#nice river

zero: I think you are right about he did that a lot - however I don't agree that being reason for what you asked - I suppose you are same anon :)

I think compartmentalized behavior does not explain why they felt so close - it should be opposite: they all feeling not so close because only could see a side of him + probably suspected from several details there were more hidden sides

so I still think is nice factor + people believe what they want to believe: River was very nice and some people confuse being nice with being close - it was not River problem: he was a good boy + not his task telling people just because he was not an asshole that not mean they were besties: he allowed them thinking what they wanted to think

I have seen fans thinking they know River just because they saw him once - or because they were alive in 90s - imagine same thing with people that actually knew him in real life: I think many people are confusing working with him or meeting him in events with really knowing him - if people filled 'the holes' or not said things with fantasies it was their problem not River's one

try that with people if you want - people you don't care a lot of course - just be nice but don't tell many things: you will see they start building an image of you that is probably very far from what you really are - but it will be not your fault: you are not lying - they are who are lying to themselves when creating in their brains a 'you' perfect for what they need in that exact moment: a friend who loves them or a bitch to blame - who knows