Who do you call your friend? and who do you call your associates?
By walking2010
@walking2010 (1009)
United States
September 23, 2011 6:16am CST
I see a lot of people refer to certain people as their friend either because they work with them, or they know them, or they go to school with them, you can't give anyone that title unless they earned it, if they have gain close to you than yes I do understand. But if you only know this person for 1 day or even a week how are they your friend this would be you associates or maybe you would call them people I work with or go to school with, because you don't know who knows you these days, or who you get involved with these days so you have to be careful, so you are your friends and who are your associates?
9 responses
@pahak627 (4558)
• Philippines
23 Sep 11
Well, I have only one person whom become a close friend aside from my family members. She has been my friend since we were yet in high school until now that we are already mothers. Several friends became close to me but just for a few years but our friendship lasted for a long time. I only have a few friends and many associates and schoolmates that I have known.
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@walking2010 (1009)
• United States
23 Sep 11
Ok wow that is important to know someone since High School and still be friends with them because I have 4 people in my life like that and it's something to have memories awww man talk about how you use to be in high school..
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
23 Sep 11
thats lovely that you are still friends with people from school.. i dont really talk to anyone i went to school with anymore.
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@esteria (396)
• India
23 Sep 11
Well friends are just the associates that have came close in time. So telling people they are your associates and not your friends will only make them drift apart. While telling those associates that they are part of your friend circle will make them feel that yes indeed you are their friend. They will become your friends and you never know when this friendship may become important.
Keep those people as associates that you do not like from there behavior and know to be a crook. These people always exist in your class as no matter what the circle there are always exceptions. That can be your parameter of differentiating.
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
23 Sep 11
i don't really think theres every a time to tell someone they are an associate, if they are an associate to you, chances are you are the same to them and they'll be aware of this.
@walking2010 (1009)
• United States
23 Sep 11
See as for me I went to school with a lot of people knew a lot of people but it's only a a couple that were my friends, and some people showed out infront so you knew who you wanted to be around, I don't have a peoblem with any one I am not negative toward them, When I see them I speak, it's just I don't know them like that, and some people you can tell from different backgrounds whether they wanted to hang with you or not to,or get to know you to. and sometime you will even forget about some people you went to school with.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
23 Sep 11
While some people would say that the life that I have is a sad life because I don't have a lot of friends, I think that things are much better this way because I'm far happier having a few friends and lots of acquaintances. Those people that I consider to be my friends are the people that I can share everything with, such as my husband and people that I've known for years before I hit a barrier in my life that made me really shield myself. Those people that are acquaintances are people that I can hang out with and have a good time, but people I'm not able to bare my soul to.
@walking2010 (1009)
• United States
25 Sep 11
Wow I do understand that, I am the same way, but the sad part about my life is that I am not that close with any of my family and that is not by choice it just is, I have more friends than family that i associate with and are close to.
@starrose_ara (784)
• Philippines
24 Sep 11
I call friend those whom I have grown closer with and those that I trust. I label associates those whom I keep a civilized relationship with but I have no attempts of drawing closer to them because of something that I do not like about them. I give particular attention to those that I cannot really get along with.
@surfer222 (1714)
• Indonesia
23 Sep 11
maybe the word 'associates' are for formal term while the word 'friends' is for informal term, so someone i know from work is my associates while someone i know personally is my friends, for people i know from work and i also know them personally then i can call them both depending on the situation...
@walking2010 (1009)
• United States
23 Sep 11
LOL I like the way you put that, yeah but the relationship that you have with the people you have now you have gotten close to them and they are very familiar with you as you are to them, so yes they are your friends.
• United States
24 Sep 11
I agree with you about the friends thing. I am in the Spirituality and Religion business so I don't call alot of the people that I meet friends. I call the COLLEAGUES and rightfully so because we all only have that main thing in common. Most I have known only few years and have a good professional relationship but I don't trust them all enough to call them a friend.
@naija4real (1291)
•
24 Sep 11
I think friends are person that one is closer to, usually this even sharing personal secrets. However, an associate is someone who is not too close but one is familiar with the person and this often involve moving with the person. This could involve sharing business secrets but not personal secrets.
@silpatenneti (72)
• India
24 Sep 11
I am glad to say that my thinking is just like you.when i am in school i also used to say all are friends like that....but later few years i recognised and i use to say,they are my friends,my classmates,my roommates,my madam,my coliege etc,because i recognised who are true to us,and whats the actuall relationships.
@nicolez (1)
• China
24 Sep 11
I think the difference between a friend and an associates is not so much a matter that how long you've stayed together,but lies in mutul understanding. Even a person with whom you have been worked together for a long time,you may be just associates but not friends. From my point of view, a frieng is who you can chare your happiness as well as sadness with, and who always stand with you.
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