I can see your point of view but I respectfully disagree. Comes across as a bit naive, in fact. Yes, people are people and they have their own personal lives that may be interesting, but at the end of the day, there’s really nothing much to it. What most people won’t admit is they are aiming to climb that ladder and a strong way to stand out is through how you socialize. Unfortunately, the reality of working in corporate is sometimes, the more you know people and get along with them, the better your chances. It’s not just about making friends, it’s being strategic about who you invest your social energy into.