Men should care about friendship for the sake of friendship on its own, but if that’s not compelling enough, they should care because friendship has benefits for potentially leading to romantic love

I was inspired to expound on a comment I wrote in another thread about the “practical” benefits of friendship in reply to a PPD guy who doesn’t see value in friendships.

If you want a “practical” reason for why friendships are helpful:

• You can practice being mutually likable and attractive enough to inspire maintained platonic affection. Similar dynamic is required for romantic relationships.

• Maintained interpersonal interaction with others who care about you and for whom you care about builds up feelings of psychological stability and support that leads to one continuing to be a balanced and attractive platonic companion and a balanced and attractive romantic companion. Interpersonal socialization is a muscle that’s to be practiced if it’s to be exercised effectively.

The point I’m making is, all else equal, the person who has maintained strong interpersonal platonic bonds is better equipped to maintain strong interpersonal romantic bonds.

Everything below is a response from an AI LLM (Copilot) for a comprehensive “unbiased” take:

Benefits of Friendships for Their Own Sake

  • Emotional Support: Friends provide a support system during tough times, offering a listening ear and advice.
  • Shared Experiences: Friends share in your joys and sorrows, making life’s experiences richer and more meaningful.
  • Personal Growth: Friends can challenge you to grow, try new things, and step out of your comfort zone.
  • Health Benefits: Strong social connections are linked to better mental and physical health, reducing stress and increasing happiness.

How Friendships Can Lead to Romantic Love * Social Skills: Interacting with friends helps improve communication and social skills, which are crucial in romantic relationships. * Expanded Social Circle: Friends can introduce you to new people, increasing your chances of meeting a potential romantic partner. * Confidence Boost: Having a supportive group of friends can boost your self-esteem and confidence, making you more attractive to potential partners. * Practice for Relationships: Friendships teach you about compromise, empathy, and conflict resolution, all of which are essential in romantic relationships.

Building and Maintaining Friendships * Be Open and Approachable: Show genuine interest in others and be open to new experiences. * Invest Time and Effort: Like any relationship, friendships require time and effort to grow and thrive. * Be Supportive: Offer support and be there for your friends, creating a reciprocal relationship. * Communicate: Keep in touch regularly and communicate openly and honestly.

By focusing on building strong friendships, you not only enrich your life but also create a solid foundation that can lead to finding and maintaining romantic love. Plus, having a community of friends makes life’s journey much more enjoyable and fulfilling

EDIT: If it isn’t clear, this post is about men becoming friends with other men! And the benefits of befriending other men as a man. And perhaps to a lesser extent gender-mixed friends groups. This is NOT a post about men prioritizing becoming friends with expressly women.