There are a lot of advantages to having friends who are different from you. For one thing, they'll give you a different way of looking at the world. Friends who are different can introduce you to foods, music, politics, and books you've never tried before. If you're a spontaneous kind of person, someone who is more scheduled can help you get better organized. You, on the other hand, can help them loosen up a little bit, and do things more on the spur of the moment.
Someone who is different from you won't have the same reaction to situations. This can be a big help. If you're the kind of person who gets very impatient waiting for your meal in a restaurant, it helps to have someone calm with you. Your friend can help you keep your temper. If you're a little timid about standing up for yourself, a more assertive friend can help you develop a little more self-respect.
However, there can also be advantages to having friends who are similar to you. You usually enjoy doing the same things, so you don't have to argue about what you want to do. Sometimes it's fun experiencing new things. Other times, it's more fun doing what you know you'll enjoy.
All things considered, I think I'd like to have a lot of acquaintances who are different and a few close friends who are similar to me. That seems the best of both worlds.
Some people like friends who are different from them, while others like friends who are similar. If I have to make a choice, I prefer similar friends.
Admittedly, the idea of having different friends is not without advantages. On one hand, contacting with different friends gives one a broader outlook to life. Different friends can enrich our experiences by their conducts and thoughts that are different from ours. In addition, they can help a person enjoy a variety of interests.
Nonetheless, I believe that similar friends have more advantages. We can feel confident and strong when we have a group of friends who share the same opinions. A person with a purpose in life such as an artist or a politician may feel a special need to surround himself with people who can assist and encourage him in his work.
In addition, similar friends mean the same way of thinking and doing things; therefore they are generally more compatible and easy to get along with. I can think of no better illustration of the idea than the example of my roommate and I who both like studying quietly and dislike loud music, so we can enjoy a quiet environment together and concentrate on our assignments. We both go to bed early so none of us would be bothered while sleeping. Furthermore, it is convenient for similar friends to communicate and enjoy their leisure time together. My roommate and I frequently have fun together because we have the same hobby playing chess.
For the reasons given above, I would have to declare myself as one of those prefer similar friends to different friends.
