As an east coat Jew, there are all the time going to be a couple of points for me which veer into neurosis. The existence of blueberry bagels. Individuals who eat pizza with a knife and fork. Sluggish walkers. However outdoors of those there’s one but unsolved query that I wrestle with greater than others: what’s a greater phrase than good friend to explain somebody with whom you’re acquainted (and positively disposed in the direction of), however haven’t spent sufficient time collectively or gotten to know deeply sufficient to actually name them “good friend?”
Most individuals inform me I ought to simply name them “good friend” however this isn’t proper for me. A good friend is somebody I really feel like I do know. The place the connection is of comparable bidirectional depth and dedication. A friendship is a vouch.
By saying everyone seems to be a good friend you lose the intimacy (and expectations) for what a friendship really entails. The only fallback is acquaintance. Right here’s how that usually goes, most frequently in an expert context:
“Hey Hunter, [other person] says you’re buddies?”
“Properly I’d name them an acquaintance. But when I spent extra time with them I wager we’d be buddies.”
To me that feels acceptable, however there’s a bizarre asymmetry the place more often than not the individual I’m calling an acquaintance is asking me a good friend after which it will get bizarre.
So right here’s my query/request for you:
What do you name somebody who you’ve had some quantity of interplay with, even perhaps share some curiosity group/social circles/constructed some familiarity with each other, however aren’t but “friendship” stage shut?
My necessities are:
- Genderless time period
- Can work in a enterprise/skilled setting
- Widespread sufficient to be understood by 95%+ of individuals
- Has no baggage that makes it look like I’m critiquing the opposite one that thinks we’re buddies
You’ve got my gratitude!
