Words Often Used and Abused: Friend

Uncategorized

If you really wanted to, you could take this post as a brief follow-up to Nia’s Reality of Friendship.

“Today, the word ‘friend’ gets tossed around way too often. Society now has made the idea or concept of friendship not as big of a deal.” -Nia Langley

Yeah. I said that in the ‘Nia’s Reality of Friendship’ post, and I still think it’s true. I mean, I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard the word friend…being abused! At this point, someone you haven’t even met…someone you’ve never talked to…someone you saw yesterday can now be called your friend. The crazy part is, most people don’t think that’s crazy!

Except for me.

I just do not understand why people are so quick to bestow such a noble title on someone else.

There has been many a time where I’ve met someone and two days didn’t go by before he or she called me “friend” or “best friend”…That’s moving too fast! What happened to the ‘Getting to know you’ part?! Seriously.

Oh, by the way, Facebook clearly doesn’t help with this issue either. You don’t see something that says “acquaintances”, “people I network with”, or anything of the sort. It’s just ‘Friends’. WRONG!

People don’t even bloody know each other anymore. These “friends” can’t even hold a conversation with each other, yet they insist on naming the relationship a friendship.

If you know me, you know my circle of friends is rather tight right now. You also know that I am very slow to call someone ‘friend’. I mean EXTREMELY slow…practically plodding, if you will. But, as I’ve said before, I’m not anti-friendship. I simply think people take the whole idea of friendship too lightly. I want REAL friends! Let’s build some trust! Let’s build a bond! Let’s build the bloody friendship instead of holding hands, jumping in, and hoping everything works out.

I think that’s sick. The term is so watered down now. It means nothing.

That’s all I really have to say. This was kind of all over the place. Sorry, but I hope this post was somewhat insightful nonetheless.

What do you think about the word friend? Is it abused, or am I overreacting?

Photo citation: http://www.daily-quotes.net/life-quotes/friend-quotes

16 Comments Write a comment

A girl trying to make it in the future's history books.

16 Comments

  • Teddi 20 September 2011

    sorry typo duh!you are sooooo right about the facebook thing. it makes me wonder if i over use that word or call someone that too quickly. then again i'm kind of naive, & tend to think the best in people, until they screw me over, i'm talking figuratively here. you should totally share your chicago actress photos.

    http://honeybeelane.blogspot.com/

  • inmyhansonshirt 20 September 2011

    I definitely agree with what you're saying. The term definitely gets thrown around a lot, without a lot of people actually being fully committed to being what that word implies.

    New follower. 🙂

    http://the-creationofbeauty.blogspot.com

  • Francesca R 20 September 2011

    I quote you word by word, friendship is often confused with aquaintance. It's totally different
    Xx
    http://dontcallmefashionblogger.blogspot.com/

  • Vale ♥ 20 September 2011

    I agree with you 100% ! I don't like facebook much, I can't put all friends and aquaintances on the same level and give them the same information…friendship is something rare and hard to find ! I have been often let down unfortunately 🙁
    Kisses

    Fashion and Cookies

    My Twitter

  • ChiccaStyle 20 September 2011

    Totally agree!!!I am so happy about this post, finally something interesting to read!!!Great words!

  • Bonnie 20 September 2011

    I think that "friend" is definitely overused. I mean, I have friends, but I also have a ton of people that I know but I am not close with. They aren't necessarily my friends. They are acquaintances or coworkers or whatever … There is a difference.

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

  • Nequia 21 September 2011

    I totally understand what you're saying about the word being tossed around too swiftly. Just like the word love! Good post!

    http://www.nequiaacovv.blogspot.com

  • Daly 21 September 2011

    Totally beautiful post and message!

    Thanks for the comment on my blog! Keep in touch!

    xoxo

    DressingDaly.blogspot.com

  • ML 21 September 2011

    This post is great if you ask me. It's true in what way people use word friend. I have small circle of friend but at least I have nice and faithful friends. People I don't know I always call colleagues or 'just someone I know'. Not to mention social networks- that particularly doesn't count (I have fb but it's just another way- like sms- to send messages to my real friends- about school, where to meet etc.).
    Sorry for writing too much ^-^

    xoxo
    http://marinnelle.blogspot.com

  • Ragazza 21 September 2011

    nice post 🙂
    Following each other?
    http://myfashionworld-ragazza.blogspot.com/
    visit me 🙂

  • Cee Harvey 21 September 2011

    Great post! Agree with a lot of what you've said
    Serendipity Style Blog

  • Rebecca Bany 22 September 2011

    Great post… so true.
    http://www.rebeccabany.com

  • Jessica 23 September 2011

    Thanks for your comment cute blog!

    http://chicgeekblogger.blogspot.com/

    Please take a minute to look at my trunkshow;

    http://iouproject.com/tsh/jessica-karen/

  • margaret cruzemark 25 September 2011

    Totally agree. Very interesting post.
    Kisses and hugs
    Miss Margaret Cruzemark
    http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com

  • oomph. 30 September 2011

    i hear you and agree. i guess sometimes it's just easier to say friend than so and so's brother's roommate that i met thru a friend of a friend at my sister's co-worker's son's graduation party, yada, yada, yada. hehe.

    i have no problem saying acquaintance 🙂
    [oomph.]

  • S H A M I L 18 October 2011

    well, we are all "friends" now, yeah right… That term doesnt mean anything much nowadays i guess, but people we know,acquaintance may be… Building a trust takes time and effort and people dont like effort anymore… huh, "friends"… 🙂
    This one is a one great post, thank you Nia !!! 🙂 Personally I find it very motivating!
    Cheers! 🙂

Leave a Reply