Family is more important than friends

Since, there is no format for the debate, I would start with the argument and rebuttals in round 1. Family is more important than friends as family is always with you, friends aren't. "We argue that friends are necessary for our emotional and social well being throughout life. Family is important when you are young because they physically look after you, but as you get older - and that is most of your life - family takes a backseat to friends, as we don't need them to look after us. In fact, family is the cause of many problems, and we are stuck with them" Friends cause much more problems than family does. And family has stuck with you through your younger years, yet this is what we think of them when we get old? Old family members can often give valuable advice to help you out in your life, and friends don't help you in any way. Peer pressure happens when your friends force you to do something because everyone does it, and if you don't give into peer-pressure, you are bullied. You might say those aren't true friends, but they are humans as well, and it is common throughout life. Your family won't judge you too much on your choices such as not watching the popular movies or liking lengthy books, but your friends definitely would. Plus, to keep up your social appearances you have to take up lot of stress as well. With family you can be more free as they know you from the start. "And now to begin my case. Friends are like counsellors - friends share deepest secrets with each other - the secrets that nobody knows not even the family. Friends feel relaxed together - they participate in activities together, they share similar interests and spend lots of time together. Because of this trust develops - you develop confidence, whereas in families there is often competition between siblings for the parents attention. Your sibling often dobs on you to get the upper hand. You sibling may have totally different interests, but you're stuck with them - but friends and compatibility, you choose." Sharing of secrets can cause trouble as some friends often do blackmailing for their own benefit. And a fallout could result in your secret exposed out of spite. I don't have a sibling, but I know they can be annoying. However, every person knows it is more likely that your friends would betray you rather than your family. Plus, most friends have diverse interests as well as similar ones. And your family can have similar interests due to the same genes and more or less same exposure to different stuff. With friends, you have to develop trust, but you can trust your family members without question. "Family is not more important than friends, simply because you don't get to choose them - you're stuck with what you're born with - no say in the matter - no control. But friends, you have a choice here, you can pick the ones that make you happy, support you and share your ups and downs. They are human superglue. I choose friends forever." It has often happened that either us or our friends have changed due to growth in personality, and that so called "compatibility" falls out. On the other hand, even if your family member's' personality changes, you are with them and can try to fix the crack, or simply wait it out for them to become compatible. As for emotional and social wellbeing, friends are the one we have fights with, and nearly every enemy once tried to be our friend, or vice-versa. The betrayal of a friend can hurt a lot. Also, friends are the one we pick up our bad habits from. If you are with the group that is into smoking or drinking, eventually you will be coerced into drinking or smoking or be distanced from the group. As well as picking up a few new games, although that is good enough. Sometimes, just for the need of having a friend, you stick out with someone you don't like and get bothered for a horrible amount of time. Either you confront the fake friend and he turns into your enemy, or you tolerate him. Both cases is a negative outcome. According to me, friends provide more stress than fun, and I am gladly spending my summer break alone at home playing online games all day. Socialization is overrated.