I went through a bad depression and my two of my best friends stopped talking to me when I told them how I was feeling. Should I try to save the friendships? [more inside]
posted on Oct 2, 2008 - 30 answers

You've moved to a town very remote from any of your established social circles: you have no best nor casual friends nor any romantic relationships. You go into one or more meetings of utter strangers with whom you know you share some common interest (OneBrick, a Mefi meetup, a Meetup.Com thing, or something else entirely). What do you do — specifically, pretend I've got Asperger's here (no offense to those who do) — to take things from the level of "just an amiable conversation" to an actual friendship? [more inside]
posted on Sep 25, 2008 - 25 answers

Is it possible for friends to develop a relationship that's more than friendship even if one of them is happy with the way things are right now? [more inside]
posted on Sep 13, 2008 - 41 answers

Posted a question here about my situation as it stood about 9 months ago and got some good feedback. My question now relates in some way to my previous question and how the situation has evolved. [more inside]
posted on Sep 8, 2008 - 12 answers

I’m a girl. I have zero problems being friends with men. I try to be friends with other women, but they're not having it. I’m doing something wrong. What is it? [more inside]
posted on Aug 28, 2008 - 51 answers

I had a shitty birthday today that seemed to confirm all my suspicions about my friendships, and my life in general, and now I'm not sure how to rebound. [more inside]
posted on Aug 10, 2008 - 68 answers

I need to find a good way to say thanks to a friend of mine. [more inside]
posted on Aug 4, 2008 - 10 answers

How to lessen a friendship? [more inside]
posted on Jul 22, 2008 - 12 answers

Recent acquaintance and I, definitely clicking, but things are headed into friendship waters. Can this be diverted? [more inside]
posted on Jul 17, 2008 - 46 answers

My friend's apartment just burned down and everything she owns is gone. How do I help? Any advice for her I can pass on? [more inside]
posted on Jul 10, 2008 - 29 answers

My social life is falling apart and I don't know what to do to fix it. [more inside]
posted on Jul 7, 2008 - 17 answers

How do I get over my hang ups and start to live? [more inside]
posted on Jul 5, 2008 - 23 answers

We've all encountered, if we are lucky and blessed, someone who transcends the definition of friend -- a truly simpatico soul (as in friend, not "soul mate"), someone with whom you can and sometimes do speak for hours, someone who "gets you." What accounts for the connection? Shared beliefs? Shared values? Shared aspirations Shared stage-of-life? It's got to be more than mere shared interests. [more inside]
posted on Jun 28, 2008 - 34 answers

How to nicely but firmly tell someone I am completely and totally uninterested romantically and at this point, pretty averse to friendship, too? [more inside]
posted on Jun 16, 2008 - 27 answers

How can I help a friend get over deep insecurities? [more inside]
posted on Jun 11, 2008 - 11 answers

I'm pretty bad at keeping in touch with people. How can I cultivate low-maintenance friendships? What's the minimum required to keep a friendship alive over time? [more inside]
posted on Jun 5, 2008 - 22 answers

Dealing with a friend whose tendency to vacillate with both plans and moods is driving me slowly mad. Should I speak with them about this, or find a way to deal with it? [more inside]
posted on Jun 3, 2008 - 25 answers

How can I be calm when someone around me is angry? [more inside]
posted on May 21, 2008 - 21 answers

Lately, the concept of "friends" seems to have become incredibly diluted by the casual use of the term by Facebook, MySpace et al. But in "the real world" what do you consider to be important when you are making and becoming friends? Is it how long you've known someone? How frequently you meet up? What you have in common? Something more intangible? Also, I'd love recommendations of any books looking at the psychology of how people become friends.
posted on May 14, 2008 - 21 answers

I'm going on a 3 week vacation with a close friend. How do I avoid screwing up the friendship on the trip? [more inside]
posted on May 11, 2008 - 38 answers

Why am I so bad at "letting go," and how can I better come to grips with the idea that some people are only in our lives for a certain window of time? [more inside]
posted on May 7, 2008 - 16 answers

I find it hard to maintain friendships with women. What's up with me? [more inside]
posted on May 3, 2008 - 52 answers

Is it worth telling my best friend, who just got engaged, that I'm secretly in love with her? [more inside]
posted on Apr 17, 2008 - 118 answers

How do you let a friend know they've really hurt you by their carelessness? [more inside]
posted on Apr 13, 2008 - 25 answers

Do I have wrongheaded notions about friendships with girls? Or this friendship? I seem to be bad at friendships, particularly with girls. My friend Jane however has stuck around for quite a few years. Problem is, I'm starting to suspect she's not a very good friend. But, there's a chance I'm just not accustomed to the social ways of the girl friendship or I'm the one who's the terrible friend. Perhaps the hive mind can help me decide. [more inside]
posted on Apr 4, 2008 - 15 answers

