself taking liberties. You have their phone numbers and date of births. This not the type of people whom you miss or with whom you can have good laugh with, though their can be an important part of your life.

#6 The “let’s meet up” friends

These are what you call, your close friends. They are the ones whom you would enjoy having lunch or dinner one-on-one, enjoy holding a conversation with, and enjoy joking with. They usually belong to your tightly-knit group of 3 to 4 (a more intimate clique). You guys always have a great time at dinner together, sharing laughs, memories and many great camwhoring sessions. It’s the case where, when you put everyone together, you have an even better time.The thing about this type of friend is that they make it a point to keep in touch with you because they actually do miss you, and they really want to spend time with you and know what’s up with your life, and share with you theirs. Oh, and they will remember your birthday and never fail to wish you.

#7 The “BEST” friends

Also known as your closest friends in life. They will usually be your maid of honour or best man during your wedding. You like to talk to each other on the phone all the time. You always have a great time eating dinner together with him/her alone on a semi-regular basis and chatting one-on-one for hours. Heck, you can easily spend the whole day with each other everyday. You guys can really talk about anything under the sun, and you totally understand how each other feel. Being with this type of friends can be both fun and emotionally fulfilling. They make you feel happy to be alive.

This is the categories of friends I have in my life for now and I'm sure the would be more of them. It is great to have all of them in my life.
Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.