Thoughts and Things In this column, Clare begins with a brief discussion of <cite>Against the Wind and Tide</cite>.  The majority of the column is devoted to a discussion of friendship, what Clare calls "a scandalously ill-used term and sentiment" (2).  Clare highlights the ways in which people use the term "friendship" and the ideals surrounding it as a means to manipulate and control people and then discusses how friendship should work.  Clare claims that real friendship has higher levels of understanding and openness between parties and is more valuable than relationships founded on circumstance, location, or relation.