A friend of mine, who is highly educated (married with two kids, accomplished medical researcher), is absolutely convinced that September 11 was a huge conspiracy initiated by members of the US government. She has a detailed complex explanation for everything. She takes it deeply personally when I scoff at her, telling me I should read the evidence before forming an opinion. I see her as gullible and she sees me as ignorant. Is there an analysis available comprehensively somewhere addressing the conspiracy theorists to the satisfaction of the leading academics in the relevant areas (material engineering, aerodynamics, media relations, architecture etc)? How do you deal with people like this? [more inside]
posted on Mar 19, 2008 - 62 answers

Some friends of a friend don't seem to want to know me. At all. Which makes for some really uncomfortable get-togethers. Looking for suggestions on the best way to deal. [more inside]
posted on Mar 17, 2008 - 37 answers

I’m worried about an old friend of mine who lives far away and has been going through some tough times. I want to be a good friend to her, but I fear that she might rely a little too much on my long-distance friendship. [more inside]
posted on Mar 14, 2008 - 7 answers

I have very few close friends. Most of them I have known for a few years (on the internet) but have never even met. I've never known how to have a superficial friend. I don't keep old friends. Has there been any research on how many close friends people usually have and keep during their lifetimes? [more inside]
posted on Mar 3, 2008 - 2 answers

Why do I seem to "change" friends every 2-3 years? [more inside]
posted on Feb 27, 2008 - 15 answers

How do you critique a friend's work, without hurting his feelings? [more inside]
posted on Feb 21, 2008 - 20 answers

I did what I was asking about in this question , and now I've lost one of my friends. [more inside]
posted on Feb 20, 2008 - 59 answers

I have two best friends. I was about to confess my love to one, when he told me he was dating the other. Coping mechanisms? [more inside]
posted on Feb 19, 2008 - 15 answers

Recently I flew to visit a good friend. I went to help with the baby while her husband was away. When I got there, her husband gave me a check for the amount of my airfare (about $250), stating that they wanted to pay for my fare because "you won't really be having a vacation." [more inside]
posted on Feb 16, 2008 - 20 answers

I've been lying about parts of my life to my close friends. I want to come clean, but I'm scared. [more inside]
posted on Feb 13, 2008 - 44 answers

What little things do great friends do that sets them apart from others? [more inside]
posted on Feb 12, 2008 - 29 answers

I've got some Amish Friendship Bread starter that i've been keeping in 1 gallon zipper bags. The directions state to add 1 cup of flour, sugar and milk on the 5th day, and bake on the 10th, after feeding it another cup of flour sugar and milk. What else can this starter be used for? What's the best way to store it, do I have to split it into 4 before using 1 cup for bread? Any other sourdough tips?
posted on Feb 7, 2008 - 7 answers

How do I "break up" with a platonic friend? [more inside]
posted on Feb 2, 2008 - 26 answers

Can you recommend books, movies, or essays with good portrayals of friendships or people's social circles? [more inside]
posted on Jan 27, 2008 - 30 answers

Do people with under-developed social skills know that their skills need work? If so, how? [more inside]
posted on Jan 14, 2008 - 23 answers

A few years ago, I wrote a nasty letter to someone I loved who'd wronged me. I shouldn't have done it; it was a very mean letter. I apologized profusely, but was asked by this person to never contact her again.

I miss her friendship desperately. Given that it's been two and a half years, would it be unconscionable for me to pen her a short letter asking if we can make peace? [more inside]
posted on Jan 11, 2008 - 76 answers

What is a good gift for a newly divorced friend? [more inside]
posted on Jan 11, 2008 - 13 answers

I need friends... [more inside]
posted on Jan 9, 2008 - 48 answers

How do I break up with an old friend? [more inside]
posted on Dec 18, 2007 - 24 answers

Should I finish off the Harry Potter series of books even though I get totally depressed after reading them? [more inside]
posted on Nov 30, 2007 - 26 answers

How do I go about finding a pen pal with whom I have a lot in common, one who will also be loyal in writing letters on a regular basis? [more inside]
posted on Nov 28, 2007 - 13 answers

I’m no photographer, but a friend has asked me to use her Canon A610 camera to take a few photos of some kids, who’ll be wearing pageant costumes, in what she says is a large, high-ceilinged, windowless room lit by bright fluorescent lights. I can’t get to the room early and won’t have time to experiment once I’m there. What setting(s) should I use on this camera? (Assume I’ve considered and rejected the possibility of using a different camera or hiring a photographer.) I’d like to be able to give her decently-lit pictures with natural-looking color. [more inside]
posted on Nov 27, 2007 - 9 answers

How do you end a partnership gracefully--without a lot of hard feelings? [more inside]
posted on Oct 31, 2007 - 26 answers

How do I deal with and best help a good friend of mine who is having very serious mental health problems? Oh, and we live on opposite coasts. [more inside]
posted on Oct 30, 2007 - 15 answers

Is my friend being petty, or should I try harder to patch this up? Long explanation... [more inside]
posted on Oct 29, 2007 - 73 answers