I can't seem to keep any friends for more than two years. Why do I do this and how can I stop? (somewhat long, sorry) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 18, 2009 - 10 answers

How have you made your best and most lasting friendships? [more inside]
posted by cymru_j on Nov 12, 2009 - 42 answers

Where can I find a good source of friends or build a network of friends? After my crazy life. [more inside]
posted by Bacillus on Nov 6, 2009 - 16 answers

Introvert Filter: please help me revive a friendship! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 27, 2009 - 18 answers

What happened to my ability to trust in and connect with people? How do I regain it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 30, 2009 - 9 answers

Another "how do I become friends with this person?" question! (Only possibly with a little more to it). [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 2, 2009 - 11 answers

Celebrating 30 years of friendship. How? [more inside]
posted by yawper on Jul 2, 2009 - 5 answers

I was rejected pretty kindly, we are being friends, and we're hanging out an awful, awful lot. Please help me get some perspective. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 6, 2009 - 10 answers

I'm in love with my friend. I'm going to tell him, but not for a few months. A) What do I do in the meantime? B) Any dos/don'ts for when I tell him? C) How do I both hope for the best and keep my expectations in check so I don't get hurt if he's not interested? D) Any way I can feel him out for signs of interest? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 1, 2009 - 42 answers

How do I build a social life at 30? Or how do I get better at building/maintaining casual relationships? [more inside]
posted by runflats on Feb 14, 2009 - 22 answers

Is it weird to invite acquaintances/coworkers out for drinks after work to celebrate your own birthday? Is it a fairly accepted, normal thing to do, or is it likely to set off the "she's strange and/or desperate!" alarm bells? [more inside]
posted by EmilyClimbs on Jan 22, 2009 - 32 answers

Since the beginning of the year, I've begun binge drinking in social situations to loosen up. What can I do that will help me get over my anxieties and not have to depend on a bottle to make me talkative and fun? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 12, 2009 - 21 answers

What makes the difference between "You think I'm really awesome-- that makes me feel good and I like being around you" and "You think I'm really awesome-- I'm uncomfortable and this is awkward"? Can things work if one person is the clear initiator of building a friendship? [more inside]
posted by EmilyClimbs on Jan 9, 2009 - 22 answers

How to make and keep friends when most people suck? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 3, 2009 - 40 answers

Is it possible that hanging out too much with the same circle of friends can be... inhibiting? [more inside]
posted by Myles on Dec 15, 2008 - 24 answers

How do you keep in touch with friends and relatives over long distances? [more inside]
posted by abdulf on Oct 19, 2008 - 12 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 by WCityMike on Sep 25, 2008 - 27 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 by Ash3000 on Aug 10, 2008 - 68 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 by Phire on Jun 16, 2008 - 27 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 by Bardolph on Jun 5, 2008 - 22 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 by pipstar on May 14, 2008 - 21 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 by Ruby Doomsday 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 by anonymous 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 by zaebiz on Mar 3, 2008 - 2 answers

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

Can you recommend books, movies, or essays with good portrayals of friendships or people's social circles? [more inside]
posted by salvia 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 by anonymous on Jan 14, 2008 - 23 answers

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

How do I tell my roomate/friend that his girlfriend is coming over to our apartment too much? [more inside]
posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth on Sep 28, 2007 - 39 answers

How do I get over a friendship breakup? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 24, 2007 - 24 answers

Friendshipfilter: How do I end it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 4, 2007 - 29 answers

I think a long time friend may want to be more than friends... and I don't... What do I do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 24, 2007 - 20 answers

What are the best ways of dealing with dramatic friends, to give them the love and support that they need without rewarding their dramatic strategies? [more inside]
posted by xo on Apr 20, 2007 - 29 answers

I am shy and sometimes socially anxious person who has benefitted greatly from social activities run by a small support group where I live (Glasgow, Scotland). I found that site just by sheer good fortune after learning (a couple of years ago) to type the phrase "social anxiety" into Google. I would like to meet more people and have more of a social life and so have started a local Shyness group on Meetup.com. I would like my group and my site to appeal to those who see themselves as shy rather than socially anxious and to those who know they are shy but have never heard of social anxiety. Where would be good places online and offline to promote our group? Where are the local shy people to be found?
posted by AuroraSky on Feb 13, 2007 - 9 answers

How does one make friends in LA? [more inside]
posted by dentata on Feb 3, 2007 - 25 answers

I keep my friends "separate" from each other. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 3, 2006 - 10 answers

Two friends agreeing to marry each other if they are single by a certain age: does this really happen in real life? [more inside]
posted by divabat on May 20, 2006 - 47 answers

I'm 21. I've spent most of my life on my own. I'm not much fun to be around. How do I break out of this cycle? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 7, 2006 - 50 answers

Friendfilter: I’m going through some life changes. One of my friends is behaving a little strangely. Almost seems angry at me because of how my life is changing. How do I address this with her? [more inside]
posted by jeanmari on Nov 23, 2005 - 14 answers

What are the little things I should do to deepen relationships from the good acquaintance level to true friend level? Why did your best friends become your best friends? [more inside]
posted by Sharcho on Oct 22, 2005 - 12 answers

What's the best way to meet other couples? [more inside]
posted by wackybrit on Sep 16, 2005 - 10 answers

How do I learn what to say to a friend in need? [more inside]
posted by schroedinger on Apr 19, 2005 - 18 answers

How do you make friends with girls at if you have a girlfriend? Or is this pointless? [more inside]
posted by banished on Apr 9, 2005 - 16 answers

How do you keep your friends? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by Big Fat Tycoon on Feb 8, 2005 - 30 answers

A very good, close friend of mine for at least 16 years, recently revealed something to me . . . [more inside]
posted by yesster on Jul 30, 2004 - 32 answers