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Definition: Invisable Friends

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years, 9 months ago

So what is an invisible friend? There are so many ways to look at this one. Lets start with what my trusty pocket dictionary defines this phenomenon as.

Invisible: Incapable of being seen by the naked eye.

Friend: One attached to another by respect or affection.

Ok, so now we've got what Merriam-Webster's Dictionary calls it. I would like to call this the clinical definition. This is the definition that is "correct." The word correct isn't a negative word to use. But that is a whole other definition. Lets talk about the functions of the invisible friend.

wikipedia gives a very complete description of the functions. Word them any different would be to shame wikipedia.

People may invent invisible friends for companionship, as part of play, or for other reasons. Invisible friends can serve as an important source of companionship to some children and adults. As an example, young children in boarding schools often develop invisible friends to cope with extreme stress and separation from their family. Also, many lonely adults with little to no connections to people will create them, often giving them uncommon names.

Children often use their invisible friends as outlets for expressing desires which they would normally be afraid to engage in or for which they would normally be punished. For example, it is not uncommon for a child to engage in mischief or wrong-doing and then to blame the crime on their invisible friend. Through the invisible friend, the child is able to act out fantasies that they are otherwise restricted from experiencing due to societal constraints.

It is common for children to give their invisible friends personality traits that they themselves lack: shy children often describe their invisible friends as playful and outgoing jokesters who are always making them laugh and who are very popular. In this way, children see their imaginary friends as ideal versions of themselves.

Often children will dismiss the invisible friend once they find living ones or become aware that it is fictional. Invisible friends often help a child realize the difference between reality and fantasy, as well as give them some form of self-esteem.

So, to recap so far, being unseen by the naked eye means that an invisible friend is mutually exclusive to the person who created them. Yes, the friend has to be created. There is no such thing as anything unless we create it. Anyway, an invisible friend is one that the creator has complete and total access to. Therefore, there is always someone to interact with. A companion to be at your side for all times. An invisible friend can take any shape. A person, animal, some sort of odd flavor ice-cream cone, the possibilities are endless. Imagine always having your favorite flavor of ice-cream cone to talk to and eat. Invisible friends are great.

Deity: God or goddess

So why doesn't everybody have an invisible friend? I don't think that's entirely true. Remember the clinical definition? It says incapable of being seen by the naked eye. Who says that any deity can't be an invisible friend? Doesn't everyone speak to his or her god or goddess? So here is the kicker. Some would say that they can see their deity, but I've never seen them. So that means that they are an invisible friend to me and not to them. The clinical definition doesn't say anything about everyone seeing the invisible friend. Therefore, it is open to the individual. I love this.

And friend is also a word that can go in any direction. The clinical definition is pretty exact, right? Well, friendship isn't always mutual according to the clinical definition. I believe that I am a friend to my guinea pig, but I know she doesn't have the brainpower to think in such complicated human terms. I think that the reason she isn't afraid of me is that she feels safe after years of conditioning. So if someone is conditioned enough, does that constitute friendship? If someone is conditioned enough to respect you, another word for not fearing you, follows the clinical definition.

But maybe the correct term is Imaginary Friend. In which case, the definition is different. The clinical definition of Imaginary is:

Imaginary: existing only in imagination

Imagination: the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality

Wow. Big words. Fuck. So what does all that mean? Well it again states that it has to be created. A mental image is a picture in ones mind. What someone sees of something, but only upstairs. It cannot exist in reality and it cannot be present to the senses. These senses are Taste, Touch, Sight, Smell, and Hearing. Wait, I'm getting a call from my imagination. Hang on a second......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Ok, I'm back, now where was I.. Damnit, I got another call..................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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So Imaginary friends are made up by someone who feels they need it. That is just it. There is no other way to word that or make it loop. The person has to feel they need it. And a connection to the word invisible is that the imagination of a person cannot be seen by another. But there is more to it.

Existence: sentient or living being

So if the image is put on paper, someone draws what comes from his or her imagination, it still doesn't exist because it is not a sentient or living being. This means that imagination isn't real and doesn't exist. Invisibility does exist because the extent of the definition is to the naked eye. So that means invisible friends exist, imaginary ones don't and therefore, invisible friends are what we all have. But if imagination doesn't exist on the plane of reality, then

So that is my definition. I've added a segment called disturbing the flow because there is some flaw in the "logic" that I have presented here and it might be something that undoes all of my "hard work." Man, I love "quotation" marks. They make everything sound so "secret" and "cool." I'm going to use them everywhere.

More clinical definitions that are part of the quotation joke I posted above:

Logic: the science of the formal principles of reasoning

Hard: difficult to bear or endure

Work: activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something

Quotation: something that is quoted

Secret: kept from knowledge or view

Cool: very good

DisterbanceInTheFlow

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Definition: Invisable Friends

Definition: Invisable Friends

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