BTW, the person you originally replied to used "fast" as in "quickly," as in the title of this submission.
The "fast friends" etymological discussion is a non sequitur.
Re:How to make a friend fast
by jackvalentine on Sunday July 09, 2017 @11:53PM
(#14733278)
That's true.
I'm still outraged that anyone would want to force a so-called friend to abstain from nutrition.
So, and this is honest curiosity re. understanding the HN mindset... why did you go on that tangent when the only thing it shared with the comment you replied to was words in common?
Re:How to make a friend fast
by jackvalentine on Monday July 10, 2017 @03:31AM
(#14734015)
I really, really quickly skimmed the comments and title then mentally chose the wrong order of "friend/fast/fast/friend".
The flaw in this particular part of the HN mindset is looking at a set of information and thinking you can instantly identify the other person's problem (or that there is one!) and explain/solve it using what you already know.
I think other people might recognize this in their own thinking sometimes too!
I think that's fine, as long as you learn to back down and reconsider the moment someone presents competing information.
Having actually looked in to this now with a bit more detail than "google it to check your understanding and look at the first result":
It appears you're right, and "fast" is derived from faest while steadfast is a combination of steade and... fast.
Fast friends is a perfectly cromulent phrase :)