[Blue Butterfly]

For me I define friendships based on emotional sharing. If we don’t share emotions I do not view the person as my friend. I was wondering how other types define who they consider friendship.

[SeekJess]

I define friendship on how long I have known someone, and how close we are. ie. Do we just talk about boys and the mall. Or is it more meaningful.

[Grey]

I define friendship by contribution to growth. I wouldn't want to be friends with someone who only agreed with me, after all. Through that, I also define friendship by how I respect the person and how they respect me, how much we enjoy each others' company, and what we share together.

[Blue Butterfly]

I don't have a need for people to agree with me. But I do want to share emotions. If someone stops the emotional sharing then the friendship ends.

[Grey]

I'm not referring to you, or anyone in particular. I just can't stand anyone who agrees to agree.

I don't care for emotional sharing, much. When it does happen in my friendships, it's the result of a fight or some situation, and it's usually very short. Emotional sharing can be beneficial, but it's not my central focus in a friendship.

[Blue Butterfly]

That is the kind of information I am looking for. What other types consider friendship.

[Grey]

If it's any other indication, my ISFP best friend is much like you, with the emphasis on emotional sharing. She and I can clash very often due to her want for such emotional closeness at times, but she does respect my desire not to share that often. On the other hand, when she is with other friends, she is very big on the emotional part, especially with those she considers very close. I believe the difference is, though, emotional sharing isn't necessary to her. It's a perk, but she doesn't need it - what's essential to her, she's told me, is that she would never want a friendship where people could never do things together (go places, read things together, play games, etc.).

[TurranMC]

First I'd say respect is a main factor. I will never consider someone a friend if I don't respect them. After that I'd just say I define friendship by how much a person shares their thoughts and feelings with me. If there is respect but no sharing then it certainly isn't a friendship. I respect some of my teachers but we're not "friends". If there is sharing but no respect then they simply annoy me.

[Aerorobyn]

I'm going to say it's a bit of what both Jess and Turran said. How long I've known someone, but also respect.

The reason being--I have been 'best friends' (I really don't know that I consider her much as my best friend anymore) with someone for nearly 9 years. The older we get, however, the more our personalities clash. The past few months she has shown me little to no respect. When I went vegetarian, all she could do was criticize that I was no longer a meat-eater like her; she also criticizes me because I lean more towards the left on the political scale, and she is a strong conservative. Basically, she wants her friends to abide by the rules of her way of thinking and living.

I don't the things she says very personally, because I know I'm not the only one she does this to. She treats her husband this way. But still, if you've been friends for 9 years, show a little respect and be there for your best friend when needed--don't criticize them because they aren't what you want them to be.

[Blue Butterfly]

I'm going to say it's a bit of what both Jess and Turran said. How long I've known someone, but also respect.

The reason being--I have been 'best friends' (I really don't know that I consider her much as my best friend anymore) with someone for nearly 9 years. The older we get, however, the more our personalities clash. The past few months she has shown me little to no respect. When I went vegetarian, all she could do was criticize that I was no longer a meat-eater like her; she also criticizes me because I lean more towards the left on the political scale, and she is a strong conservative. Basically, she wants her friends to abide by the rules of her way of thinking and living.

I don't the things she says very personally, because I know I'm not the only one she does this to. She treats her husband this way. But still, if you've been friends for 9 years, show a little respect and be there for your best friend when needed--don't criticize them because they aren't what you want them to be.

That is the kind of information I was looking for too. I have people that want to be my friend but because they get critical towards me I wont associate with them. I don't mind people disagreeing with me but I wont tolerate criticism. And if people don't treat me with respect they are history too.