How do you know you are "friends" with someone?
Hylian
Citizen, Mentor
in General ASD
I've never been good at recognizing that I'm finally "friends" with someone. I've actually upset people who've considered me one because I couldn't tell that we were friends yet. I have just learned to not assume because that's also upset people before, so I don't just consider people my friend until they somehow explicitly tell me we are. I can even go months while talking to someone relatively often and still not "get" that we're not really acquaintances anymore. I often have to ask them and people either find that amusing or insulting/weird.
How do you personally figure out that you're "friends" with someone?
How do you personally figure out that you're "friends" with someone?
Comments
I'll admit that I'm not always sure how to define it myself and how I view friendships as a young adult VS how I did as a teenager is significantly different. When I was a teenager, I used to think that I had to prove myself worthy of someone's time. Even now it feels odd when people just want to hang out with me just because they want to and enjoy my company. I almost expect someone to turn around and say "Ha, just kidding, we don't actually want you here, you're only here as a joke".
For me, a friendship is when someone communicates semi-regularly, the conversation goes beyond small-talk and they take steps to or are receptive to the idea of spending time together when you suggest it. However, a person might act like they want to hang out when they really have no intentions of doing so out of politeness, which is annoying.
I found him years later on Twitter, and posted a tweet to him. He blocked me.
I do have someone I'd consider a "true friend" who is also an online friend + my only current proper one. He's ND (he has dyspraxia, I think?) and we relate a lot + I find our friendship very fulfilling. I know some people don't consider online friendships as "real" ones, but I beg to differ. lol