Why real-life city friendships don't work like 'F.R.I.E.N.D.S'
What's the story
The iconic TV series F.R.I.E.N.D.S has defined most of our ideas of friendship in a big city. However, as funny as it is, it also misleads us into the life of friendships in a thriving metropolis. It shows something far more beautiful and easier than it is. Here are 5 reasons why F.R.I.E.N.D.S isn't what real-life city friendship is.
#1
Unrealistic proximity and availability
In F.R.I.E.N.D.S, the characters lived so close to each other that they were always up for random hangouts. In real life, big city living mostly means your friends live across neighborhoods, or in different cities entirely, making impromptu meet-ups difficult. Public transport delays and packed schedules only make things harder, requiring more effort to plan get-togethers than shown on the show.
#2
Financial realities ignored
The characters in F.R.I.E.N.D.S are always going out without any visible financial worries, regardless of their job situations. In reality, city dwellers often have to budget because of how expensive it can be to live (rent, utilities, etc.). Socializing can be pricey, with eating out or going to events quickly adding up, making it important to spend more carefully than what we see on screen.
#3
Time constraints overlooked
The show leads us to believe that friends have all the time in the world for lazing around together. But most urban professionals lead a busy work-life that hardly leaves any time to socialize on weekdays. Long hours at work or on the road can restrict chances of meeting friends regularly it as shown in the series F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
#4
Diverse social circles are not represented
While F.R.I.E.N.D.S centers on a close-knit group of six, real-life city friendships are typically more diverse. City friendships come from various social circles formed through different interests and activities. People have multiple groups they hang out with based on hobbies or professional networks, as opposed to relying on one core group, as seen in the show.
Tip 5
Conflict resolution simplified
Conflicts between friends in F.R.I.E.N.D.S are resolved swiftly and in a funny way in a matter of an episode. In reality, disagreements can be more complicated and need time to fix properly, sans sitcom-style solutions. Real-life friendships require patience and communication skills much more than what's shown onscreen.