When Looking for Friends...Diversity!

Heather75
Heather75 Posts: 3,386 Member
edited October 1 in Introduce Yourself
Hi all. I have noticed that a lot of people, especially when they first sign up here, tend to want friends with whom they seem to have a lot in common. I have seen threads where people are practically asking for carbon copies of themselves - same height and weight, goals, marital status,. etc. It is natural to feel drawn to people with superficial similarities, but if you end up with a friends list of people who are all in the same situation, it can be a case of the blind leading the blind, so to speak.

Vary your friends. Seriously. We have so much to learn from people with different backgrounds, goals, achievements and methods that it would be a genuine shame to limit ourselves.

I have an amazing group of people on my list and I have learned something from all of them. Try it - you might like it!

Disclaimer - This is just my opinion and is based on my personal experience. I do not have any links, graphs or charts to back up these statements and in no way am I implying that my way is the only way.
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Replies

  • NewVonnie
    NewVonnie Posts: 683 Member
    *LOVE* :flowerforyou:
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Haha, I don't have any charts or graphs to back this up, but I do know that diversity in friends is amazing! I am 33 and I have friends as young as 20 years old and as wise as upper 60's (tee hee, notice I didn't say old). We can learn many things from many different people. It's nice to have some buddies on the same page, but I really enjoy the wisdom of my older friends and the way my younger friends make me still feel like I am "in the loop."
  • cm2two
    cm2two Posts: 194
    so you only love me cause i love your friends? or wait, your frineds love me? or wait...xoxo i hear you sweets...i love my new friends i made in one day...they show me how awesome it is OUT THERE :D
  • FindingFit50s
    FindingFit50s Posts: 162
    AGREE!! I have peeps with assorted backgrounds, personalities, genders & ethnicities, and who range from having lost a few pounds to nearly 150! I wouldn't want it any other way -- for just the reasons you stated! Love ALL of my MFPeeps!
  • Monica_has_a_goal
    Monica_has_a_goal Posts: 694 Member
    Disclaimer - This is just my opinion and is based on my personal experience. I do not have any links, graphs or charts to back up these statements and in no way am I implying that my way is the only way.

    That is too cute :laugh:

    Actually I have friends from all walks and love everyone of them! People, when given the chance, have so much to share and we all can benefit from each other ..

    Thanks for the encouragement! :happy:

    Monica :heart:
  • cm2two
    cm2two Posts: 194
    *LOVE* :flowerforyou:

    and i meant this girl...shes awesome...i dont know what ive been doing since february without her :)
  • NewVonnie
    NewVonnie Posts: 683 Member
    *LOVE* :flowerforyou:

    and i meant this girl...shes awesome...i dont know what ive been doing since february without her :)

    I swear..if you make me cry again...:wink::flowerforyou: :heart: :blushing:
  • tmcj1968
    tmcj1968 Posts: 5
    Good advice, Heather. I completely agree!
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    I second this. Various people from different walks of life are the best sources of learning things you never knew.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    I agree. Thanks to MFP I've "met" people from all walks of life, which I otherwise would have probably never interacted with. It's really refreshing to have a little peek into peoples lives who are so different than mine; yet at the same time there are many things in common between all of us.
  • cm2two
    cm2two Posts: 194
    *LOVE* :flowerforyou:

    and i meant this girl...shes awesome...i dont know what ive been doing since february without her :)

    I swear..if you make me cry again...:wink::flowerforyou: :heart: :blushing:

    oh stop...i dont make you cry :) i just adore you...and am not afraid to say it :)
  • Autumn15
    Autumn15 Posts: 213
    I think it makes sense to keep it mixed up you always stand to learn things from all walks of life and people of all ages...you never know what unique views they may have that can make a difference for you.
  • CoCoMa
    CoCoMa Posts: 904 Member
    I'm open to friendship of any kind, as long as they are an active member on MFP.
  • gfchica
    gfchica Posts: 54 Member
    Variety is the spice of life! I'm always open to new friend requests.
  • spyork
    spyork Posts: 187
    Sound advice, add me anytime
  • NewVonnie
    NewVonnie Posts: 683 Member
    *LOVE* :flowerforyou:

    and i meant this girl...shes awesome...i dont know what ive been doing since february without her :)

    I swear..if you make me cry again...:wink::flowerforyou: :heart: :blushing:

    oh stop...i dont make you cry :) i just adore you...and am not afraid to say it :)

    Ummmm, yeah you do..but they're happy tears. You are soooo sweet! :flowerforyou:
  • mrmarius
    mrmarius Posts: 1,802 Member
    So true nothing like diversity.
  • Slinkybaz
    Slinkybaz Posts: 312 Member
    Well said Heather and I love the Disclaimer! I wholeheartedly agree with this. Diverse friends means diverse advice and support - eventually some of it sticks and becomes "your own" in the future.

