> That seems to violate the idea that friendships are low-commitment and non-binding relationships. Why is friendship low-commitment and non-binding. In the W

> That seems to violate the idea that friendships are low-commitment and non-binding relationships. Why is friendship low-commitment and non-binding. In the Western world, this is an aberration. For most of Western history, friendship was often considered more permanent and requiring more commitment than even marriage. It was seen as a life-long arrangement, with duties between friends, etc. Slighting one's friend was the start of many bitter bitter disputes that lasted generations.