Law #2: Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies.

[LoZoccolo]

Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

From The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.

[cboy4]

1. Time to reinstitute the three per day thread posting limit.

This is why it was established in the first place.

[sandnsea]

2. lol, by that measurement

I should be the richest person in the world. lol. No, that does not work.

[depakid]

3. That worked out GREAT for Clinton & the Dems in 1994!

:crazy:

[Neshanic]

4. "If you have no enemies, find a way to make them." I see you live by this.

[Lautremont]

5. Hmm. That's dumb!

You come off as someone who is flailing around desperately to find material to bolster an untenable position. You may as well be starting a commencement speech with "Webster's Dictionary defines 'graduation' as..."

Anyway, you just sound like an idiot. I'm telling you this as a service.

[Trillo]

6. "keep your friends close and your enemies closer".

Personally, I've never understood the advice, for how can one pursue happiness when one is keeping enemies closer than friends? It's sad to know that many people actually take this deception advice seriously, and even sadder to wonder if those who are indoctrinated to be truthful become hobbled by that stricture.

[anigbrowl]

7. 'Closer' as in the sense of keeping an eye on them

Assuming that because nothing has happened lately your enemies (if you have any) have given up/forgotten about you is a classic mistake. Julius Ceasar is the canonical historic example of the OP.

[Trillo]

8. Sure. "Closer" as in warrantless wiretapping.

I'm sure I've seen studies that have proved there is a sixth sense or "eyes in the back of their head" and that people instinctively know when they're being watched (end of one study I read). I'm sure I've seen other physics studies that postulate that merely observing a quark or some such esoteric particle affects its path. I think it's reasonable to believe that watched people change their behavior (potentially either in negative ways, or in positive (as I believe the OP seems imply)). So that leads back to the "pursuit of happiness" phrase, and what I can't wrap my mind around. How can one be happy when others are changing your natural behavior (because they perceive you as an enemy, or even a potential enemy, and keep you "closer" by watching you, an activity which seems to alter our behaviors)?

It's simply seems a recipe for great interpersonal, 'social' even, catastrophe, and perhaps explains our civilization apparently crashing.