Would you rather: have many friends or a few close friends?

That's the age-old question, isn't it?

The selfish, greedy part of me wants to say it's better to have many friends.  The realistic me wants to say the latter.  Allow me to explain why.

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     I consider myself a very career-oriented girl despite the fact that I just turned 19 and am only going into my second-year of college.  And though getting to know more people has always been one of my genuine desires, I do believe that everyone can benefit from doing this.  It's a terrific way to show more people what you're capable of (of course, if you aren't inclined to try to be a motivated worker, then networking may be useless after all).
     I've been taken summer courses with older students almost done with school, some reaching into their late 20s.  They keep telling me cool stories about all these people they know - for example, a friend of one of them married the actor Seth Greene.  I keep thinking, "Wow, I wish I had more cool friends like that!"  But the thing is, they're all older than me and I'm so young.  It finally hit me that the older I grow, the more "cool" things people I know (or even myself!) will wind up doing.  And one day, the perks of knowing someone "cool" will come to you.  But how many people actually reach this high status?  I can't imagine too many - so get to know more people :).
     My friend Kasey recommended a book to me, called Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi.  His most important point on networking is that it's "a constant process of giving and receiving -- of asking for and offering help.  By putting people in contact with one another, by giving your time and expertise and sharing them freely, the pie gets bigger for everyone." (Note:  networking is not a selfish thing, it is a mutually beneficial type of thing.)  I'm a fiercely adamant believer in this and I take myself to be a networker-in-training.

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     On the other hand, it's a basic human survival need to have a few close, loyal friends to get you through whatever it is you need to get through.  You know, that girl who goes swimsuit-finding with you who's honest enough to tell you that there may be one in which you look horrifying in.  Or the other one who'll willingly leave her home at some insane hour to meet up with you and chat if you've gone through an emotionally-damaging episode.  And of course, the one who won't cancel lunch with you just because it's raining (of course you have to hold up on your end on this one, too).

     Like my best friend Dorothy, for example.  She's halfway across the country from me and we don't always talk that regularly - but we do talk consistently.  There's the sporadic phone calls, Skype sessions, Facebook, and even emails (I know, what best friends use the latter two anyway? Haha).  I know that she's someone for me to fall back on no matter what because we are just that close.  And I'd be a scared little girl without knowing that she's here for me.
     I think having all this is crucial to the human life; we'd all be dead, bitter souls otherwise (like those work-acholic networkers).  We, as emotionally advanced beings, thrive on this support.  These few, close friends fill in the gaps of our lives.  Like I once read some where, it's like "picking up a book and knowing where you left off."  And when I think back on it, I can't imagine what those times when I've drowned the entire night away in my tears would be like without my close friends comforting me.

Wait, did I just call myself a networker and admit to having close friends?  Hm, I think I did.
This is the part where I render the entire deliberation of the initial question invalid.  I don't think I really believe in would-you-rather questions; I think they're irrationally  two-sided.  You can still have your many friends along with your close friends.  So, did I just elaborate on all those benefits of both sides for naught?  No, I don't really think so.  I think in order for anyone to really utilize both extremes of the above would-you-rather question is to really understand and acknowledge the benefits of each - or else both will be half-assed (excuse my French) and you wouldn't really get anything out of either.