How do I make a good friend?

Ericisme

Well-known member
Uh, honestly... Real life friends are probably bad. Unless they also have problems. Any kinds of problems really, atleast if they are real problems. Normal people don't care about anything really, but if the person has a problem also, then they'd care about friends more and such. I don't know how to put it... lol

Lets just say that normal people are bad friends, get a friend with an actual problem. Which are harder to find in real life, I'm sure.

Don't ask me though, I don't even have a good friend.
 
^^Sorry but I have to disagree with you there

I have a couple friends...One of them is a really good friend and he doesn't have any "problems"

Normal people do care about stuff lol they have feelings and hopes and dreams and they can be good friends!!
 

madmike

Well-known member
Been wondering about this myself lately, so here are a few tips:

1. Try to talk to everyone, or at least anyone you have something immediately in common with. This opens the doors to getting to know them better and improves your chances of deciding whether they're friend material (I'm still working on this one myself, I have very bad SA sometimes, and not so bad others, but just keep trying)
2. If you decide that they're friend material, and think that this feeling is reciprocated, then do everything to be as open and honest with this person as possible. If you get a phonecall pick it up or ring back, if you get a text, text back. And initiate as many potential meetings as possible yourself, so the other person doesn't feel like he's the only one trying. It's hard, for me at least, but it gets easier as you get to know them better.
3. Try to hang out with the person as much as possible, the more the better since that way a natural friendship can form quickly, but even if it's only once or twice a week that should be fine ( a friend should also be able to understand your needs). Invite them round to your place or go to theirs, or even better find something to do outside the house. The important thing isn't what you do, it's that you're doing it together.
4. Be yourself, don't feel you need to do/say things just to impress them. This is probably the hardest point for me, as i hate silences or not having anything to reply to something they've said, so I might make up something or pretend to be a certain someone in the vain hope to impress them. It doesn't work, if you just act like yourself people will appreciate you for it.
5. Learn as much about the other person as possible by setting the right questions. Maybe write some down some which you can use all the time. Listen carefully to what they say when they answer your questions, it could be used to lead into further conversation or so you know what to get them for their birthday in future lol; don't get bogged down by what you're going to say, this should come naturally if you listen carefully. Also, reveal as much about yourself as possible.
6. Become a little more curious in the world. Read a newspaper every morning or something so that there's always something to discuss on your mind. Decide on a right time to bring them up.
7. Don't worry about how a meet-up is going, or whether or not the other person in bored. If you enjoy yourself, the other person is also likely to enjoy themselves. Also don't blame yourself for any perceived failures (awkward silences, not knowing what to do, etc). I come across a few instances where people have phoned me back after what i thought was a failure (i.e i judged myself too harshly, the other person did not)
8. Remember that this is all just theory, and that in the end it's about having some confidence to do the things you're not comfortable doing, and trial and error.

Hope these pointers lead to long and fruitful friendships for you :D Good luck!
 

pandamonium77

Well-known member
all of my friends have "problems"
2 are depressed, one has anxiety, one has more social anxiety than me and were a great group of people that understand each other
 

Noca

Banned
Be nice to people and eventually someone will be nice back to you and want to be your friend.
 

Reiji Moritsugu

Well-known member
You don´t, at least not with normal people.

Because as it´s been stated earlier in the thread, they just don´t care about anything and even if they do, there is the fact that 99.9% of normal people see those who have problems almost as a failure that´s still alive only because nature needs something to laugh at. Therefore they just don´t understand what you´re going through, and say the same cliches over and over "you´re just whining" "don´t worry" "talking to people is easy" but guess what, they will never be able to understand because they have never been through this situation.

I´m in no position to give advice though, as the only people who I ever considered my friends ended up backstabbing me. So as far as I´m concerned, friendship doesn´t exist at all. But on the other hand if you really want to and think you will be able to go a different path than some of hus here, then madmike gave you the most useful advice I´ve seen in the whole thread. You would do well to follow it. :)
 
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