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Is blood thicker than water?

Im just wondering if in general people really do care more about their family than good friends, people who they know etc. I don't agree with the saying 'blood is thicker than water' because I care a lot more about people I know (for eg my friends, football instructor, footy team and people who do things for me) than say family members like aunties who I see most days. Or am I odd?

Also if blood is thicker than water than how come people give all their time to a partner or bf/gf? A lot of people even move far away from there family to settle down with someone they love.

Reply 1

Sanity Panda

Your always going to be somewhat close to family members, compared to the stranger.

Friends are the family members that you choose.

Reply 2

Somewhat Damaged

I'd choose, certain, friends over family.
Easy.

Reply 3

cpj1987

15

For me, friends come before family, EXCEPT my littlest brother, who's my sibling and a best friend. :biggrin:

Reply 4

Helenia

20

I care about my family in a different way from how I feel about my friends and my boyfriend. I live away from home (I'm at uni for 46 weeks a year), and I see my friends and boyfriend far more than I see my parents or sister.

However, my family have been with me forever. Few of my friends can say that. They've known me since I was born, seen me go through my life and have supported me pretty much unconditionally all the way. This means that even if we don't see each other much, we share a bond which it would take a lot to break.

My friends on the other hand, I love, I have great fun with, and have also been through some cool and some rocky times with me. But it's a different relationship, somehow. Fortunately, I've never had to choose between the two, and I don't think I could unless the circumstances made the choice easier.

Reply 5

Kater Murr

20

Helenia

I care about my family in a different way from how I feel about my friends and my boyfriend. I live away from home (I'm at uni for 46 weeks a year), and I see my friends and boyfriend far more than I see my parents or sister.

However, my family have been with me forever. Few of my friends can say that. They've known me since I was born, seen me go through my life and have supported me pretty much unconditionally all the way. This means that even if we don't see each other much, we share a bond which it would take a lot to break.

My friends on the other hand, I love, I have great fun with, and have also been through some cool and some rocky times with me. But it's a different relationship, somehow.

Pretty much the same. I like my friends more than I like my family - but there's a loyalty there that perhaps isn't quite so strong with my friends.

Either way - if it came down to it, it's all relatively equal.

Reply 6

AverageGuyOnTheStreet

9

I get along so much better with friends. There is stuff I would happily tell my friends but would never even consider telling my family. I can trust my friends much more than I can trust my family. To me the better saying is "you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family".

Reply 7

kaal1010

14

i think it all depends on the circumstances. some family simply don't get on and some friends are really close. but personally if i felt i had to make any decisions my closest family members would come before any of my closest friends any day simply because their my fmaily. but then again im as close with some of my cousins and uncles as i am with some of my bets mates

Reply 8

always + forever

1

I think "blood's thicker than water" isn't about who you get on with, but whose going to be around.. whatever you do in your life, your parents and siblings will always be there, and as such you kind of have a duty to be there for them too.

Reply 9

M.A.H

17

Family ftw, yeh friends are like the family that you choose, but your family will always be there for you no matter how you treat them or what you do, but then i guess the importance of family differs from culture to culture. Western culture the kids move out as soon as they can but many cultures in the east; the kids stay with their family caring for them in their old age and stuff so i guess family for them is number 1.

your friends however will change and wont always be there for you. yes sometimes I my prefer friends over my family and tell them stuff i can never tell my family but at the end of the day my family comes first

also people give their time to their bf/gf more since they will soon be their family if all goes well wont they?

Reply 10

Ellie1989

plus most people have 2 different types of bonds, in a way family are like best friends though, u can have those long silences and just chill together without feeling you HAVE to say somethin, whereas with some friends you do. for company id choose friends but for loyalty and always being there without you havin to ring and text and talk all the time, its family hands down. spesh cuz im one of 5 children so im used to havin fam around alot!

Reply 11

Riddy

OP

always + forever

I think "blood's thicker than water" isn't about who you get on with, but whose going to be around.. whatever you do in your life, your parents and siblings will always be there, and as such you kind of have a duty to be there for them too.

Yea I know family have been there and are going to be there when you need them but im talking about how you feel. I mean my football team have more respect for me, listen to me, advise me when I get depressed etc whereas my family just call me pathetic and although im quiet when I speak to them they totally ignore me 70% of the time.

Reply 12

scribble_girl

14

Depends on who, but at the end of the day, I don't think blood is thicker than water necessarily. That said, my younger sister is number one - she comes before everyone :smile:

After all .. with any luck she'll know me pretty much all my life. Who else could I say that about?

Reply 13

SuperhansFavouriteAlsatian

Blood sinks in water. Ergo, yes, it is thicker.

Edit: Move to Physics sub-forum?

Reply 14

k-lee C

hmm. i don't think so, no. there's a large proportion of my family i'd gladly push off a cliff in order to save my friends. there's a large proportion of my family i'd gladly push off a cliff....

but to conclude, no. blood is not automatically thicker than water. except for in the case that DanGrover outlines of course.

Reply 15

Robob

17

For company I prefer being with my friends.

However, if I had to 'chose' I would chose my family.

It would be a hard choice though, some friends I have been close to for a long time feel like family, but better in a way.

Reply 16

Robob

17

DanGrover

Blood sinks in water. Ergo, yes, it is thicker.

Edit: Move to Physics sub-forum?

Surely 'thickness' is a measure of viscosity, not weight...

Reply 17

SuperhansFavouriteAlsatian

Robob

Surely 'thickness' is a measure of viscosity, not weight...

Aye, but is it possible for one liquid to be more dense than another, but less viscious? I'm not a scientist, so that is a genuine question, but it seems to me that wouldn't make a whole lot of sense.

Then again, I suppose they have different measurements for a reason...

Reply 18

AverageGuyOnTheStreet

9

Riddy

Yea I know family have been there and are going to be there when you need them but im talking about how you feel. I mean my football team have more respect for me, listen to me, advise me when I get depressed etc whereas my family just call me pathetic and although im quiet when I speak to them they totally ignore me 70% of the time.

I get exactly the same. My family are the most unsupportive people I know.

Reply 19

Robob

17

DanGrover

Aye, but is it possible for one liquid to be more dense than another, but less viscious? I'm not a scientist, so that is a genuine question, but it seems to me that wouldn't make a whole lot of sense.

Then again, I suppose they have different measurements for a reason...

Yeah there will probably be a strong correlation between the two, however, I would have thought there will be exceptions, particularly at extreme pressures and/or temperatures.

An example might be lard (which I think floats in water, although I could be wrong), which is more viscous than water, despite being less dense.

Is blood thicker than water?

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