[Fuzzybear]

What are the essential qualities you look for in a friend?

What would be a deal breaker when you would have to end contact?

And for more minor “infractions” etc, would you try to discuss things respectfully before ending contact?

(This question includes both friends offline and friends online. I think many who have been online for more than a few months have found some genuine, trustworthy friends)

Peace and respect to all

[Fuzzybear]

Well done bear... a typo in the title

Good, I can now correct typos in my titles

But it has to be corrected in each reply

Hopefully people will still reply to this Discussion Thread.

Also, are you a good friend to yourself, or do you try to be?

[Fuzzybear]

Am I a good friend to myself?

Sometimes I try to be.

Of course, for some of us, that sort of “selfishness” has been punished... multiple times ... including at a time when none of us even had the words to say it.....

I might make this post in another forum if nobody here “gets it”

[Thirty shades]

Put your own oxygen mask on first Fuzzy.

It's the first rule of NLP.

None of us can help others without caring for ourselves. I am not sure I agree. But I understand why they say it.

We all deserve to receive support and hugs

[Poiuytl]

I guess what I look for in a friend is a lot. That's why I have no friends as I would like to have. I usually become bitter for a while, than I call someone up and then feel relief that they still have a friendly word or two. I know and they know I am desperate, and nobody likes desperate people. So I have no friend. Nonetheless I never block people or cease contact altogether. Even non-friends who are abusive psychopaths always get another chance to humiliate me.

[downandlonely]

I like a friend who makes me happy when I spend time with them and who treats me with kindness. People often take advantage of me, but I'm trying not to let them do that anymore.

[mountainstream]

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

Am I a good friend to myself?

Sometimes I try to be.

Of course, for some of us, that sort of “selfishness” has been punished... multiple times ... including at a time when none of us even had the words to say it.....

I might make this post in another forum if nobody here “gets it”

[Rohag]

I'll attempt to answer the questions primarily as a depression-anxiety sufferer.

"What are the essential qualities you look for in a friend?"
Kindness.

"What would be a deal breaker when you would have to end contact?"
Oh, I hope this wouldn't happen. A "deal breaker" might be a development in the relationship that posed a threat of harm to myself or the friend.

"And for more minor “infractions” etc, would you try to discuss things respectfully before ending contact?"
Yes. In view of my extreme hesitation to confront anyone, I probably would approach the topic indirectly and with great caution.

"Also, are you a good friend to yourself, or do you try to be?"
I seek to think about myself little. On the other hand, I do think much about my health, mental and physical, and attempt to discover what is "healthy" for me and pursue it.

[Fuzzybear]

[Fuzzybear]

Essential qualities I look for in a friend
Kindness
Integrity
Intelligence
Creativity
Humour

[Thirty shades]

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

Essential qualities I look for in a friend
Kindness
Integrity
Intelligence
Creativity
Humour

Kindness is essential and humour creates a deeper lasting bond. Laughing is so very good for us if we can find a small gap in our misery.