7. What does it take for you to consider someone a friend?

“I’ll assume that you mean a genuine friend and not just an acquaintance or colleague. It usually involves some degree of friendly banter and a show of weakness on both parties, coupled with acceptance. For example, someone might call me out on a hypocritical statement of mine, but in a way that denotes care or humor, not cruelty, and then allows me to continue without trying to force a change. I want to be seen for what I am, vices included, and still treated with respect.

”…as you might imagine, I have very, very few friends for this reason. Many people are eager to point out my flaws and champion their superiority over me. Conversely, there are some who have the disturbing idea that I’m somehow infallible. Ridiculous. I do not cherish naivety.“