We are (mostly) raised to be compassionate, caring and gracious. I love my friends nearly as much as I love my family, but it seems like the simple concept of brotherly love has become lost to some people. It is a well-accepted fact that humans crave social interaction, not only to fulfill innate psycho-social needs but also for pragmatic reasons -- tribes and communities center around resources and/or leadership, without which it would be impossible to survive.
Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics proposes three types of friendship: one of utility, another of pleasure, and lastly, an "agape" friendship, based upon mutual goodness. In a world where money seems to be the predominant preoccupation, utility inevitably becomes the main priority in not only everyday life but also friendships, some of which are conceived out of need of either resources or status. We learn by association, and as such, people want others to learn that they are "in", by associating with the "in" crowd. Even worse than that are the people who socialize for the sake of the perks, be it a place to hang out in, or the mere existence of a social gathering. it's all very herd-like and sheepish, but school is like that. The term "friendship" has become somewhat of an anachronism; a misnomer for the transactions of social proof and resources, it seems. Fraternization, if you will. An exception would be friendships of pleasure, in which romance can be categorized under. When both parties associate for the sake of their common ideals or the admiration of their likable attributes, it usually is a positive partnership.
I concede that I take a rather polarizing stance, but in my experience, there are some who approach me readily only for the generosity and kindness I unconditionally give to them, as a human to another human. That does not mean they can suit themselves, but oftentimes they do. You may ask how I know this. it's because change is the only constant, and there are times when I am not abundant. It is at these times they abandon you, leave you out to dry in the sun, and then get mad at you for finding shade by yourself.
I'd like to think of real friendship (agape) as a partnership of honor, confidence, and an intermingling of ideas. In order to establish that mutual relationship, a balance has to be struck where all parties are equally devoted. With billions of potential friends around the globe, every permutation comes with its own circumstance, but for every friendship of goodness, there is always equilibrium, and there is always reciprocity. The best friends I have are the ones who call me out on my occasional foolishness and drivel. They are the earth beneath my feet and the wind beneath my wings. My guides along this treacherous path we know as life, as I am to them (not really, but I try). They are my wingmen who have my back no matter what.
But if you're a homie and reading this, you probably already know it.
