how many of you befriend people because they might be "useful" in some way or another at some point in the future?

a friend of mine was talking to me about the importance of "networking" in order to more easily acquire favours from people when you need it.

in my opinion, i think that's kinda sleazy. i am fairly introverted and i like to keep a few very close friends rather than a slew on superficial acquaintances. it seems to me that "networking" is the easy way out of working hard.

any thoughts?

JMO, sounds like using people.

Not really something I think about as I make friends. To me, a circle of friends and a network of people are 2 separate groups.

I'm looking for a friend who will massage my feet

I'm just looking for someone to bone when I'm not with my friends

As I'm not really a "people person," and since, as far as I know, nobody has anything I really want anyway, I wouldn't see that sort of "networking" as being particularly advantageous.

If I like a person, it's generally because of who they are. Practical utility, if it enters into the equation at all, doesn't show up until much later.

Same here....

Networking is a big fancy word for sidling up to someone that might be able to help you in your job or career. When I try to get somewhere I usually rely on myself. Befriending someone who I may have no interest in hanging out with is fake.

I like people and am friends with them for who they are, not for what they can do for me.