I was just thinking of one of my nephews, before I saw this.
He's been in the throes of addiction for a few years now, and not once has he ever come to me for help. He's gone to nearly every other member of the family, and screwed over every single one of them who has tried to help him.
I'd really like to ask him why he's never come to me?
Is it because he was too embarrassed for me to see him like that? (I don't think so.)
Is it because he knows I'd get on his ass and tell him to straighten the fuck up and get into rehab? (Yeah, don't think it's that one either.)
Or is it because he knows I have no money to give him, and no way for him to take advantage of me, like he has everyone else?
Ding, ding, ding, ding!!
Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a winner!!!
Sometimes, I think some people only "reach out" for our help when they know there is something they can get from us.

A person I followed &really enjoyed bailed. He was young & has a life to live & learn. He was special in his knowledge & his fortitude. Altruistic alsol. I never had the experience of losing a friendship on line as all of these friends here are newly formed. Not family & long time acquaitances. It really hurt that he just dumped us. I hope he returns with stories of his ventures as he told them well.

I am totally on the wrong side of this one. I'm really bad at keeping in touch and have a few friendships that have fallen by the wayside because of it. I know I absolutely am hard to deal with and some of them were purposeful, but definitely not all.

Just a reminder, not everyone is comfortable with being the first to reach out and may just feel some serious anxiety over it. Not everyone and not trying to make excuses, just saying.

MissKathleen...I hope you make new friends that will reach out to you...I love your posts...

I am reaching out to those dang blam Conservatives. But they are insulting me calling me "little" I am so hurt as I am 5' tall and did not think that I was. LOL!

This is true. Many people on FB were close friends.

I was just thinking this the other day. A lot of people in my life are like this, I realize a big reason they're there is because more often than not it's me contacting them. I'm curious to see who will actually initiate if I pull back a little bit.

No it's not, error in perception on player 1's part.

So true. It works every time.

OR when you reach out, and TOUCH too soon....

This is so true, and it annoys the holy heck out of me.

I typically carry it myself for several years. But after the 20th it so initiation....one loses interest.

Must not have been "friends" in the first place

I think some people are taking your remark literally. I assume by reaching out you mean just by keeping in touch, or by being a thoughtful friend when you think they may be feeling down. Of course reaching out and actually touching is sometimes needed too, as in a hug when both of you feel the need for human contact.

If you reach out and touch someone, you're probably going to end up in jail for sexaul misconduct...

I have lost a number of friends in recent times. But I have made some new ones. The circle of life.