Saturday, January 8, 2011

The Buddy System



let me just say that I'm thinking that this may be somewhat of a controversial post. but its something that I have created and adapted to over the last year or so and it works well for me. I think it is a very healthy concept and I want to share it with you. 


so, "The Buddy System" is a classification model for organizing relationships. after all, you don't have the same relationship with all 400 of your Facebook "friends", do you? Yet we call them all simply "friends"..... the model is divided into 5 groups. lemme break it down for you:


Cooperative Acquaintances: people that you see regularly at an establishment that you frequent. you probably met these folks at the bar or gym. you know their name (maybe not their last name). you don't have their phone number. 


Acquaintances: maybe you met these people at a co-op and hung out elsewhere a few times. networking would be appropriate. also, people that you have started talking to after losing touch for several years.


Friends: people that are on your Friday night "lets do something" text list. Friends are people that you help move and that you take to the airport. roommates. 


Good Friends: people who you can confide in, trust with secrets. you've known for a while or felt like you've know forever. you call them when you've had a bad day. they get invited to your super small, remote wedding. 


Best Friends: the 5 people that pretty much can do no wrong. as Lisa would say "Non Sexual Life Partners (NSLP)". you would have no problem listing these folks on your "emergency contact list" or calling them to bail you outta jail. they are IN your wedding. 


The general "rule of thumb" when using this model is to realize that nothing is permanent or exact and if someone has to ask where they fall, then its prolly in the "Cooperative Acquaintances" category. 


Happy New Year! :\