Comments on: I Blame Facebook for Debasing the Language of Friendship and Practice of Networking

By: Mitch

Mitch — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:48:06 +0000

It’s working; good deal!

By: Des Walsh

Des Walsh — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:16:28 +0000

Thanks Jen and Mitch for your thoughtful comments.

And thanks Mitch for the heads up about the subscribe glitch: now hopefully fixed.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:25:59 +0000

I’m pretty selective nowadays on who I accept as a friend on Facebook, but I wasn’t in the beginning. Now, since I want to be known more for business purposes than most anything else, if someone wants to connect with me whose page, since I go to look, seems like it wouldn’t fit my style, I just won’t add them; at least Facebook allows you to do that without notifying someone you’re not connected. One of these days I’m going to go through and eliminate some people I signed up with way back when who I never talk to; one step at a time, though.

By the way, sidebar, but my reader won’t let me subscribe to your feed. Something about a Parser error, whatever that means.

By: Jennifer Frahm

Jennifer Frahm — Mon, 17 May 2010 10:39:58 +0000

I really like this post and would like you to do more on it. I too am a selective connector and I have *rules*. This makes me very comfortable. But I understand that my rules are not always transparent. And can make others uncomfortable.

My rules?- Facebook is for social friends, alcohol usually has to be involved at some point. I am uncomfortable with family connections, and would prefer to keep this number low. But with the advent of tweetups (business networks that include alcohol) I am vexed. I console myself with the friend/business colleagues I have accepted aren’t really looking at my pics / comments etc. They are using FB differently to me.

Twitter – I follow anyone I find interesting, and I unfollow if I find the tweets are not offering value to me. I understand the importance of reciprocal follows – but I don’t cope so well with the noise. If some-one reaches out then I will probably follow and reach back. That’s the connection.

Linkedin – I accept people I have worked with, or would like to work with at some point, and people who my trusted connections have worked for and vouched for. Linkedin doesn’t work without trust. Well not for me.

At the end of the day my rules, whether explicit or not, won’t stop some-one who really wants to do business with me doing business with me. And those that are connections know that it is born of real respect, affection, or interest. That has to be good for business.