The biggest problem with having differing levels of friendship—from actual friends to friendly behaviors to no special relationship at all—is the perception effect. Even if you genuinely aren't friends with a direct, if you then behave in a friendly way toward her while not behaving similarly with others, this will be seen as a form of friendship and will be a cause for concern. Others will question your motivations and decisions. Your credibility will suffer. In other words, you can't use the “friendly behavior” distinction to attempt to either hide a friendship with a direct or to
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