<p>Even beyond defining a friend, how do you differentiate between a friend and an acquaintance? And of course there are different levels of both friends and acquaintances (anyone care to figure out the different levels?).</p>
<p>when at ur home, ur friend helps herself to ur fridge but the other politely waits for u to ask n serve...</p>
<p>or wait, was this for buddy vs acqu ....... :p</p>
<p>My friends are people I would hang out with outside of school, have their phone number, and feel comfortable around. An aquaintance is a person you say hello to, and may be a friend of a friend you spend time with but don't know too well. A best friend is the person that knows your entire life story, and know as soon as you're having a bad day and how to make you feel better. =)</p>
<p>(I like the fridge analogy--so true!)</p>
<p>Friends = talk to, hang out with, shopping, eat, chill, chat about anything from love to school to personal issues.</p>
<p>Acq - Hi and Bye, ask about school notes/hws etc, don't talk to them a lot.</p>
<p>I think the difference is that around a friend, you don't have to pretend, but can freely be who you are.</p>
<p>I think it's a personal thing, but for me:
Best friend: Someone who you can tell things you can't ever tell anybody else. You can make a complete idiot of yourself, and you're not embarrassed to be that way in front of them. Someone who you're so comfortable with, it just feels right. </p>
<p>Very Very good friend: Much like a best friend, but not up to the level of comfortable. I have a lot of friends like this. Maybe I can't tell them those really really personal things, but you are very comfortable around each other.</p>
<p>Good friend: You can confide in each other, but it's not the same as the above. Something intangible is different. You share the laughs, but maybe not all the tears.</p>
<p>Friend: You're there for each other during the good times, but neither of you would really confide in the other about personal matters. Maybe if you try there are those dreaded awkward silences.</p>
<p>Acquaintence: Someone who you recognize, and who recognizes you, but there is no level of depth. You can hang around someone every weekend for 10 years and still be nothing more.</p>
<p>Celebrian, I agree with your "gradations" -- I almost think there would be a couple levels of acquaintances, though. 1) Those you get along with and 2) those you don't. I'm starting to file everyone -- for better or for worse -- into categories now!</p>