The ultimate conclusion is that social networks are just not for me.
Maybe I don’t need too many friends.
Maybe it’s the fact that years of (relative) social asceticism and preferring real relationships with close long friends over the virtual world doesn’t matter much when you sign it to the socially burdensome website known as Facebook and wonder who the hell is going to be on your friends list.
Ah, that list.
Some of the people on my list do know me and how I really am.
The rest who actually made an attempt to indulge in a conversation with me and were obviously ignored, are still probably wondering why they needed me to deal with in the first place.
I can’t help but thinking that they think I’m a little unapproachable, or even say, snobbish.
In real life, I don’t think I’m unapproachable.
Well, maybe sometimes – but I’m only human. At worst, I’m a little difficult to get to know. But I’m certainly not unfriendly.
I’m just… different
But Hey! Just to make this very clear, it isn’t like I completely lack social skills. When I’m out and meeting new people there’s a good chance that some of them might find me nice and friendly.
Maybe I’m shy. Maybe it’s just that I don’t have the need to maintain a list of friends. When you think about it it’s quite tiring to remember who you need to call and who hasn’t invited you over a month and why the hell should I bother.
Maybe the whole thing really isn’t that deep and philosophical. Maybe it’s just that I don’t get Facebook, with it’s flashy applications and awaiting group invites. It could also be that I’m simply too old to enjoy it (turning 30 this week but do not tell anyone).
Is it really all about the water fights and quizzes or am I missing something? Dani? Help me understand!
And puh-lease don’t talk to me about the benefits of reuniting with your long lost friends from kindergarten- I have a few awaiting friend requests from some people and I have a heavy suspicion that I’ve already filtered them before, in real life that is.
–UPDATE–
Oh, but it seems I’ve just landed on Planet Hunkydory without me even realising it (Shim, are you toying with my profile?)
So you see, there’s a purpose to Facebook after all.
Happy 30th Birthday! Be happy and healthy till 120.
Well, this post certainly explains a lot. But what’s more intriguing is that it’s you filtering people out and not the other way around. So people are really reaching for you with their Jewish claws. So are you shy, snobbish or just tsnius?
This is gold, “Maybe it’s the fact that years of (relative) social asceticism and preferring real relationships with close long friends over the virtual world doesn’t matter much when you sign it to the socially burdensome website known as Facebook and wonder who the hell is going to be on your friends list.” Facebook unfairly equalizes people by spreading superficial friendships over people like cream cheese on a bagel before the lox settles in. The best part of Facebook is the honesty box where you can drop people anonymous hate mail. J.k.
Comment by Humbert — December 16, 2007 @ 8:49 am
The thing I HATE about Facebook is that you lose layers. You can’t differentiate between a friend, an acquaintance, and someone you met once who was simply intriguing at the time. This is so to the extent that I was actually friended by someone who literally tried to destroy my life at one point. I began wondering if she knew the meaning of the word ‘friend’.
Doesn’t it feel awful to ignore people? Especially when they come to you later in real life to find out why.
Comment by Dani — December 16, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Doesn’t it feel awful to ignore people? Especially when they come to you later in real life to find out why.
Ha, this reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where Jerry tries to break up with a childhood friend. But if you have to explain someone why you were ignoring them you can tell them, “listen it wasn’t working out, it’s not you, it’s me”.
Comment by Humbert — December 16, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
Awful? I don’t know, I don’t just ignore people.
Only those who don’t get that some relationships/friendships fade away with time and that it’s okay and it’s natural.
Not everyone stay with you forever, time changes, reality changes, people change.
Obviously some are our friends for life, but some simply, as I said, fade. No fights or dramas or hatred. Just fade.
Surely you understand that, because you’re normal.
The ones who don’t get it, get very obsessed, and then they’re even less fun to deal with. So ignoring works for me then.
Comment by She — December 18, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Happy Birthday, She. Many happy returns.
Comment by x — December 24, 2007 @ 9:06 am