Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire unanswerable question?

A classy lady � new acquaintance, after watching my interactions with friends � asked "How did you come to be such a good friend?"

I've got swarms of ?s buzzing about in and around my head.

"How?" indeed! First thought � family � was the only thing that came to mind � itself yet another puzzler.

Anybody got an answer? How does one become a good friend? I'd give worlds to know!

I have not the answer but will say I am lucky to have a few good friends...

I've always applied the "good friend" label to others, so I have no clue how to apply it, in any sort or step of analysis, to myself.

I understand what you are saying. I guess it would be very hard to pinpoint being a good friend if you don't label yourself such. Now that I am thinking about it I really don't see a concrete or common answer. This conclusion comes from realizing the complexity of friendships and human interactions in general.
Kind of like looking a gift horse in the mouth.

It is a matter of feeling IMHO, no logical explanation I can think of.

When two (or more) people who share a passion about a common interest gather the foundation is set out. If they both are sensitive, sharing, caring, and reliable the friendship might flourish. Sounds corny buy any combination of outgoing personality traits coupled with positive interaction skills results in the potential for a friendship. It has to be two way street and while not all the things have to align it helps.

I have some good friends. One is based on firearms and hunting. He is the best friend. The others are good friends with long histories based on a common interest in a variety of activities.

The "magic" is that one cannot orchestrate a great friendship, it just happens.

The "magic" is that one cannot orchestrate a great friendship, it just happens.

This^^^^^

And sometimes with the most unexpected people.

Ed

First, I think you have to get to know someone very well,..which really doesn't seem to happen a lot these days.

There's quite a few people that I share interests with and am friendly towards, but I don't have any *close* friends like I did back when I was a young man.

I get along well with pretty much everybody I encounter on a daily basis, but I just don't make the effort to develop a close personal friendship with any of them.

Truth be told, the older I get, the more I prefer solitary endeavors.

Not that I'm a recluse. When I'm out and about, I interact with the people I encounter in a positive, friendly fashion,...but I really don't want to have to constantly deal with an ever present companion.

This. With the exception of dogs and family, not too many folks I want riding shotgun.

Trust, Integrity, And honor in everything they do, thats what makes a good friend.

A good friend is some one you have a few things in common with and you could trust him with your naked wife.

A friend might help you move, if you ask.

A Good Friend shows up un-asked to help you move, and they bring beer.

Interesting. Can one attain good friend status thru various methods, and thus not all acquired friends of good preformed same? Say one good friend achieved good status thru strength of character. Honesty of deeds recognized and a kinship developed thereupon. Another, scandalous by any standard, is the star batter for your baseball team and even in light of such great personal defects has characters which delight you and thus he too becomes of the good status. Would the defect necessarily become the less good friend, or is it possible to enjoy their company in light of defects? What about the guy that covered your back during war yet was faithless to family?

Comedian Richard Lewis said: " A friend will help you move. A best friend will help you move...a body!"

Being a good friend is accepting someone without judgement.

Ken, Can you ever really know someone unless you've witnessed them either wrestling with their demons or recovering from wounds or delirium?
I prefer to know of one's most base reaction, and where and how they go from there.

It doesn't sound like she's asking how you came to be such a good friend to her. Rather, she's observing that you're a good friend to the people you're interacting with.

This is one of those things that is self-explanatory. How does a person become a good friend? By being a good friend. Display most of the traits in the Boy Scout Law and you'll be a good friend: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. Add to that, just be there when you're needed, whether the need is moral, spiritual, or physical.

When you say "I'd give worlds to know," I'm thinking you're a giving person. That about sums it up.

Steve.

A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Sometimes it's just birds of a feather.

"Feelings, wo-wo-wo-wo- feelings...."

That's exactly what she was asking, exactly what she was basing her question on. No reference or allusion to my being a good friend to her � she and I hadn't known each other that long or that well � just then barely getting acquainted.

And no indication or probability that I'll ever see her again.