Modern adult life creates what I call the "acquaintance graveyard"—a vast collection of people you've met once and never seen again. This happens because:
The Conversion Void: There's no clear path from meeting someone to becoming friends. Unlike dating, which has established progressions, friendship formation lacks structure.
The Initiative Paralysis: Both parties wait for the other to make the next move. Everyone assumes they'd be bothering the other person by reaching out.
The Context Dependency: Many connections only make sense in their original context. The person you clicked with at a conference feels random to contact afterward.
The Momentum Loss: Too much time passes between interactions. The initial spark fades, making reconnection feel forced or desperate.
The Depth Deficiency: Surface-level interactions don't create enough connection to justify continued investment. Pleasant isn't enough to overcome busy schedules.
Traditional advice suggests "following up" or "staying in touch," but these vague directives don't address the structural challenge of friendship conversion.