Bastard: an adjective denoting a deviation from the original or natural state. Sin: infamous, ignoble, unworthy, vile, low, spurious. "Are you not planning to write a thesis on your acquaintances?" This questioning, posed by a lecturer in the field of History of Education (of Women), member of the evaluating board of María Alonso's doctoral project (Alonso, 2010), prompted reflection on the questioning that is made from positivist gazes to our embodied, lived research (Alonso 2018, Gregorio 2006, 2023). In particular, it led to consideration of the place that friendships occupy in our ethnographic fieldwork. In this paper, we aim to contribute to the ongoing debate on the nature of scientific knowledge by offering insights into the value of personal relationships in the process of scientific inquiry. What is the nature of the affective bond that is friendship? Is it a relationship that is difficult to define or one that is formed from what it is not? It is not a familial relationship, nor is it a romantic partnership or a professional colleague (Cucó 1995; Candeias 2022). Why do friendships become tainted, debased, and devalued when they are named and recognized in the production of knowledge in our research processes? What are the implications of developing friendships with research participants during ethnographic fieldwork? What are the implications of utilising one's friendship relationships as a source of data for research purposes? In some instances, it may be evident that it is only with my friends that my concerns and research questions emerge. What ethical codes will guide my conduct? It is therefore proposed that friendship be approached not as an object of study in itself, but as an inter-subjective relationship that accompanies ethnographic research. However, entering into this relationship will also allow us to make the notion of friendship more complex.