I've always been a backup friend. Better than nothing, though, I suppose.

After my experiences of being a back up friend i think i would rather be alone with no friends (which i am) then be a back up friend again

Kinda glad to say that nobody thinks of me as a back up friend, though incredibly fulfilling whilst being the backup (you get to feel like the true friend and everything) it soon gets very depressing when you really backup is all you are and that they'd never turn to you unless they were desperate. Glad to say that people tend to only look for me if they want advice of some sort or someone to talk to, I know they either want my detached perspective on something or just an inanimate object to talk to (seriously, if they didn't feel stupid doing it they'd use a wall instead).

Being the back up guy sucks, either get yourself recognized as a true friend or realize that you are not their friend (that's no reason to be unpleasant mind, just don't hand any hopes on it).

Or maybe I'm just jealous of the backup guy

true, but depends on an idividual. I also had another girlfriend, when she ran out of people to talk to I was a back up shoulder to cry on. I hated that. But on the other hand she was so depressed and lonely...it was kinda funny though, all she wanted to do is talk it out, she used to jump from one subject to another .But what made it easier for me was that she cared less about what I though about any of that so ocationally I had to drop.."oh, aha, I see "...so when she called at 4am..lol...I put her on speaker and snored till 6 am.. ...she was still talking ....oh man, I miss this girl.

Lol, that's funny! But there are definetly people like that, who need an object to let their emotions flow onto, and yet still need that object to be human. Kind of depressing, to me at least.

I think everyone at some point is someone elses back up friend I think all the people posting here deserve a hell of a lot better than that.

I've had one friend that I've known for roughly 20 years. Anyone else that I considered a friend has either moved away or died.

It's hard meeting people, but if you really want to meet someone that won't brush you off after a week, I'd try to find someone you have things in common with. This way there's always something for you both to do or talk about, and neither of you will get bored easily. It's a lot easier to keep friends when there's some sort of mutual interest going on. At least, in my limited experience.