H'mmmm. I tend to think the word "friend" is overused. It has a rather intimate (not necessarily physically intimate) connotation that I feel protective of, don't like to use it for very many people.
Well, I knew you better ten years or so ago, but I never knew you well and wouldn't have claimed to. Like frexample I would never have been able to guess your tastes/opinions except in a few very well defined areas. ("H'mmmm. A lot like Heinlein, but not so militaristic. I imagine stonebender would like this...") But, I'm sufficiently mind-blind that I have trouble doing that even for my Beloved Spousal Overunit and our kids.
The German language has a term - I have only heard it pronounced, I don't know how to spell it, something like "bekannte" - that means sort of, more than an "aquaintance," but less than a "friend." I consider lots of people "bekannten," very few people "friends." But I'll usually say "friend" because it's too hard to explain and I don't want to offend folks; you can never have too many "bekannten."
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Well, I knew you better ten years or so ago, but I never knew you well and wouldn't have claimed to. Like frexample I would never have been able to guess your tastes/opinions except in a few very well defined areas. ("H'mmmm. A lot like Heinlein, but not so militaristic. I imagine
The German language has a term - I have only heard it pronounced, I don't know how to spell it, something like "bekannte" - that means sort of, more than an "aquaintance," but less than a "friend." I consider lots of people "bekannten," very few people "friends." But I'll usually say "friend" because it's too hard to explain and I don't want to offend folks; you can never have too many "bekannten."