F.R.I.E.N.D.S

While walking past a hoarding in underground metro the other day, I came across this advertisement for AOL chat groups. It said: People come and go, Friends stay.
As always, i was in a hurry. And i moved on. But this punch line remained there buzzing in my mind for a few days.

What is it about friends which is so overrated?
You have an almost different set of friends when you are in school. Get new friends if you happen to change school. Come graduation and you have a new lot of friends. Same happens with your post-grad or office environment when you move further ahead in life.
One would argue that this is what friends are all about. Friends make a sincere effort to stay in touch.

I wont say that I do not agree with this argument. Its true, friends are people who really care to stay in touch, to be there for you when you need it the most. They do not change even if they happen to meet you after a considerable period of time. The warmth is still there.

Then, why is it that some people turn a cold shoulder to you as soon as you move out of the institution which brought you together? It could be your school, dance classes, office et al. Once you move out of that place, they transform from being really good friends to mere acquaintances who would only give a hesistant, acknowledging smile if they happen to see you at some public place. Whatever happened to the warmth and all? At most, you guys would exchange greetings on social networking sites, plan to meet up once in a while but then, that's about it.
Such friends end up being a part of your social life. People whom you keep bumping into parties, invite them to parties but people who do not mean the world to you. Neither do you to them.
Are these friends?

I strongly believe that friends is a highly misused word. Just because I happen to attend the same academic batch as fifty other students or happen to travel together everyday in a cab doesnt qualify them to be my FRIENDS.
I prefer to call them acquaintances. My so-called friends are often hurt when I tell this to them bluntly. Yes, its true that they happen to know a lot about me. But that's because I am spending them a large amount of my time with them, for my office/college purpose.

And no, I am not actually in love with the idea of being called rude. There are people who claim to be your friends. Then for any reason, big or small, they fight with you, have arguments, insult you and move away. Tada. Friendship broken. Love's Labour lost.
And you called them Friends?
blah. didnt that Ad said "FRIENDS STAY".
yes, Friends stay. They apologise and make up. Learn to accept each other for what they are. And its not easy to find such people. So, please, do not condemn me if I refuse to call every Tom, Dick and Harry my F.R.I.E.N.D.


I read this somewhere and I guess it is applicable for every one of us. We tend to mentally divide our large number of friends into four categories and treat them accordingly. They are:

• Best of friends.
  
• Good friends
  
• Friends with benefits
  
• Just friends