Relationship Anarchists, considering how most of you find romantic and platonic relationships valuable, what value do you perceive in your acquaintanceships?
I agree. Also, people I consider acquaintances will show up with small shows of support or help network me into positions which benefit me, and I do the same for them when the opportunity presents itself. Example, I saw this girl I know applying for a job at a venue I was at, and I know how great she is, so once she left I told the manager what I knew about how great she was. The next time I was in, she was working there. All the relationships I foster have value, even if they’re not one of my close relationships.
Anything is better than being strangers. Strangers are more likely to mistrust each other, which is a building block of war. Acquaintances have taken a step towards mutual understanding, which is a building block of peace. I very much value those light connections.
dang this is really nicely put. thank you!
Aw, thanks! It's a sort of motto I live by.
Scientifically, weak ties are how networking works. Even if your BFF works in the same industry or shares the same hobby as you, it's way more common to find your next job or the person who can buy/sell/loan you that expensive hobby item among the large group of your acquaintances or the even larger group of your close friends' acquaintances.
To encourage that a little, I try to share a bit about what kind of knowledge is in my network, so that I can do things like set up a partner's brother who just graduated in industry X with a friend who used to work in industry X until recently.
Acquaintances are people who I get along with but who I don’t wanna get closer to. I talk to literally everybody so I’m acquainted with workers around town for example and people who I see frequently on the bus lol. I just like conversation I guess, I make acquaintances pretty much anywhere I go regularly. Gets me lots of discounts and freebies 🤗
Neighborhood safety. When there’s a power outage or storm we look out for each other.
It’s nice to look forward to small talk with someone at the grocery store.
One acquaintance helped me put up a rope swing because they knew how to do it & they had 10 mins to spare.
I have acquaintances who I enjoy talking to, or who I cooperate well with, or who I barely know but I respect. I like people so I think them existing is generally nice and something I support