NOTE- I wrote this specifically for Facebook. However, I feel like putting it up here. Have fun. None of the content has been altered, btw.

<rant>
As my latest status has said, I felt like reevaluating the word "friend" and many of my "friendships." Looking through every single one of my posts on NG was helpful, as was just taking out an hour or two (provided by insomnia) to think. After these reflections, I believe that I can say what friendship is, or at least should be, and I believe I can tell who my real friends are and who they are not (and those few who are borderline).

Many have heard the saying "friendship is a two way street." Part of this is because friendship requires trust, and trust is similarly a two way street. If you can't trust your friends, then who can you trust? However, that doesn't mean that trust is the only factor, or even the defining one. I merely believe it is the first factor of friendships, the one that friendships cannot truly begin without. There may be a few exceptions, but there always are.

However, something to point out is that, with friendship being a two way street, friends must be able to depend on each other. They cannot just be sent to the backburner when friendship inconveniences one. There are a few times when things may override friendship, such as accidents or family emergencies, but, generally speaking, friends must always have each other's back. It doesn't work when friends are only there when it is easy or helpful to them to be there. It seems to me that many people are only "friends" because they get some benefit out of it, and as soon as it gets too hard to be a friend or as soon as the well is dried up (so to speak) that the "friendship" ceases, and one party suffers greatly since his/her friends are long gone. That being said, I won't say that friendship should always be unconditional. Despite how horrible it sounds, some friendships must be conditional. For example, Noffke and I probably wouldn't be such great friends if we spent all our time speaking of only religion and politics - two of the few places we differ greatly in opinion. While I can say that I plan on being friends with Mr. Noffke for quite some time, it is contingent on us not talking about politics or religion too terribly often, or else we would both end up very angry at the other, and want nothing to do with the other. That being said, most friendships should be unconditional, and those that aren't should be mostly unconditional. That is the only true way for a true friendship to be had, at least in my book.

That being said, many more traits define a true friendship...or at least they ought to. Integrity, respect, trustworthiness, kindness, tolerability, they all matter. However, I would like to take the rest of this rant to point out something - there is a difference between some of these things. There is a difference between someone you can depend on and someone you respect, and there is a difference between someone you respect and someone you are friends with, and there is a difference between someone you are friends with and someone you are always kind to.. While you should be able to trust, depend on and respect your friends, it isn't always necessary, and it won't always be possible. Likewise, while I would love to say that you must always be kind and respectful to your friends, it won't always happen. I have been guilty of making fun of my friends (haven't we all...). All I am saying is that you needn't get carried away, and you should stop when your friends start to get truly offended. Likewise, try to respect your friends, and learn to depend on them. I have found out that, at times, I can depend on three specific friends more than I can depend on my family.

One final note - there is a distinct difference between friends and Facebook Friends. While I consider quite a few of my FB friends to be real friends, most are simply acquaintances, as I am sure you would all agree.
</rant>