A reflection on honesty, ‘fake friendships’, social media and the meaning of friendship #FriendFriday
“A friend is one who walks in when others walk out”
-Walter Winchell
Social media has brought me, undoubtedly, a number of amazing friends, and for that I am incredibly grateful. But at the same time, it has also enabled a number of people in my social circles to either believe they are my friend or pretend they are my friend. Both cases are pretty bad, but I think that of the two, I rather have people who think we are Best Friends Forever than folks who appear friendly on the outside but are ready to stab me in the back on the inside.
My friends don’t sugar coat things for me, trust me. My actual, real, trusted friends. Not the people I am friendly to. The people who are MY FRIENDS. It irked me a few years ago that Facebook and other social media outlets had eroded the meaning of friendship. I maintain this is the case, regardless of what other people say. Admittedly, having a very full online life has enabled me to keep in touch my friends despite my inability to see them on a regular basis. But at the same time, it has degenerated into a fake “friendship-fest”.
Recently, and at about the same time, 3 very different people who were in my social circles (and social media circles) had temper tantrums that enabled them to publicly demonstrate that they were not, in fact, my friends but that they maintained a “friendship” with me because we are linked through social platforms and circles of acquaintances. And I had to thank them, as well. I much prefer to know when I have an enemy than have a thousand fake friends.
And trust me, when I say someone is my friend, I actually mean it. But my best friends, as indicated in a quote I read last night, are those who have actually lived my life with me. You know when you are one of my best friends, simply because I demonstrate to you quite frequently how much I care and how much I value your place in my life.
To my frenemies – thank you! It’s been a blast getting the chance to unveil your false pretenses. And to my friends, my real friends, and more importantly, my best friends: thank you for always having my back, instead of stabbing me in the back! đŸ™‚
“Anybody can sympathise with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathise with a friend’s success.”
– Oscar Wilde
You’re a good soul, Raul. Keep being amazing and don’t ever let any of them get you down <3
Its interesting how we can get a false sense of security through social media platforms. How we can misinterpret friendliness as friendship.
We are friendly acquaintances – and I love how you light up when I see you, it makes me feel incredibly good. And one of the very best days I had, was when you were introduced to me. You immediately made me feel embraced by this community, when I felt like such an outsider. I will always be grateful for meeting you.
That said, I look forward to the day, when we can get to know each other better – and become real friends indeed.
You are a good egg. Always remember that…and that even your “not quite friends” like you very much (at least this one does).