I was reading about friendship earlier this week and it essentially said that people tend to choose friends similar to them. And that you also become more like your friends over time.
And it's kind of got me wondering, that although it is good to have people who are similar to you in your circle.
Does it not also have the potential to make you more narrow minded over time? Does having only those of a similar mindset increase your confirmation bias, as you have friends that are likely to agree with you, rather than challenge you? Does a friend that questions your viewpoint become an outsider, because "everyone else in the group agrees with me therefore I'm right" attitude can occur? Or do you make a conscious decision to have friends that challenge your way of thinking and it's a normal part of your social group? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Oh 'group think' and 'confirmation bias'!
I am developing new friends, but we have similar political views and outlooks to some extent ... We do have different backgrounds and experiences...
... But do we migrate to similar people... Probably |
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I guess by "similar", you mean same values and not being similar type of person.
My school friends who are still close with me have radically different values from me and also each other. While not as radically different, my university friends are also very different. We became friends when political polarisation wasn't a thing and we just cared about playing games, getting homework done and talking about our crushes.
Now I am still close with many of them. One of my school mates is a serious Modi supporter, is religious and right sing. Another is Modi hater, atheist and "almost socialist". The two of them seem to get on very well. We have friends scattered all over the political spectrum. But in spite of our differences, we love each other. Politics is just a part of life. There are much more important things in life. |
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By *uzie69xTV/TS
over a year ago
Maidstone |
Well I tend to steer clear of Trans Women cos, well they are just too similar and boring...
And I've had a few cis women who I've met along with their bf/husbands curiosity about exploring / widening their circle of friends.
So like a lot of couples meeting, the girls (me and her) tend to natter more, while the blokes talk blokey stuff. So similar but not totally the same. |
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"I prefer to have people who challenge my thinking.
Same is boring "
Same, those who I consider to be real 'friends' have over 20 years service with my bestie having over 45 years in that position and we could not be more different. I'd move heaven and earth for her, however, we very seldom agree, keeps our conversations lively  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My Fab friends are quite different to those I know in real life. My original circle of friends in adult life were people from Uni, as I have got older friends from my childhood abroad have come back into my life, then it became parents of kids from my childrens' school (some of them have very different political views to mine and outlook on life - we can argue), then my Fab friends are interesting, cos they come from all walks of life and their lived experiences and backgrounds tend to be different from mine (not all of them) - but I like my 'imaginary' friends and enjoy meeting with them. |
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All my friends (all four of them) are very different to me. I like that they are it keeps me on my toes a bit. One thing three of them have in common is that they accept me as I am (as I do them), the fourth not so much she's always giving me hints on where I'm going wrong  |
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"I was reading about friendship earlier this week and it essentially said that people tend to choose friends similar to them. And that you also become more like your friends over time.
..."
Is that why so many people keep saying "And I was like...?"
I call such people 'Similards'. |
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By *mf123Man
over a year ago
with one foot out the door |
"I try avoid friendships of all kinds avoiding any attachments to humans is much safer
This sounds so tragically sad. I hope you're okay."
im great for this reason finally sane |
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