| First of all, let's define "friend". Do we want to find an | | | | This brings us to the dangerous word: DATING. Yes, |
| "old" friend? | | | | we have now convinced ourselves that we want to |
| Lots of websites specialize in helping you find an "old" | | | | date somebody. Just on the Web or for real? |
| existing Friend. These sites are called "classmates", | | | | We can now play games based on the fact that |
| "reunions", "public records" or names along the lines of | | | | most people trying to find dates on the Web are |
| trying to find acquaintances from way back, from | | | | married. Does that surprise you? |
| school, the Service or previous jobs. | | | | Given the anonymity of the Web it is very likely that |
| Do we want to find "people"? We can use | | | | if I am fat and ugly I don't want to emphasize this |
| "publicbackgroundcheck", "usa-people-search", | | | | fact when I try to attract a date, so temptation is |
| "peoplefinders" types of sites for finding people. | | | | very great to embellish things a bit and to say in my |
| If, however, we are looking for love and are calling it | | | | description that I am "Voluptuous" and "Attractive". |
| friendship initially then things get really complicated. | | | | Who knows, in all likelihood I will never meet this |
| For the word "friendship" the Web comes up with | | | | person anyway and this is only fantasy. Guess what? |
| 46,100,000 replies. | | | | I now start corresponding in earnest on the Web |
| So we should be more specific about what exactly | | | | with this person I know nothing about. I tell this |
| the "friend" word means. | | | | person all my deepest secrets, except the fact that |
| "a person you know well and regard with affection | | | | I am ugly and fat. |
| and trust;", "he was my best friend at the university" | | | | After doing this for a while my "Date" says that we |
| ally: an associate who provides assistance; "he's a | | | | should meet in person, because it seems we are |
| good ally in fight"; "they were friends of the | | | | really compatible. YEEKS! What now? |
| workers" acquaintance: a person with whom you are | | | | Well, you brought this on yourself and you have |
| acquainted; "I have trouble remembering the names | | | | these options: 1. Go on a crash diet and get a face |
| of all my acquaintances"; "we are friends of the | | | | lift. 2. Forget about this person and try again with a |
| family" supporter: a person who backs a politician or a | | | | new date. 3. Hope your Date is fat and ugly too so |
| team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the | | | | you should take a chance and meet anyway. (This |
| game"; "they are friends of the library" a member of | | | | takes a lot of courage). 4. Hope your Date is pretty |
| the Religious Society of Friends founded by George | | | | or attractive and VERY understanding and will accept |
| Fox (the Friends have never called themselves | | | | you the way you are. (Fat chance). |
| Quakers) " wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn. | | | | So, anyway, there you have it, some of the |
| We can now of course rank friends: good friends, | | | | possibilities you have when you want a Friend. |
| intimate friends, family friends ad infinitum. When we | | | | One thing you should pick up from this : you are |
| then continue to talk about "friends" and "friendship" | | | | probably better off if you are honest to your future |
| we soon start approaching the decision we have to | | | | friend or date; it may prevent depression, bouts of |
| make; do we just want to be penpals or do we | | | | overeating and Internet Withdrawal Symptoms. |
| want to meet face to face at some point in time. | | | | |