people who attract a lot of friends are neither negative nor needy.

Answer 1

Is this a question or a general statement you want an opinion on?

No matter, because if either, it is highly controversial statement.

There are many people out there who gather others around them because they need to feel surrounded. They might feel lonely and invisible, and so try to fix that by being sure they are never without a crowd. Others simply gather a crowd around to disappear. They feel too conspicuous when they're aroudn only one or two people and need a group that they can blend into in order to feel secure.

As for negative attitudes pushing people away, that too isn't always true. Some people ARE negative, and yet have a lot of friends around them. They're attitude probably gets on their friends nerves, but I would hope we aren't shallow enough to avoid someone based on a pessimistic attitude because what they need is to see that optimism isn't such a poison.