I Need Some Help...!!
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (167071)
Boise, Idaho
January 20, 2011 4:53pm CST
I am getting tired of calling everyone I know 'friends' cause they aren't. Some are acquaintances, some are co-workers I hear from occasionally, some are people I see where I shop that work there or ?, people I have met online that I haven't really interacted with that much and really don't know, and some that I come into contact with from time to time that I don't really care that much about. What do you call these people? To me a real friend is someone you chat with alot, that you have a history with and that you trust. Not just anyone you know. Know what I mean? So I need a word, a noun? a pronoun? that can be used to differentiate between these people! Help! Your thoughts please.
5 people like this
16 responses
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
20 Jan 11
CE-
I find that using the term acquaintances works well when I want to speak of those who I am just friendly with but perhaps not necessarily intimate. I take my friendships very seriously so I have few. I believe in being kind to everyone so I tend to have a lot of acquaintances.
Hope that helps.
Namaste-Anora
4 people like this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Jan 11
I feel the same way but I don't really like typing out acquaintances every time. Am looking for a shorter way to say it. Maybe I will go for 'acq' but then that sounds like ack! like you have a fur ball or something. Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
20 Jan 11
Friend is the shortest of the synonyms but you can try associate, contact, colleague, companion, neighbor, consociate, or confrère. Though, taking it from friend you could confidante if you wanted to. If you want to be silly you could say "comrade". 
2 people like this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Jan 11
I like comrade. And I like your pic.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
20 Jan 11
Friend is a huge catagory and I think that it can be as big or small as you want it. I think that the friend you describe is just that..friend. I think that the people you pass and recognize are just people you know..that might apply to coworkers too...or just people I work with. Friends can be a bit sneaky..lol..they can take a few different forms. There are different degrees too. THAT'S IT! You don't need a noun...you need a degree!!!!
3 people like this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Jan 11
I agree. The three levels of friendom! Makes sense. 1 being acquaintances, peops you meet along the way. 2 are people you have a growing friendship with either in person or online. And, 3 are ones you know well, have a history with and see even if occasionally. So you are a 2 I am thinking. Thanks for the input.
1 person likes this
You are my 2nd degree too...lol..I think one day you will be one of my closest 1st.
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 11
For all they know we are black belters or something. 2nd degree it is. And hope to fill the closest 1st at some point. Thanks for that. 
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
20 Jan 11
I know oh too well what you are trying to say. But sadly the acquaintances and co-workers are all people have sometimes and I am one of those who fall into that as well. I've drifted appart from my real friends over the years that they are more acquaintances than anything even if we have a history.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Jan 11
I have had my share of friend mishaps too. I just think there should be a word. Thanks.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
20 Jan 11
hi celticeagle I call them friendly acquaintances and that seems to
be pretty much the consensus here from what I have read so far
here on my lot. I had a lot of friendly acquaintances from working
in the Tustin Library branch of the Orange County library system.
I knew some of them by name like the Mayor and the police chiefand the city counsel at one time as their lalsts names were potts,puckett and parinell ,the other I could never remember their naems but the three
p's I could always remember for sure.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 11
You have a good memory. Irecall supervisors I had back nearly thirty years ago. And the friendly acquaintances and afew freinds I made.
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 11
I think so too but I am liking comrade as a shorter version.
2 people like this
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
21 Jan 11
They are called acquaintances. It works quite well because it adds no ulterior motive to the name. Or, just call them by their names or avatar names. There really isn't a law that you have to call them anything. Good luck.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Jan 11
I am looking for a shortened versions. I think 1 and 3 are what I will do.
@kinjalk (192)
• United States
20 Jan 11
Friendship starts with acquaintances. It builds up, of course if you want it and let it. But i understand what you are saying and acquaintances is the word that comes to my mind. I would just say people I know wouldn't necessarily call them friends.
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Jan 11
You are so right. I am liking comrade so far.
1 person likes this
@Nadinest1 (2016)
• Canada
21 Jan 11
I have heard someone referred to an 'online friend'. I have used that myself before.
Some of the other people could be 'acquaintances'....or 'a girl I met who works at Walmart'.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 11
That's pretty basic. Did you read 1 and 3? Thanks for your response.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
21 Jan 11
It appears from all the responses that acquaintance would be best, as I too use it very loosely as well.
I find a few others work such as:
ally, associate, classmate, compatriot, comrade, consort, familiar, pal, partner, roommate, & schoolmate.
The ones who immediately call themselves a friend when we have not even interacted and or met much I would consider:
alter ego 
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 11
I agree. I think 1 and 3 has it hands down. Think I have it figured out.
@ptower76 (1616)
• United States
21 Jan 11
Acquaintance is perhaps the best word to use for those individuals one has contact with. Only thing with that is that it sounds so impersonal. I use buddy in many cases. Chat buddy or work buddy. Or if it is someone I talk to alot that lives close to me i will refer to that person as my neighbor or good neighbor. I do not use the word friend lightly.
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
21 Jan 11
mon
That's all I can think of. Better not to reason it out, mon.
1 person likes this
@jovin_777 (33)
• Philippines
23 Jan 11
I think acquaintance. or (if you want) someone i used to know. or someone i knew:D
'friend' is a very vague word to describe it. many levels to consider.
for your real friends, companion is the best word for me.
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Jan 11
Looking for a shorter word. I don't think 'friend' is vague at all. That was what I was getting at. Thanks for your response.
@koikei (206)
• Philippines
21 Jan 11
greetings! "friends" isn't so bad since you still have distinctions like best friend, close friend, good friend, and even BFF! hehe. also, is there really a need to classify these people? anyways, whatever word you choose to define them hopefully will not stop you from pursuing deeper and much more meaningful relationships with them. have a great day! :)
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 11
I think with the over use of 'friend' there is need to classify. I still like 1 and 3.
@GardenGerty (160708)
• United States
20 Jan 11
Acquaintance is the best word I can think of to describe this person. I know what you mean, they are not your friends. Connections would perhaps be another term for this type of relationship. In speaking to someone who is my friend, I may just say "I know this person" and go on to talk about whatever I want to talk about.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 11
That's cool! Did you read responses 1 and 3? I think I have it figured out. What do you think? I think some of the folks I know on here would be 2's.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
20 Jan 11
im not sure either. i call so many people my friend, unless they are an enemy
like you say, i guess you'd just call them acquaintances? or someone you know of? maybe someone else can help as i have no idea myself. sorry.@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 11
I think I figured out(1 and 3 responses)and I thank you for yours as well.
