quote:

ORIGINAL: IronBear

From what I'm reading here, I suggest that even the term friend needs definition and being human, this will also mean that each one of us will have oiur own definition of what a friend is..

For me, I relate a friend to the Australian Mateship between blokes. Traditionally your mate/s would stand by you in a blue (fight), without thinking and with out asking wouls dig into their pocket of you were broke or dig into their smokes if you were out of tobacco or cigarettes. They will be their when you need a hand, look after your back if in trouble and give you space when you need it. These are things that mates just do for each other and expect nothing in return other than retiurn the favout if and when it is needed. To me a good friendship is indicated by it's longevity even over great distances and little physical contact at periods of time, and through both good and bad times.


IB
(The incorrigible, irrepressible and irreverent Bear)

quote:

My best friend is a woman, who knows nothing about my BDSM activity.

Well, for me, not sharing my BDSM passion does condition any male best friend relationships I have. Someday I hope to cross that territory, because sharing all passions, even hidden ones, is critical for real friendships.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Huntertn
if you have a sub she Needs and Wants your time..and by rights she earns them...but it cuts into your male buddy time.

quote:

ORIGINAL: IronBear

From what I'm reading here, I suggest that even the term friend needs definition and being human, this will also mean that each one of us will have oiur own definition of what a friend is..

For me, I relate a friend to the Australian Mateship between blokes. Traditionally your mate/s would stand by you in a blue (fight), without thinking and with out asking wouls dig into their pocket of you were broke or dig into their smokes if you were out of tobacco or cigarettes. They will be their when you need a hand, look after your back if in trouble and give you space when you need it. These are things that mates just do for each other and expect nothing in return other than retiurn the favout if and when it is needed. To me a good friendship is indicated by it's longevity even over great distances and little physical contact at periods of time, and through both good and bad times.


IB
(The incorrigible, irrepressible and irreverent Bear)

quote:

ORIGINAL: OsideGirl
Actually, I insist that Master go out and hang with his friends. I think it's healthy to have some time apart.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SirMIkeSD

I have friends but no one that I would consider an extremely close that we do things together consistently.  That's not the say that a few of us, don't meet up for something or the other.  But in the end I want to do what I want to do on my time and my terms.

Mike

quote:

ORIGINAL: MasterLark

So, perhaps this will stir the pot, not that I am being mischievous, but friendship and intimacy are related.

If you can indulge me a bit with a different context that might (or might not) relate to this discussion, let me insert this observation. In an article by Maureen Dowd on the New York Times website today, she talks about finding the "ideal husband" (think ideal Dom/Master) and quotes a Father Pat Connor:

“Never marry a man who has no friends,” he starts. “This usually means that he will be incapable of the intimacy that marriage demands. I am always amazed at the number of men I have counseled who have no friends. Since, as the Hebrew Scriptures say, ‘Iron shapes iron and friend shapes friend,’ what are his friends like? What do your friends and family members think of him? Sometimes, your friends can’t render an impartial judgment because they are envious that you are beating them in the race to the altar. Envy beclouds judgment.

“Does he use money responsibly? Is he stingy? Most marriages that founder do so because of money - she’s thrifty, he’s on his 10th credit card."

I read this exact article this morning and thought about this thread, too! How funny. And I also noted that Master fits so well with the ideal listed here that I sent the article to Him and my Mother. I hated the title, though- "The Ideal Husband". We don't mention the "m" word around here [shudder ].