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Friendship

  • Thread starter Starman
  • Start date
As you might or might not know, Im rubbish at making friends.
I know this girl who I want to be frieds with.(And NO I dont fancy her, I just want to be her friend)
Someone help.
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Dino
 
What do you want to know? You can't make someone be your friend with some sort of script or line. The only way to do it is to be someone they want to know. Chat casually with them, be helpfull, find out what they like, that sort of thing. But most of all, don't make it a pressure situation. Just let things roll naturally. People get so nervous they stop being themselves when talking to members of the opposite sex. Instead, just be calm, confident, and be like someone they'd want to know. And don't worry about the outcome. That's not important.

Capslock
 
I want to know because I have never had a proper friend since I was 7/8.
I have no friends, and I dont know how to make friends.
Im really sad, arent I?
 
Oh yeah, what do I do if she gets mad for whatever reason?
 
Well, apologize, and more importantly, figure out what you did to make her mad. Most people I know who have trouble making friends make one of two mistakes: 1) they are so shy they never make contact with others, or 2) they are so desperate for a friend that they smother and end up frightening potential friends. The key is moderation, consideration, and just being a nice person. People will come to you for friendship.

Capslock
 
I think Im in the no.2 category.
Right O.K, I walk in the classroom tomorow and I see her.
What do I do then?
 
Hmmmm it seems to me like youre trying too hard to figure it out. But I do get where you're coming from. I myself had a really hard time making friends. I was shy and weird and no one really liked me.

As for this girl, I think the best way to go about it is to just start with saying hi or introducing yourself. Then sometime later (or right after, if its going good and she seems like she wants to talk) start talking about something you both seem to have in common. Such as a class youre taking or how nerdy the teacher is or something hahaha. Stuff like that. (lol don't do the teacher thing though, you never know if she might really like the teacher or something)

I think the hardest part is just starting to talk to them. But once things start it should be easier. And remember, all people like to be liked. As long as youre nice, I'm sure things will go well.

And as for her getting mad at you lol that is just bound to happen. But I wouldn't worry about it till it happens. Besides if you worry about it, its more likely to come true and happen. The best rule to follow if it does happen though, is to always listen to why she might be mad at you. Never tell her that the way she thinks is stupid, or act like it is....even if she IS wrong lol.

Also, friendships don't happen in just one day, it takes a while for people to trust. Some longer than others. So just be patient and above all just be yourself.
 
Well she IS mad at me.
Thats why I asked.
She knows who I am.
I think I was trying too hard before.
 
Ohhh that makes things different. Ummm, why exactly is she mad at you?
 
  • #10
First of all, forget about her. It sounds like it got off on the wrong foot with her, and there may not be anything you can do to fix it. The key is to make yourself someone people want to be around, and they will. Maybe even her! But it's futile to focus on trying to fix what isn't fixable. Most of all, just relax! Nothing has to happen tomorrow, or next week or month. This is a long-term issue.

Capslock
 
  • #11
Hmmmm, this sounds like a romantic interest.  Even so, some of the rules for friendship apply: you need to be friends before you go romancing, right?

First off, people tend to behave differently in public than they do in private, especially in school.  If you really want to get to know the girl, try to find some privacy to introduce yourself.

Try to engage her in conversation.  People in general start to open up a little when they can talk about their interests.  If you can get her to talk about ANYTHING you are on the road.  This applies to people in general: they like to be drawn out, especially regarding the things they have interest in.  The temptation is to make yourself look good by "showing off".  Avoid this, and concentrate on learning how your potential friend thinks and feels.  Remember you can always talk about the weather.  That's a starting place, and most people recognize that it is a social sort of introduction that says "I want to talk to you and get to know you".  Another fine introduction is to compliment someones work, it's always an ice breaker.

Friends in general are people with whom you have things in common with.  Just by joining the forums you have put yourself in a good place to make friends, since there are many things we all hold in common here.  Personally, I regard you as a friend.  We have had contact, and I have found you to be polite.  This is the way most folk feel: to regard all as friends at least in potential until they prove otherwise.

Being polite, remembering your please's and thank you's, having sympathy, keeping confidences are all important to making and keeping friends.  Also, remember the door swings both ways: it is not always right to have a friend call on you, visit, provide gifts, ring you up without responding in kind, and without being asked....and often over the objections of your friend.  Friendships are active things, and must be persued by both parties.

As to possible rejection: this is always a possibility.  Asking for a "date" even if it is just to see a movie or visit together is always a nervous thing.  Remember to go slow, and not push.  If there is interest, it will show eventually.  If not, be realistic and move on.  Sooner or later you will find someone who can relate to your personality, even if you are unsure of its quality.  If you are rejected, it does not mean you are "no good", only that this situation or time was not right.  There are other possibilities, and the quicker you can move on to them, the richer your life will be.  CArrying the torch, and waiting for a miracle is often a waste of time.  If Sue says no, go ask Rosie.  Sooner than later you will find someone as lonley as you are.  That's just the way the ride goes, but if you refuse to try, you will never fly!  You only have so much time in life, so don't waste it moping around in regret.

