[flamesfever]

As far as friends are concerned I usually put them in 3 categories. There are close friends, friends and acquaintances.

I have always believed that if you manage to make a few close friends in your lifetime, the ones you can 100% rely on, and will always be there for support whenever you need them, then you have arrived as far as friends are concerned.

I think it's particularly beneficial to be associated with large numbers of people, most of whom I would put in the friends and acquaintance category, especially when it comes to business. I think there are also health benefits to be associated with having many friends, however, it may not be necessary for everyone.

I think technology, especially things like Facebook, has redefined the word "friend", and one sometimes equates their success in life to how many so called friends they have. I recall a cartoon where a man and woman were standing over a person's casket. It was the person's funeral and no one else was there. The woman said, "But she had 150 friends on Facebook".

I recall a long time ago someone joking about the subject who said, "I have so many friends, I have friends I haven't even used yet".