The Parkus Empire wrote:The East Marches II wrote:
I extend that definition to good friends in addition to blood. Not "friends" but honest men upon whom I could rely like family. They may as well count as well in addition to the normal definition.
I don't think that really works. Family is at the root a coming together of sexual mates, with outgrowth stemming from that union; but just as important is a dwelling-together. When dwelling together is absent, you can be kindred, but you are only a family in a removed sense; when a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves unto his wife, they become removed family.
I would disagree. While a coming together of sexual mates does underpin it, you are ignoring the other aspects of it and putting too much emphasis on nonsense definitions. What is an Uncle and Aunt who live in the same area? They do help watch and raise the kids, are they less family or more? How about grandparents? Or other families that you've married into which are also close to yours? What if you adopt a person into that eco system? Your small definition excludes many.