You're quite right Bill

I'll be the first to admit that I have my favorites to whom I'm more disposed to be "tolerant". In other words, I won't jump on one of my favorites as quickly, if they make a mistake ....... as I do to the ones that bug me!~ It may not be quite "fair" but it's true.

Now, I DON'T show favoritism because of declared allegiance or friendship but just because I feel a natural kinship with some, more than others.

To me, that's more honest than "protecting" people because they're on my "side". In other words, I don't consciously segregate people into friends and enemies and protect my "friends" (even if they're shmucks) just to defend the turf we both happen to claim mutually.

When someone asks to be my friend, I become suspicious. What are they REALLY asking of me? I don't normally choose friends; they just "happen" naturally. It's somewhat like choosing to believe something: you can't choose what you believe; you believe what seems believable. You are friends with people whom you feel connected to.

So if I'm asked to be a friend, I suspect that the request REALLY means ........... "please make me an exception to your criticisms. Please treat me better than you do all others."

Well ....... it seems to me that this is not a choosing thing but rather a natural thing and by making it a choosing thing, it becomes unnatural.

-Vince