Comments on "Against "Friendship"" - Faerye Net

Agreed

2009-07-10T03:15:34+00:00

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received friend requests under the context of “Hi” or “Wanna Add me?” and just vague things from strangers I have never heard of before. My response is no, and they are too focused on moving on to the next user, to get hurt by my rejection. I only add people I have had legitimate conversations with, and with whom I actually want to get to know.

I now utilize the features, of removing friends, top friends, and following reviews on GoodReads. Top friends are the ones actually listed on your profile, and you can filter the updates you get from the rest. Also, now, with the following reviews feature, someone can see my reviews and status’s without going through the pretense of “friends”. All in all, it’s not that much of a struggle anymore.

Re: have you seen

2008-01-02T22:46:59+00:00

I had never seen it before today. Eenteresting.

have you seen

2008-01-02T14:49:46+00:00

dust jacket review?
http://www.dustjacketreview.com
another library site but it pushes reviews and putting the books “in the context of your life”

Breach of social contract

2007-12-14T20:37:37+00:00

A few weeks ago I interviewed a job candidate over the phone. He didn’t do very well, so we didn’t bring him in for an in-person interview. The other day he sent me a Facebook friend request completely out of the blue.

Um, no.

Contextual analysis

2007-12-14T20:22:47+00:00

I know nothing really of the title of this comment, but it seems appropriate. Friend as a catch all is discomfiting. But is it worse than creating a new word since not groks the distinction between acquaintance and friend? Arbitrary restriction in expression is something you’ve been used to, and then perhaps left largely behind. But is this gross distinction any worse than the self-censorship required in how you interact with people at work and the difference from how you’d react to the same people outside that?

Regarding your last statement, I’d say your friends are those with whom you feel a kinship, no matter how rarely you reaffirm it. The people you want to be in touch with when you are, and the one’s you still want to be in touch with when you’re not.