Within the vast, murky spectrum of relationships, friendship has often been cast aside as the less sexy cousin of romantic partnerships. But what are the secret ingredients to the perfect friendship? Well, the Observer Magazine from December 1973 endeavoured to find out.
First, we should all move nearer to a postbox. According to the American psychologist Leon Festinger, those who lived within a few metres of one were more popular. This is because of increased social interaction – if you’re constantly posting letters, you’re more likely to bump into people on the street, and presumably bond over stamps.
Secondly, it makes it a lot easier if you can agree on everything. ‘When people agree with us it at least suggests that our views are not entirely misguided, at any rate in someone’s eyes.’
The journalist Stephen Duff stresses the importance of mutual political opinions and offers a few suggestions if one gets chatting with someone at a party only to discover your new acquaintance is, God forbid, a Conservative: ‘This is a convenient moment for you to go and refill your sherry glass, to reach for the peanuts, to circulate and join other company.’
Frances Partridge, who grew up in the Bloomsbury group, a set of intellectuals and artists known for their liberal political views and penchant for spirited debate, suggests that a bit of bitchiness is actually just the ticket to healthy friendships: ‘In those Bloomsbury days, many scathing remarks were made by one about another. But one understood that there would be no relationships in a climate of censorship. Gossip was not resented, and it should not be.’
So there we have it, the secret to friendship is really quite simple – move very close to a postbox, keep your political opinions to yourself and slag your friends off every now and then.
