“Friendliness is moderation in social conduct; excess is obsequiousness, deficiency is quarrelsomeness.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book II, Chapter 7
(Translated by W.D. Ross)
🔍 Core Idea
Friendliness is your social WiFi router — it balances connection strength between clingy signals (📶 overload) and dead zones (📵 disconnect). Like setting phone notifications to “priority only,” ethical sociability avoids both people-pleasing spam and toxic silence.
❗ Why This Matters Today
📱 Social Media Engagement
Excess: Like every post → seem desperate 🚫
Deficiency: Never comment → appear hostile 🚫
Golden Mean: React to 3 meaningful posts/day → build authentic connections.
👥 Group Project Dynamics
Excess: Do all work alone → enable freeloaders 🚫
Deficiency: Argue over details → stall progress 🚫
Golden Mean: Delegate tasks + set deadlines → foster respectful collaboration.
🎉 Party Socializing
Excess: Laugh at unfunny jokes → lose respect 🚫
Deficiency: Criticize the music → kill vibes 🚫
Golden Mean: Suggest better playlist + chat sincerely → become trusted vibe curator.
🚀 Action Steps
- Social Signal Tracker
Use apps like Moodistory to log:
“Today’s interactions: ______% genuine vs ______% forced” - 21-Day Friendliness Detox
- Week 1: Cut 3 obsequious habits (e.g., fake compliments)
- Week 2: Fix 3 quarrelsome patterns (e.g., interrupting)
- Social Calibration Council
Form 3-person groups → role-play scenarios monthly → vote Most Balanced Member.