It was 3/6/04 1:03 pm, when Jonathan Brown wrote: > I should have used quote marks around the word "friends" in my original post > which, I think, puts a slightly different slant on my words?
JB Definitely. I saw the smiley but felt another viewpoint wouldn't hurt. I think we are all here among friends - with and without quotes - and can speak our minds. <BG> I also agree with Glyn - up to a point. I think maybe my definition of a friend is a bit too John Steinbeck like: Canary Row or Sweet Thursday. Yes, we all need to make a living - excepting those who were born with a silver spoon in their, erm, mouths and a government subsidy to prance about for life! If a substantial amount of your business comes from your friends, you cannot afford to turn it down - just be prepared to lose them rather quickly when and if things go bellyup! However, if only a tiny amount of it comes from them, I think it's worth not exchanging money and giving up your time in order to cement and further underpin those friendships. In my experience, I have always been paid in other ways when I least expected it: sometimes 10-12 years later! In my experience, once money changes hands between friends, that friendship takes on a different hue but you will only find out when and if that friendship is tested to the extreme. And John Steinbeck said one should never test ones friends! I also see life more in a william curwen way. <g> There are millions of stars exploding every hour and even the odd galaxy. Knowing that, am I going to worry about giving a few minutes or hours of my time to a friend? Not really. But that's for each of us to decide. I'm not criticising other people for their views. Just putting across another viewpoint. I also think the East puts more value on friendship than the West. If not more value than a different value. However, there are always exceptions to that rule, on both sides. I know Indians who would and do fleece their mothers and I know English who bend backwards to help a friend in need. I think this is wandering way off topic so will shut up here... Shangara Singh. __________________________________________________ :: Photoshop CS Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) :: Photoshop CS Essential Tips && ACE Exam Aids && Glossary :: http://www.photoshopace.com && http://www.examaids.com =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
