The Inner Assimilation Files III: The Case of Empirical Friendships Versus Practical Friendships

The downside of the adult world is that it seems to make us put the practical into gear, only in a moment of crisis, and, I think rather sadly, on the excuse of special occasions. I have heard the criticism against commercialised occasions many a time, but really, if there was no cultural obligation to celebrate birthdays, or Christmas, or annual catch-ups, we wouldn’t put the practical into gear at all.

We convince ourselves – or ­comfort, if ­convince makes you uncomfortable – with the empirical knowledge that we are, in fact, there for one another, although not practically, and will, when need be, take a knife in the back for a friend. I am not challenging this, for any real empirical friendship must surely have first passed the test of practical friendship. I am saying I think it sad we have to come to a point we only do what we need, and not anything more, when we have to. Or, if it is more appealing, that we want to, but to me, still only at times of crisis or excuse of special occasion.

I know I’m going to get preached about the fact that it’s not that we don’t want to, we do, but we can’t, we just have to be practical. So to clarify, you’re saying that in order to be practical for livelihood, we have to forgo practical friendship?

And we dare say life is all about relationships.
And that we fear being alone.