Social Question

The_Compassionate_Heretic's avatar

From your perspective, at what point does an acquaintance become a friend?

Asked by The_Compassionate_Heretic (14634points) August 29th, 2009

Do you have a set of circumstances that need to be met for this to occur?

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32 Answers

teh_kvlt_liberal's avatar

I’d say when you have made some kind of a meaningful connection with a person. Like they would automatically be there for you when there’s something wrong, Whereas an acquaintance is like someone you would give small talk to.

ItalianPrincess1217's avatar

I consider somone a friend when our conversations become easier and less awkward. Also, when they’re one of the first people I think of when I need to talk about a problem. As far as having a set of circumstances, I can’t stand fake people. So that’s a no-go for my friendships. I also prefer that they not bring drama into my life or add stress to my days. Other than that I’m pretty laid back with my friendships.

MrItty's avatar

When you get the impulse to contact that person to hang out or discuss something, just the two of you, rather than meeting up when you’re both hanging out with mutual friends or at some club/activity at which you’re both a member.

evelyns_pet_zebra's avatar

when they find out that the goat in my back yard is there for more than just organic weed control and they don’t have a problem with it.~

chyna's avatar

@evelyns_pet_zebra I don’t have a problem with it. :)

Noel_S_Leitmotiv's avatar

When trust in needed and earned.

dpworkin's avatar

When we are on farting terms.

NowWhat's avatar

When you call each other friends.

whatthefluther's avatar

An aquaintance is someone you periodically bump into as a secondary consequence to the place or event you are attending. A friend is someone you phone to see how they are doing and to chew the shit (like wondering if you will be invited to the pending barbeque at @evelyns_pet_zebra ‘s home). See ya…Gary aka wtf

perplexism's avatar

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

—C.S. Lewis

To elaborate, once I break down the walls I set up to protect myself, you are then my friend.

chyna's avatar

@whatthefluther @evelyns_pet_zebra is having a barbeque? My invitation must have been lost in the mail. I wonder if AstroChuck has it?

doggywuv's avatar

The day you can spend a moment with them in silence, and have neither of you feel awkward.

whatthefluther's avatar

@chyna….That is entirely possible considering AC is a vegetarian. But that begs the question: just what did you think the plan was for the goat, of which you had no problem? (This could be very interesting!)
See ya….Gary aka wtf.

augustlan's avatar

It’s kind of like art (or pornography)… hard to define, but I know it when I see it. ;-)

chyna's avatar

@whatthefluther Um, well, milk of course. Goat milk!

whatthefluther's avatar

@chyna…Of course. And the barbeque naturally will be a veggie barbeque. And how do you like your tofu grilled? See ya….Gary aka wtf

aprilsimnel's avatar

If I can sit in silence with that person and not have to make small talk because silence would otherwise be awkward, than I know I’ve got a new close friend.

dannyc's avatar

When they move you to tears at a point of their story and life journey.

YARNLADY's avatar

To me a friend is someone you know their home address, their phone number, and you can visit anytime without calling ahead.

aprilsimnel's avatar

Demnit, I meant then, not than! Cripes.

evelyns_pet_zebra's avatar

well, there is no BBQ planned, at least not one with goat on the menu. Do we still not have a problem with my girl Zahrah, the weed control goat?

chyna's avatar

@evelyns_pet_zebra No, still no problem with Zahrah, because as we all know, she is also used for milk only right?

Sampson's avatar

Umm… When you purposely choose to hang out with them, as apposed to bumping into them and chit-chatting at a party.

evelyns_pet_zebra's avatar

@chyna sure, that sounds like a reasonable explanation. ~

jonsblond's avatar

The day you are willing to share a piece of gum.

noodle_poodle's avatar

they day you find out you completely disagree on something but it dosnt matter

JLeslie's avatar

I think there is a progression. You meet someone and enjoy each others company. Eventually when there is mutual efforts to spend time with each other, whether it be talking on the phone or meeting up somewhere a friendship develops. Sharing personal details about yourself and enjoying each others company. I think my closest friends are the ones who are there for me when I go through bad times, put me in a good mood whenever I talk to them, we love to just be with each other doing nothing special, I miss them when we have had a long lapse in time without communication, I have an emotional attachment to them.

Mostly I think there has to be efforts on both sides to develop and maintain the friendship. It’s like dating, you can’t have just one person doing all of the work, all of the calling, all of the planning.

filmfann's avatar

When I share a laugh with someone. It relaxes the mood between us.

hungryhungryhortence's avatar

Acquaintances to me are people I interact with but not necessarily seek out or make plans to spend time with.

Friends are the people I think of wanting to be with to share the best of my time and each other. Friends are the family I choose and build with.

Resonantscythe's avatar

When I realize I’m making an effort to hang out with them.

NadaNormal's avatar

When you can put up with their annoying crap & they put up with yours – that’s a friend

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