It's time for the match-up of the century. In one corner, we have Quantity Friendships: so many people who love you and know the basic facts about you. In the other corner, Quality Friendships: these few people know some of the nitty-gritty stuff about you, and they still stick around!
Round 1: Social Interactions
If you have lots of friends, navigating social activities is okay. No matter where you go, you'll probably find someone you know. When you walk into a room, you're able to filter through the faces and find someone familiar. However, you'll probably have to make small talk with them. The comfort found in finding a familiar face is superficial. If you're anything like me, small talk is extremely mentally draining and you find that things turn awkward as soon as you run out of ways to describe this week's weather.
If you have a few really good friends, having a pal in social situations might be tougher. What if they aren't invited to the social event that you're going to? What if they can't go? The less-than-ideal situations are endless. However, if you do have a really good friend going, you'll walk into the room feeling not unlike Taylor Swift and her squad (but on a much smaller, more two-person scale). Even better, you can always talk with one of your best friends--you'll never tire of conversing with them. If you don't know anyone else at the party, you won't fret! You'll just hide in the corner with your friend and chat the night away.
Round 2: Assistance, please!
If you get in a pickle (i.e. your car won't start, you need a few dollars for groceries, etc.), you'll have lots of people to call to help you out. However, you'll also have lots of people who make excuses. Without a doubt, there will be some people who will be willing and able to help you out, but others will be hesitant to. They will probably assume you have another friend who can help you out instead.
However, your really good friends will almost always be willing to help you out. (That's fortunately been the case with me!) They'll pick you up when you have to leave your car at the shop or lend you $5 knowing you'll pay them back as soon as possible. Having friends who know you really well is great because they know your character and know how great you are. They also know that you would do the same for them without hesitation!
Round 3: Life really sucks sometimes.
Say your boyfriend is being an idiot or your dog died or anything else that induces tears and overall sad emotions. If you have a lot of friends, you'll get a lot of sympathetic looks from lots of faces. They'll pat you on the back and remind you that they have to make it to their class on time, but they wish you the best. They'll give you an encouraging smile as they leave you to wallow.
Your really good friends, though, will sit on the floor of your dorm room or in the car with you as you blow your sad snot into yet another tissue as you ugly cry, and they won't say a word. They'll hold your hand as you try to process things, unable to speak.
I think it's obvious to see that there are pros and cons to having lots of acquaintance-type friends and having a few intimate friends. However, it's also obvious that having a few good friends is so much better. They'll be with you through thick and thin, and that's something you can't replace with numbers.
