What does family mean to you?

[AdmanUK]

Me and my brother do not really get on. This is due to a combination of being very alike and very different in equal measure. Now I was grumbling to myself about the latest thing he had done to piss me off when my Father came out with "Come on, he's family!" and I won't lie to you, it meant nothing to me what so ever. (Before people ask me and my brother don't live together and are in contact, we just don't like each other)

Are there people out there who genuinely think that family is some sort of spiritual bond? I thought that idea went out with the Renaissance personally.

 

[EeveeElectro]

I think it differs for every person to be honest. Some people will probably hate their parents or siblings for whatever reason and the "they're family!" excuse doesn't work.
I despise my dad for certain reasons and someone couldn't understand that, even though I explained everything he did. They were like, "but, he's your dad, isn't that a little mean?" Uck, shit for brains T_T

I love the rest of my family (mostly) and would do anything for them. They do get on my nerves and me and my sister fucking hated each other growing up but we're cool now.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

I find most of my family incredibly annoying. That said, I still love them all dearly, and would do just about anything for them. Clearly it varies on a case-by-case basis, but I think it broadly depends on how tight-knit your family was as you grew up as to how you feel about the whole inalienable bond thing.

To paraphrase something I can't entirely remember, said by someone I forgot:
Of course I love them. I just don't like 'em.

 

[Navvan]

Me and my brother do not really get on. This is due to a combination of being very alike and very different in equal measure. Now I was grumbling to myself about the latest thing he had done to piss me off when my Father came out with "Come on, he's family!" and I won't lie to you, it meant nothing to me what so ever. (Before people ask me and my brother don't live together and are in contact, we just don't like each other)

Are there people out there who genuinely think that family is some sort of spiritual bond? I thought that idea went out with the Renaissance personally.

Strangely I have a similar situation with my brother (very alike and very different in equal measure) but the end result is that we get along. However I do despise my sister, and the only reason I feign civility is to keep the peace.

I consider family to be the typical family units. That is Parents and their offspring are a family. Doesn't mean I treat them any differently than another person because of that. Although I do treat them differently based on the life/experiences we have shared due to being together until my adulthood.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

A group of people, related by blood who bond together when times are tough. They may not even like each other or live with each other but they love each other. Some are closer than others in 'peace' time but I believe true families always get closer in times of tragedy or horror.

 

[L3W15 M]

Your family are meant to be people you would do anything for. You feel safe around them they help you build your life. In the end it can be your parents or your best friends. Some peoples fathers might never be any help to them but then they could have that friend that always looked out for them. That's what a family truly is. sharing blood doesn't matter.

 

[JoJo]

Family are people who you live and share with, I get on well with all my family, especially my sister and mother. My two brothers are alright but annoying sometimes (partly because they are early to mid teens) and my father's okay though he's kinda distant and we have some disagreements. I can already predict he's not going to like my plan to work in America next summer as it means I'll earn a lot less money overall once flights are taken into account but fuck him, I'm doing it anyway if I can.

 

[CrashBang]

I'm an only child and don't get on with any of my external family (grandparents, aunts, uncles) so my parents are all I have and they both mean the world to me. My dad's an overworked, racist **** but I still love him because he's a fantastic dad despite being a right wing, Daily Mail-reading prick. My mum is an absolute angel; she nags a lot, worries herself to death and smothers me with attention just like any decent mum should.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Family are they who would gladly help you when the shit hits the fan, because they know you'd do the same in return.

Family tell you things that need to be said, even though you don't want to here them, because they know you'd do the same in return.

Family know what you need and what you want, giving both to you as appropriate, because they know you'd do the same in return.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Them people what birthed me. I'll go with the literal definition of those related to me. Bare in mind someone being family doesn't necessarily mean you'll like them but just a term to identify your connection with your relatives. The term itself is merely descriptive, it's how the people who act that are in the family that count and I've been fortunate enough to have a loving and supporting family, even if I don't deserve it.

 

[Amphoteric]

Doesn't mean much to me...

I'm not particuarly close to any of my family.

I would be WAY, WAY more comfortable talking to my best friend than my parents.

 

[KiloFox]

my biological family isn't family to me...

family to me is people you have a strong bond with... like close friends and your significant other... my friends are my family... my "biological family" hasn't earned that right

 

[Sacman]

Absolutely nothing, I hate whoever I damn well please...

 

[Delsana]

Family is that which is there for in you end, and sometimes your biological family will never be there, and I don't mean because they happen to be unavailable... more like they chose to be.

 

[artanis_neravar]

Me and my brother do not really get on. This is due to a combination of being very alike and very different in equal measure. Now I was grumbling to myself about the latest thing he had done to piss me off when my Father came out with "Come on, he's family!" and I won't lie to you, it meant nothing to me what so ever. (Before people ask me and my brother don't live together and are in contact, we just don't like each other)

Are there people out there who genuinely think that family is some sort of spiritual bond? I thought that idea went out with the Renaissance personally.

Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.


Points for the reference

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Technically family is that group of people you are related to.

But I also tend to extend the word Family to include a few other people.

My Girlfriend. Whom I feel is, for lack of a better word, my soul mate.
Been together 4 months, which is longest I've been with someone without it getting complicated. We seem completely connected and inseparable. Never had even a disagreement with each other. The short way to put it, we both think the other is "the one"

And my best friend. He gets along better than I do with all members of my direct family, knows the house landline number, is welcome to stop by without even a moments notice.
I consider the guy my brother, and trust him more than my parents.

Its people like these who I count as family. People I can trust and depend on to be there for me no mater what circumstance and vise-versa.

[Edit] (this is not aimed at everyone by the way)
Why does it seem like i'm the only one who actually likes my own family?
Seeing my brother grow up and leave... its been so hard for him, It would have been even harder if he didn't have constant support from mum.
Everyone here (exaggeration) seems to be taking for granted the support of their family for no reason other than "because".
Except for a few examples. Most of you seem to just think its cool not to like them.
Your parents (most cases) love you no matter how much of an angsty teenage prick you are, the most you could do is love them back.

 

[Sticky Squid]

Snip

Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.


Points for the reference

Is this Lilo and Stitch?

Anyway, family means nothing to me I will judge people based on their personalities no matter if I'm related to them or not.

 

[artanis_neravar]

Snip

Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.


Points for the reference

Is this Lilo and Stitch?

Anyway, family means nothing to me I will judge people based on their personalities no matter if I'm related to them or not.

It was indeed, congrats.

And now for my real answer. Family is a bond of love and trust, it has nothing to do with blood, but with the person. I consider most of my blood to be family, with the exception of my grandfathers brother who refused to show up to his funeral. I also consider some of my best friends to be family.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I think it's a lot like they always say, where you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family.

I'm not overly close with my family as I'm not sure I'd ever say we were really on the same wavelength. I don't hate them or anything but, as a grown man, I find little to tie us together beyond the simple word. We'll always be "family" but now that I don't even live in the same city as they do I don't feel any sort of obligation to find some special time for them in my life.