    I like to be a very open minded person (where possible). My opinions can be subject to change when the arguments are given on a subject. I believe this makes me a better person as I can grow and change (preferably not grow physically as that would defeat the object of this site!)
  • lynchiebaby
    lynchiebaby Posts: 20
    i love this post, fair play.
    i am only new to this site and still getting the hang of things so my friend size is quiet limited at the moment,so i am open to any friend request right now for some help and motivation, but im sure ill get there:flowerforyou:
  • mimaduck83
    mimaduck83 Posts: 175 Member
    YES! Friends need to be all the colours and flavours of the rainbow. I love that my friends are all over the world, are different nationalities, different religions, speak different languages and are different colours. Variety is the spice of life people!
  • hewhoiscd
    hewhoiscd Posts: 1,029 Member
    Well said!!
  • beccyleigh
    beccyleigh Posts: 846 Member
    Agreed, I only have 4 friends, 2 of them being my mum & sister so they don't count :bigsmile: but of my 2 friends they are both quite different from me & makes for interesting reading of diaries & comments.

    I especially get annoyed by the ones who only want people of a certain faith. Like us heathens are good enough to give encouragement. :laugh:
  • grmshelle
    grmshelle Posts: 54 Member
    HELLO EVERYONE! :happy: I'm new here and I agree that it is alot of fun to talk with many different people. Just like workouts, keep mixing it up and it will be much more interesting. GS
  • laurielie
    laurielie Posts: 133 Member
    DIVERSITY......should be my families middle name! We have..GREEKS, SPANISH, CHINESE, BRAZILIAN, to name a few,
    LOVE IT =))) IT IS THE.............SPICE OF LIFE!!!!!!!:drinker: :heart: :flowerforyou:
  • yanicka
    yanicka Posts: 1,004 Member
    My friends have one thing in common......they are sticking with it!!!!!

    No they have 2 things in common, they are absolutly awsome!!!!!
  • RocketsGirl75
    RocketsGirl75 Posts: 648
    Hi all. I have noticed that a lot of people, especially when they first sign up here, tend to want friends with whom they seem to have a lot in common. I have seen threads where people are practically asking for carbon copies of themselves - same height and weight, goals, marital status,. etc. It is natural to feel drawn to people with superficial similarities, but if you end up with a friends list of people who are all in the same situation, it can be a case of the blind leading the blind, so to speak.

    Vary your friends. Seriously. We have so much to learn from people with different backgrounds, goals, achievements and methods that it would be a genuine shame to limit ourselves.

    I have an amazing group of people on my list and I have learned something from all of them. Try it - you might like it!

    Disclaimer - This is just my opinion and is based on my personal experience. I do not have any links, graphs or charts to back up these statements and in no way am I implying that my way is the only way.
    [/quote

    You don't need charts and graphs we all know that you are the wise one on here! LMAO!!
  • victoriashea
    victoriashea Posts: 112
    Well let's not be friends... because I totally agree.
  • scapez
    scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
    I really only have one preference when it comes to friends...well, maybe two. Dedication and involvement. I don't care if my friends don't comment on my status' every time they're posted, but I hope to get as much feedback as they're willing to give, because I like to be involved with my friends and their struggles AND successes. And I prefer dedication because *I'm* dedicated to this. Other than that, I don't care if my friends have 5 pounds (or stones!) to lose or 400 pounds, or whether theyre ethnically or religiously different then me. Actually, I guess I do have a third preference. I prefer my friends to come in whatever shape, size, color, etc. that they are! Diversity is the spice of life. :happy:
  • Jenscan
    Jenscan Posts: 694 Member
    I do agree with this. I have vegan friends, friends who are nearly at goal, male and female, folks who live across the pond, low-carb, whatever, and I really love it. It's cool to see different perspectives!
  • laurielie
    laurielie Posts: 133 Member
    Agreed, I only have 4 friends, 2 of them being my mum & sister so they don't count :bigsmile: but of my 2 friends they are both quite different from me & makes for interesting reading of diaries & comments.

    I especially get annoyed by the ones who only want people of a certain faith. Like us heathens are good enough to give encouragement. :laugh:
    LOL.............So true!! I was taught to love & respect all peoples whateva there faith might be
    or "not".............thats a TRUE christian~~~~
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