Every now and then I like to do a blog about more vague,
esoteric ideas, rather than books, movies, wars, rock bands, etc. Especially since this word can be extremely
vague depending on the context.
TV
Show. I might as well address the NBC show, which
ran from 1994 to 2004. I didn’t follow
it from the beginning, I simply started watching it because it came on after “Seinfeld”
(1989-98) and I was too lazy to change the channel or turn off the TV, which
was probably what NBC bet on when it gave it the “Must See TV” Thursday night time
slot. By the time “Seinfeld” ended in 1998, I had
come to like Joey, Ross, Chandler, Monica and Rachel. But not Phoebe. I could never stand her. Nor did I care for Gunther, Central Perk, or
the way the official name of each episode starts with “the one with…” However, I did buy into the Rachel-Ross
romance and didn’t like Emily. Anyhow.
School. It seems that from every school, I wound up with
two friends, though by now St. Martin’s has been such a long time ago, although
I’ve found many of my school chums on Facebook, I’ve yet to be able to meet up
with them.
Marymount in Paris?
Danton and Geoff, but again difficulty in meeting them as Danton is in
NYC and Geoff is in Dubai? London? Computer, locate Geoff.
ASP? Jean is in
Germany, Phil is in Colorado.
UMCP? Ken won’t
speak to me, Dave and I write to each other.
GMU Law? John in
Virginia Beach, Jim in Chantilly.
Work. I suppose it’s possible to be friends with
the people you work with, but I distinguish things this way. If you don’t spend any time with the person
away from work, they’re not your friends, no matter how well you get along with
them at the office. At work, you’re paid to be there, and it’s
better to get along than to fight or backstab, right? But if they won’t spend their free time with
you, they have no business calling you their friend.
Fair
Weather Friends. I
remember my dad telling me about this.
A pair of kids called us up asking if we wanted to hang out with
them. My dad remarked, “Pfft. Why are they calling all the sudden? Sounds like no one else was available,” and
explained this concept. People who only
hang out with you when they have nothing better to do.
That also covers people who only call you when they need you for something. Either hang out together or stop calling me your friend. Some friend dynamics might be changing in Colorado and Washington: see “Pineapple Express.”
That also covers people who only call you when they need you for something. Either hang out together or stop calling me your friend. Some friend dynamics might be changing in Colorado and Washington: see “Pineapple Express.”
“Friends”
(men and women).
This is where it gets really bad, because when women use the word “friend”
regarding men, it can mean almost anything.
1) Boyfriend
asks girlfriend about one of her guy friends, who might be an ex-BF or a guy the
BF knows she likes. She says, “oh, he’s
just a friend.” If all the other
circumstances indicate that he’s more than just a friend, that “oh, he’s just a
friend” should be completely ignored. I
say there’s “smart jealous” and “stupid jealous”. “Smart jealous” may include scenarios such
as: ex-BF who suggests a weekend rendezvous.
“Stupid jealous” involves a flirtatious cab driver or the girl’s brother
who simply happens to be good looking.
2) “Friend
zone”. Sometimes a woman consigns a man
to eternal platonic-tude. Maybe he’s unattractive
or overweight, maybe he’s too much of a wuss, but for whatever reason, she has
no interest in him and probably never will.
She calls him a “friend” and he should know that means he’ll NEVER get
in bed with her.
3) Friends
with Benefits. If we listened to what Hollywood
tries to tell us, this would not exist. Women don’t go for casual sex! They require a firm commitment, an emotional
bond! And if the woman won’t go for a
casual sex relationship, it won’t exist.
Same with booty calls or f**k buddies.
Hollywood told us these things don’t happen…so they don’t…right?
4) “When
Harry Met Sally”. Most chick flicks
seem to have some sort of message which is intended for the BF/husband to “get”. This one…not so much. Its message is more for both parties. Harry (Billy Crystal) says that “men and
women can’t be friends, because sex will always get in the way.” To some extent that’s true. If a man and women like each other enough to
be friends, the question will arise why they’re not together. It seems 70% of friendships between men and
women (who aren’t related) seem to be between people who were formerly couples
but broke up on good terms. The other 30%
are between those who are too far apart geographically to be able to date.
Anyhow. If you do
have friends, make sure they know you appreciate them. Treat them fairly, call them – not just when
you need something – and enjoy yourselves.
It’s a big, lonely world, and we need all the help we can get.
