PUBLIC OPINION > It's OK When Friends Find Love
SodaHead Living
2012/04/10 22:00:00
How About We recently published an article about a situation most of us will encounter at one time or another -- the close single friend who finds love. Sometimes it turns out fine and little changes, but more often than not it means getting to spend less time with that friend. Sure, you might be happy for their newfound love, but sometimes sacrifices must be made, and while that love goes strong, the friendship takes on a secondary quality. We asked the public if they relate.
As much as they'd love to spend time with their friends, most people don't mind when those friends find a love to call their own. Their happiness is more important. However, many respondents -- even those who were OK with it -- expressed a conditional concern. If said friend becomes obsessed with their new love, if their personality changes or they simply won't shut up about it, then it's bad news all around.
The Way Young Lovers Do
Young voters, particularly those under the age of 25, have a much harder time letting their friends fall in love. Our guess is that this is directly related to that "conditional concern" noted above: Young lovers tend to become wholly immersed in their love interest. They aren't as willing to leave their lover's side, and often won't stop talking about them. Ah, young love. Good riddance.
Young voters, particularly those under the age of 25, have a much harder time letting their friends fall in love. Our guess is that this is directly related to that "conditional concern" noted above: Young lovers tend to become wholly immersed in their love interest. They aren't as willing to leave their lover's side, and often won't stop talking about them. Ah, young love. Good riddance.Moot Point When You're Married
Another reason young voters might be more hesitant to sacrifice time with their formerly single friends is that they don't have a love of their own. Married voters were 17% less likely to mind. However, voters in unmarried relationships felt exactly the same as singles.
Another reason young voters might be more hesitant to sacrifice time with their formerly single friends is that they don't have a love of their own. Married voters were 17% less likely to mind. However, voters in unmarried relationships felt exactly the same as singles.Liberals Don't Like It Much
Oddly enough, there was a political difference in the results, as well. Liberal respondents were more than twice as likely to have a problem with it. This could be due to the fact that younger people tend to lean left, although that doesn't explain why the political difference is even more pronounced than relationship status.
Oddly enough, there was a political difference in the results, as well. Liberal respondents were more than twice as likely to have a problem with it. This could be due to the fact that younger people tend to lean left, although that doesn't explain why the political difference is even more pronounced than relationship status.If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about friends finding love. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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Nica24 2012/04/11 05:12:47
One of my best friends and certainly my longest friendship in my early life was with a female...
I met her when I was around 3 yrs. old. She was 3 as well. I don't remember anything about our first meeting but we both met at a very young age. Neighbors and "Army Brats" we grew up together in the same neighborhood as "best buds". We played "Army", "kick the can", "tag", etc. with each other, our other friends and neighbors, brothers and sisters. We started school in the same class and throughout our 12 years of primary and secondary school we remained the closest friends, always checking in with one another, always making sure life was as good as it could be for each other and we even had a romantic several years where we explored our sexuality.
In the end... I went off to the army and she fell into the abyss of the free love, communal living and drugs that was the dominant but declining culture happening at the time. Because I was in the military I became the beast. The last time I saw her I was still in the Army and was home on leave... she had just been released from another rehab, was looking slim but not look...
One of my best friends and certainly my longest friendship in my early life was with a female...
I met her when I was around 3 yrs. old. She was 3 as well. I don't remember anything about our first meeting but we both met at a very young age. Neighbors and "Army Brats" we grew up together in the same neighborhood as "best buds". We played "Army", "kick the can", "tag", etc. with each other, our other friends and neighbors, brothers and sisters. We started school in the same class and throughout our 12 years of primary and secondary school we remained the closest friends, always checking in with one another, always making sure life was as good as it could be for each other and we even had a romantic several years where we explored our sexuality.
In the end... I went off to the army and she fell into the abyss of the free love, communal living and drugs that was the dominant but declining culture happening at the time. Because I was in the military I became the beast. The last time I saw her I was still in the Army and was home on leave... she had just been released from another rehab, was looking slim but not looking like the same best bud I grew up with. We always thought we were destined to live our lives together... our parents thought that too... until the culture at the time intervened. She eventually moved to Idaho to live in a quasi commune and I went my own way.
We used to send a birthday cards to each other every year... from her I'd get a card with a different post mark on the envelope so I had no idea where she was going to light eventually. A couple of years ago a friend told me she had moved back into the state and was living in another city along the sound over 100 miles away. I googled her and found her on one of the "social networking" sites. I thought about dropping a note but decided to let things be. At least she's survived this long.
So yeah, in the end it's okay for friends to fall in love. For better or worse you'll always have those memories. It doesn't always turn out the way you thought it would but looking back on those days I wouldn't give them up for anything.
My wife of over 35 yrs... well, I fell in love then we became best of friends. That's probably the better way of doing things. It's a lasting love, a lasting friendship.
Looking back on things I wish she'd have found her love early on and made a go of it. But then again, maybe that's what she did. Friends do what friends do. It's their life.
C'est la vie!
Homies over Hoes
I was there for her everytime her boyfriend broke her heart....
It just don't seem right.