Relationships: defined

Recently I asked someone what he wanted out of a friendship. He refused to answer me saying that it was too complex of a question. So, this post is an attempt to answer my own question.

Best Friends:

Will stand by you through thick and thin. Strong feelings of kinship and loyalty, even genuine love. Will generally know if you need help before you do and they will sacrifice to help you. Comes to you first for your opinion on a vexing subject. Excitingly calls you with good news, and are very happy or in tears when you have good or bad fortune. Randomly takes you to lunch or the movies without being asked. When they want to see a new movie your to the first they call. Will call you a jackass, but only in private and only because they want you to be a better person. Can sit in a room with them and be absolutely silent and not feel uncomfortable.

Friends:

Personally invites you to all their parties and get togethers. Will invite you, or accept an invitiation, to enjoy a meal over a holiday(i.e. Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, etc etc). Will help you with a problem if you ask. Will sacrifice a whole day to help you move. Isn't afraid to ask you for help. Expects, and gives nothing in return for kind deeds. Will call you a jackass and mean it, but not maliciously. Knows your birthday.

Associates:

Will help you with something at least superficially at least once or twice a year, but you owe them. Will tell you about their good fortune or bad luck. Likes to use you as a sounding board for complaints about people they don't like. Thinks they are familiar enough with you to call you a jackass. Will spend at least part of the day with you at some activity as long as it suits them. Will share food with you as long as they have enough.

Fair weather friends:

These can easily be mistaken for associates, however there is one major difference. They like to keep tabs on you in case something good happens to you and they can share in it, or if something bad happens they can avoid you so as not to risk being asked for a favor.

Frenemies:

Lowest form of life on the planet, cowardly, and dishonest. Strives hard to act like friends or associates but they actually seek to see you ruined. Can be distinguished by the fact that they only talk about how loyal they are, but they never follow through. You are constantly hearing about how they have talked behind your back. Things "disappear" when they come to your house.

Now granted, the above list is not a comprehensive study of the 5 examples of social relationships. I devised the list based on events in my own life.