Keep in mind that beauty is just skin deep, and love and friendship have little to do with the outside package.  No matter how "pretty" a person is outside, after 5 years or so in a romantic relationship it won't matter all that much.  What *will* matter are the qualities of generosity, sympathy and respect.  If they are missing, then the relationship will go by the by.  Everyone wants the pretty ones because we are told that is the thing to want.  Guys are after the pin up girl, and the girls all want that suntanned lifeguard.  They eat their hearts out if they can't land their dream, while in the meantime someone worthy of that love and capable of returning it is standing right next to them, every bit as longing as they are.  Keep your eyes and heart open to these possibilities.

Giving is always a good way to make friends, but you have to be able to draw the line between making friends and buying friends.  There is a difference.

Friends forgive, and do not hold grudges even when they disagree, they can just agree to disagree and get on with it.  This is part of the mutual respect that friendship demands.

Friends do not gossip about, or put down friends, but stand by them.  I was a grade school reject, but I managed to make a few friends anyways: those that did not care what everyone else thought and said about me, and were willing to befriend me despite the heat they got for it.  THESE are the friends I would have, not a bunch of social fakes trying to be cool, but rather those willing to think for themselves!  Remember that in your age bracket, there is much to learn about being social, and what might appear hopeless now may later change.  Life holds many surprises: I now have more friends than I could ever have imagined during my pre-teen years when I felt I was worthless.  In time, you will find that many of your other classmates have had the same thoughts, feelings, and uncertanties.  It is a common part of growing up, and it will pass.  Most of this sort of imagining is pure paranoia that the whole school thing seems to produce - it's really mostly just in your mind.

Try to be a good man the best you can, and the rest will follow.  IF there are those that can't accept you for the way you are, and you are trying to be the best person you can, then their opinion is absolutely worthless, and their "friendship" would be as well.

I admire your asking this question.  It shows a person of concern and sensitivity: both great qualities for making and holding friends.
 
  • #12
Right, divaskid first.
Can I PM you about it?

Capslock,
I think it will pass.
I was just wondering if there is anithing more that I could do.

Tamlin,
thank you for regarding me as a friend even though there is quite an age difference between me and you.
No, it is NOT a romantic intrest.
Im only 13. Hmmmm..... Il try and
get her when she is on her own.
VERY difficult(shes with her friends just about all the time in school)
However, she lives very close to me, I could knock on her door,
but its early for that.
 
  • #13
Starman,

Age doesn't matter. I don't think like that. No one is old on the inside mate!
 
  • #14
O.K Tamlin.
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I suppose age doesnt matter.
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Dino
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  • #15
In My mind I am Ancient
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  • #16
UGH. 13 is a tough age. I remember 13. Spent a lot of time at 13 stuffed in lockers and hung up by my underwear.
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I was the not exactly a socialy adept individual at that age. No sense of clothing style, so I wore what Mom bought...and if remember correctly, while rather shallow, what you wear made a HUGE difference to your piers at that age....I had horrible glasses (that goodness for LASIK!), I was 4'10" and about 85lbs (really small)...bad hair....worst part was I had a smart mouth. BAD combination.
You can't MAKE anyone be your friend. Either they will be, or they won't be. Two things I can think of that would make a girl more likely to consider the idea are 1) you listen to HER....ask her about HER....don't go all talking about yourself. and 2) (think someone mentioned it) try to act confident, even if you're not. Look her in the eye, not at the floor....Think about every sentense BEFORE you say it. Had my share of embarassing moments when I openned my mouth before I thought....my share of bruises, too, come to think of it.

At any rate, usually the toughest part is breaking the ice. My new technique is to wait until the person I've targeted and myself are in a situation together, like waiting on a line that won't move, or trying to decide which soda at a vending machine, or whatever, and make some small talke, like "Man, I can never decide which soda." If they respond, they're usually open to a continuation....usually...
 
  • #17
yeah, you can PM me
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  • #18
HEY STARMAN! i thought WE were friends?

just be yourself, and dont worry about making friends, it'll just happen. be outgoing, go out of your way to be nice to people and help them. Try to find common interests. Dont smother people and obsess over them because you want to be your friend, because that just makes people uncomfortable, and i'm speaking from experiance since there are 2 people i know that do that to me.
 
  • #19
I agree with everyone above (esp. Tamlin
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 ).  I think others (male & female) are at ease with those who are at ease with themselves.  You are, indeed, at a difficult age.  You are learning who you are.  Hang in there, you are showing plenty of promise!  
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  • #20
No friends...unorthodox...not socially adept...join my club!
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Only two reasons why I joined pft, one, because I have a passion for cps, and two, because I don't feel comfortable talking face to face with non-verbal signals included, ESPECIALLY to those of the opposite sex. And I'm 15, urgh. Yes, and I can never 'break the ice' that sorta thing...only those with the same interest show true friendship.

Tamlin, you should put that in the article section entitled: how to make friends
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LASIK!?! I thought only my mother would be crazy enough to go for that...
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Jason
 
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