The Value of Friendship-Facebook Friends vs. Real Friends & How To Find Friends
Posted: Saturday, November 13, 2010
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
Is friendship an important aspect of life? A quote by C.S. Lewis regarding friendship is on target, "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...it has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival." How true, who really needs friendship. We can survive without it. However, friendship can certainly make life more enjoyable can it not? More hopeful too. In addition, friendship can make our passage through life easier and simply put, better.
It is great to know that someone will be there for us if we need something. It is great to have a bond with someone. In addition, knowing that someone likes to pass time with us and asks our opinion on matters makes us feel worthwhile. Perhaps the most important value in friendship is having the feeling of belonging.
With the advent of Facebook and other social media sites, the accumulation of getting friends is sometimes easy. But are those really friends? No. Well, in many cases they certainly are not. Many if not most Facebook friends are mere networking friends, which is quite different than real friends.
How many friends are enough? I say one can be "enough" if you have someone that is a real friend. Is more better? I can't imagine it would not be if those friends are quality friends. However, having more friends should not make us feel better than the person who may have one or two friends.
SearchWarp seems to be a good place to become friends with people. And it seems that some people have made great friendships while pursuing their writing passions. As a matter of fact, it might not be a bad idea to have a Searcharp get together one day! On a cruise ship, hotel, or better yet possibly at Bruce and Jean's house. I'm just kidding about having the get together at the "Warp's" founder's home but a get together would be fantastic one day.
As for specific ways to get more friends, I've done research on the best ways to find friendship and picked 10 ways I think stand out: 1. Go out of your way to spend more time around people.
2. Introduce yourself to others.
3. Be yourself.
4. When talking to people, don't anticipate rejection.
5. Display your sense of humor.
6. Show curiosity and interest in others.
7. Tell others about yourself, and what your likes are.
8. Feel free to tell others your faults--people like real people.
9. Be a good listener.
10. Smile-enjoy yourself and others.
These tips can assist anyone trying to have more friendships. When I was younger, I did not care too much about friendship. As I get older, I realize more and more the value of it. It makes this thing we call life a little bit better. And for those of you who took the time to read and ponder this article; thank you my friend.
With the advent of Facebook and other social media sites, the accumulation of getting friends is sometimes easy. But are those really friends? No. Well, in many cases they certainly are not. Many if not most Facebook friends are mere networking friends, which is quite different than real friends.
How many friends are enough? I say one can be "enough" if you have someone that is a real friend. Is more better? I can't imagine it would not be if those friends are quality friends. However, having more friends should not make us feel better than the person who may have one or two friends.
SearchWarp seems to be a good place to become friends with people. And it seems that some people have made great friendships while pursuing their writing passions. As a matter of fact, it might not be a bad idea to have a Searcharp get together one day! On a cruise ship, hotel, or better yet possibly at Bruce and Jean's house. I'm just kidding about having the get together at the "Warp's" founder's home but a get together would be fantastic one day.
As for specific ways to get more friends, I've done research on the best ways to find friendship and picked 10 ways I think stand out: 1. Go out of your way to spend more time around people.
2. Introduce yourself to others.
3. Be yourself.
4. When talking to people, don't anticipate rejection.
5. Display your sense of humor.
6. Show curiosity and interest in others.
7. Tell others about yourself, and what your likes are.
8. Feel free to tell others your faults--people like real people.
9. Be a good listener.
10. Smile-enjoy yourself and others.
These tips can assist anyone trying to have more friendships. When I was younger, I did not care too much about friendship. As I get older, I realize more and more the value of it. It makes this thing we call life a little bit better. And for those of you who took the time to read and ponder this article; thank you my friend.
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)Steven, that's kind of a friendly way to address your name, is it not? If not my apologies. Anyway, I can not imagine anybody with as much introspect, or obvious concern for the well being of others as you, as is evidenced in your magnificent "The Kovacs Perspective", not to have several hand fulls of true friends. So it is on this issue that you must speak from extensive personal knowledge, and therefore why I for one am certainly obliged by any and all information that you so generously wish to share on this matter. Thank you for taking your time to share your worldly and gracious "perspective".Hi Dave,
Thanks for bringing up my radio show. 99% of everyone I have interviewed I consider my friend (after the interview) now, do they consider me one... might be another question. But I actually like people--until they really prove to me they're scum, bad, or users. I am not a friend expert at all but I consider myself lucky to have the few that call me their friend.
Thanks for writing Dave, my SearchWarp friend.
Steve
Just think- If not for SearchWarp, I wouldn't ever have known that you or any of the others I now know, even existed- now I do- and I'm glad! Thanks Steve- Always- EllaYeah, how true, all these smart people, varied personaliities etc etc. Cool for sure....thanks for droppin a line Ella.
Steve
Hi Steve,
I loved the article...a real friend is a jewel to keep and we can choose to be good friends!
Have a beautiful week!
Ligia/10Thanks for the comment Ligi!
Steve
Facebook is full of real friends and family members for those who relocate to new cities and leave their friends and family behind. It's a great way to keep in touch with cherished cousins and childhood friends who may be an ocean away. For people who we'd love to see face-to-face but for whom this isn't always possible, thanks to Facebook we can connect without the formality of letters (or the difficulty of phone calls across different time zones) as much as several times a week. People who have their loved ones close by are clearly lucky if they only use Facebook for networking.Good point there anonymous!
I love what you say here, Steve. Real friends are something out of this world. And I feel I've made some really good friends and real heart connections on SearchWarp. Amen to a get-together! I think it's a fab idea. Omigod a cruise ship!!Thanks Jennifer...cruise ship here we come..........
Great presentation of this topic.I have never had a lot of true friends. But those who are…they are “priceless”. Luckily we all do have a choice. Don’t we?Hi Walter
Thanks for your words, I appreciate it. Yes, they are priceless and yes we do have a choice!
Thanks
Steve
True friendships are to be cherished and celebrated. I'v meet many friends through the SW I never would have met and it is all because of my daughter. I use Facebook mostly for my family, we have our internet family connections from time to time and share new family photos so all get to see the cute little babies growing up some now married with babies of their own. It would be fun to meet some of the people we talked to by keys for years but never met. That would be a hoot! Great idea Steve.Hi Linda--thanks for reading....I guess Facebook can be more of a real friend than I had originally thought and for extended family, it seems great as well. I'll see you on that cruise ship one day!
Steve
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