For me, having a "friend" on this forum means that I've taken the time to look at your post history and thread-starting history, and I've decided that for one reason or another, your posts and threads are worth reading. In your particular case, you demonstrate an unusually high level of intelligence and rationality; but I have other criteria as well, including just plain "niceness". I don't always agree with my friends' political opinions, so expect to see extreme RW's as well as Libs on the list; but all my friends are either interesting or charming or both. Nice to see you on the list!