Supposedly, telling the difference between a friend and an acquaintance is quite easy. However, there are still many individuals who easily get fooled by others that make them believe they are their real friends, when in fact they aren’t. To prevent this, there are actually some hints that will guide you in discerning a friend from an acquaintance.
Foremost, you can gauge the level of your relationship with someone in terms of the depth of your interactions. Acquaintances are those people who, even if you see them everyday, like those who work in the same place as you do, talk superficially with you. A friend, on the other hand, is someone who shares a deeper level of interaction or communication. Deep communication doesn’t imply frequent. In fact, the truest of friends are those who, despite distance, still manage to catch up with each other once in a while and talk as if time has not passed by.
Secondly, a friend and an acquaintance have different levels of support for your interests. The former would most likely support you no matter what your endeavors are, whereas the latter will just hang out with you whenever you have the same interests as them. For example, if you are a painter, and you happen to open your own art gallery, you can spot your friends because they are also happy when you are happy; even if they aren’t fond of visual arts. Oftentimes, those who only like you because you paint well are merely plain acquaintances.
Thirdly, with regard to the provision of favors, a friend is someone who either asks for one, or gives favors. He may contact you because he needs you for something, or ask you about your problems so that he may be able to assist you. Acquaintances are those who ask one-sided favors from you, and nothing else. They are the ones who want to benefit the most from your relationship.
Lastly, an acquaintance or a friend can be identified in terms of physical presence. However, this does not mean that whoever is seen to be more physically present with you is already a friend. Sometimes, people happen to be there by chance when you’re also there. Most likely, these people are just your acquaintances. True friends are those who really spend time with you, like having a long one-on-one talk with you some place else, or simply visiting each other’s homes and acting as if they actually own your house.
1. Friends are those with whom you share a deeper level of interaction.
2. Friends have all out support for your interests and happiness, unlike acquaintances.
3. Friends don’t do one-sided favors, unlike acquaintances.
4. Friends like to hang out with you at a much personal level, even at your own home.