Friendship

According to dictionary.com these are the definitions of friend and acquaintance.

Friend- a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
Acquaintance- a person known to one, but usually not a close friend. 

        I have been thinking for quite some time the difference between friends and acquaintances and what really makes that distinction. For a long time I thought acquaintances were simply people you met once or twice and maybe talk to once in a blue moon but you did not know them "like that." I thought that friends you talked to on a semi consistent basis, had several similarities, and talked about some deep stuff from time to time; however, my view has slightly changed. This issue of making the distinction between friend and acquaintance has become even more difficult in our society today because of social networking. You meet some one on a retreat or summer vacation, hang out for a little, so you add them on Facebook and you are "friends." Even though you will prob NEVER talk to this person they are still constituted as part of your friends list. Now i often add people I have met and let them sit on my friends list on Facebook. Even though I do this I also go "friend weeding" as I like to call it ever so often. I go through my list and see all the people there and delete those select amount that I never talk to or I don't even really know that well. This may seem mean or unnecessary but to use a drastic example I do not understand how people have 1000+ friends on Facebook and could possibly still be in touch with all of them on a regular basis. I do understand that some people are there for specific reasons such as business or other necessary things; however, we should not be distorted to think every last person is our friend. My definition of a friend is some one that cares for you in terms of emotional, spiritual, and even physically needs that you may have. Now some of you may say that this is a very selfish view of friendship but I also have learned that you being a friend to some one may be for their benefit and not yours but if are going to claim to be some one's friend shouldn't you take the time and energy to care about ALL of their needs. So my challenge to you is go through your mind or even your Facebook friend list and really think who you are actually friends with and who are the acquaintances.