Argos Squadron

Want a friend? Do you even know what that is?

There are a lot of things you can say about a society where Social Networking and “internet” friends/colleagues are as important as IRL ones. Good and bad things.
I’m using that as my entry point to the argument today: in this on-line jungle, or even outside of it, do people really know what a friend is?

Over last several years, I’ve noticed that the concept of “friend” is moving away from what it is (or at very least what I understand that it is) and more into something it…well…isn’t.


The point is, that more and more I see that being someone’s friend is not about actually being a friend, but about being a yes-man. In other words, you unconditionally agree with other person, always say something nice to them, or in worst-case scenario just stay quiet when they do something really stupid. Any sort of opposition, any sort of negative commentary is considered a dick move and trolling, even when the other side is actually right.

This is actually a less of a problem in actual face-to-face conversation or voice chat, where tone of voice can say a lot, but on site such as this, and CT&FG in particular, it’s becoming more and more of a problem.


And I’m tired of shutting the hell up.


What I currently see in most cases is not a true friendship, or even being colleagues – it’s more of quid pro quo, or “I’ll lick your **** if you lick mine”. We have a legion of sad, saaadddd people bitching every time about how unhappy
they are and how they have no friends, when a legion a people try to comfort them. Don’t tell me it isn’t attention whoring. Just don’t. The worst part is those people don’t even notice you trying to help them unless you absolutely fall on your knees before them and agree with them in everything. Any sort of logic, or even a shred of honesty is to them, the ultimate trolling.

Those people will never know what a true friend is, and most likely they will never have friends. A bunch of weak, lying yes-men: More likely.

See, a friend is not just a person that can comfort you when times are bad, or agree to some scheme. But it’s also a person that, if they believe we’re really doing something we shouldn’t, will have enough guts to tell us that, or better yet, bitchslap us back on track. And above all, it is a person whom we can forgive that. It is a person that we can get along even when he or she has a very different views or tastes.

It is a person we actually trust and are honest with, and not somebody we like only because they shower compliments at us.

Actually being friends isn’t easy like most of you would want to. It requires a great deal of tolerance, but above all, a great deal of trust – and trust is never easily given.


But almost everything worth in live has some measure of difficulty attached to it.
I just feel that a lot of people had forgotten what to be a friend really is, and what it entails.


No, I am not a bastard because I think I can get away with saying something harsh to you and still be a friend. I am not a dick because I say something harsh to you. I’m the only sane one left, that’s what it is.


If you think friendship is all about sunshine and roses, and all cuddling without any harsh words, then good luck with your life and band of yes-man, who will talk the shit about you behind your back the minute a “better” person will come along.


I also pity you, because you will never know what a friend really is.