[s1artibartfast]

My experience is the opposite. I bond with coworkers and get frequent job offers, career tips, and solid life advice.

We go hang out, go camping together, and watch each others kids,

It would be moronic to think coworkers will "automatically" be friends, but I have found work to be a great place to hunt for friends.

Also, it helps to have friends in a competitive environment. It can be very good for you and good for them. You just have to collaborate to boost competitive advantage against everyone else. Friends that will talk you up to leadership (with justification) is basically a workplace hack. Not to mention being friends with your boss or boss's boss. Extremely good for you.

[iancmceachern]

I do all these things too, but I don't need to be required go into an office to do so.

[s1artibartfast]

My post was in response to someone claiming that not only is it pointless to make friends with coworkers, it is actively disadvantageous.

In contacts of the greater discussion, I'm sure some people like you are capable of developing these relationships virtually, while others are not. That said, I wouldn't trust a virtual coworker a thousand miles away to watch my kids, haha.