I’ve decided to be far more selective when “friending” people on Facebook or allowing people to “friend” me from now on. What is the point of all this “friending” if you’re not actually going to be friends? I’ve made more friends via this blog and on Twitter, people I actually call friend, than I ever have on Facebook. Granted, I keep my Facebook pretty private, but still 80% of my Facebook friends are people who never engage — they just watch, which is kind of creepy, if you ask me – which you didn’t, but I’m telling you anyway. What’s a blog without unsolicited bitching?
To avoid any pot n’ kettle action, there are really nice people on my own friends list that I rarely engage with either. I do try to remember birthdays and comment or “like” occasionally, just to let them know I’m paying attention, but I have to wonder… why am I “friends” with them? Because they sat 3 seats behind me in AP English? That’s not fair to them either.
Once I was asked to add an old flame from high school to my friends list. There was no introductory message (I prefer one), but I knew him on sight, so it was fine. We dated for most of a year during my junior year of high school and well into that Summer, but eventually broke up. I don’t recall it being a bad break-up, just one of those high school things and over the years had thought of him fondly because above all else, I really liked him. I didn’t just date him, he was my friend.
So of course, I added him and sent him a note saying “hey” and “how are you?” and “what’s going on in your life’?” I commented on his beautiful children, asked about his career and wished him well.
Crickets. Nothing. No reply. No wall post. Not even a lousy “poke”.
What was the point of adding me then? I’ve felt this way before, had it happen with several “friends” from my past, but this time, it just IRKED me. Why? Why bother? Why seek me out? Why add me to your list? To what end… networking?
