Do you think free will man-made relations are stronger than blood relations??

[Eriny Youssef]

I think it depends on each individual relationship. Some blood relationships are that strong. But then there are other free-will relationships that are as strong. But the chance of free-will ones to be strong is more prabable than blood ones. That is, of course, due to the factor of choice. You decide you want that person in your life, unlike family ties who just "happen" to us.

[ClaireP]

Generally, family ties are imposed by the genetic condition, no matter how close or similar they are to us, however when someone else is chosen by free will we do so because of the empathy we achieve with these people who come into our lives for conditions and situations, which are shared and create an inseparable bond. The most lasting relationships are those in which the moments in life that define us as people are shared. If that happens with the people with whom we share a blood bond, it also unites them unbreakably.

[Wayne wayne]

Yes, sometimes man made bonds are stronger than blood bonds, because family tend to judge you by your mistakes, while friends like Lena will accept the mistakes and help you build a better life. She understands that people make mistakes based on her life, so she wouldn't judge. Makes it easier to confide and create a stronger bond with such a stranger.

[Nicholas Christian]

I think free will relations are stronger than some family ties. There comes a time when your kith and kin will forsake you but a friend will stick by your side like a burr. The Good Book said it "A friend closer than a brother".

[Wangai Onyango]

Well, the sages have it: blood is thicker than water. I believe that your loyalty to your family will always transcend that towards any other party.

[Wangai Onyango]

Sometimes relations built by humans flourish far better than blood relations. It all depends on our experiences and how we connect to other people in order to build that relation with them, just like in this book.Some experiences bind us more closely. So its safe to say that man made relations are stronger.

I dissent with your statement. Yes, circumstances may propagate relationships to grow stronger between strangers, but those related by blood have a unique bond that engraved in love.

I fully agree. You cannot expect one to choose someone who they have known for a relatively short time period over someone they have seen virtually every day since infancy for their entire life. It just doesn't work like that.

[Sou Hi]

Well, I think it depends on the relationship with the family. As we see in the book, Maureen and Kalayla's are not on good terms with Maureen's in-laws, while Lena's family is long broken. It's probably due to their similar situation that the three of them become closer. But normal families would also love each other dearly and would do everything for their beloved. So, sometimes a man-made relation could be stronger, especially between those who lack love, but most of the time it would not.

[mariana90]

Ahh, this is an interesting question indeed. I believe there are as many answers as people on this Earth.

I think upbringing and personality have a lot to do with whom we choose to be closer to.

[tjportugal]

I think that blood-relations have natural precedence over man-made relations. However, blood-relations have to be nurtured as well. I know quite a few stories of families with members that are strangers to each other because of numerous circumstances.
Then, there are also war-made relations. The bonds formed between camerades during wars are some of the strongest bonds that you can have.

[Deval Sodha]

Obviously free will man-made relations are stronger than blood relations.
Relations are imposed in blood relations, while free will relations are made and nurtured by heart with love.
So the bond is strong.

[Mbrooks2518]

I think it depends on the person and their family and friends. Some people may get things from their found-family that they don't from their blood family, even if they are close with their blood family.

[Mallory Porshnev]

I think we often feel an obligation to our blood relations. However, I think the relationships you make and form of your own free will are a lot more meaningful and important than those just circumstantial ones.

[Samantha Gayle]

I think this is a person by person case. I believe both relationships can be just as strong, but I do agree with someone when they stated that sometimes a man-made relationship could be easily cut off. However, the same could be said for family, given circumstances. From my personal experience, I may have someone in my family that I haven’t spoken to in years, but if they were in need, it would be as if no time had passed. And on the contrary, I personally have a hard time maintaining non blood relationships. It’s all very personal.

[MsH2k]

I think both types of relationships are important and can be strong. You have to work at both. Free-will relationships can have a deep connection, but blood relationships definitely have a biological connection and possibly more. It has been my experience that it is easier to reconnect with blood relatives than free-will relationships if you have been separated for a while. I think it is totally believable that Kalayla and Kieran would form a bond even though they were “total strangers.” And that reunion at the door when Maureen, her dad, and her siblings were spontaneously reliving that rat story was so precious!

[Tangerinehippie1]

Yes because you don’t choose your blood family but when you make a choice to love certain people then it’s a bigger and better impact. You get to choose your support system so it works for you.