Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Rules for Accepting/Rejecting Facebook friends

Two regular friends of mine discussed the requirements for Accepting a Facebook friend. My stance on this is simple; imagine you're walking down the street in a foreign country and see a person of your acquaintance walking towards you. If you stop them to engage in a short conversation, they, by my definition, are worthy of being a Facebook friend. However, if you ignore them and walk by, they are not a Facebook friend. And if they ask to be one, Reject them.

My rule comes with a few caveats. If the person walking towards you is a person you had previous relationships with, and you're married, you have the right to a short conversation, but should carefully consider Accepting them as a Facebook friend. Depending on how the relationship ended, or your new relationship started, you may have a Facebook constitutional right to Reject the Facebook friendship.

Furthermore, if the person you meet in person reaches out to engage you in a short conversation, you also have the right to Reject their friendship. It would be socially awkward to ignore the person in a foreign country. Virtual worlds can be treated different though. Behind the protection of your Facebook profile, you have the right to Reject the person and hope you never see them again.

Lastly, you do have the right to first Accept, then Reject a Facebook friendship. For example, let's say the person in the foreign country borrowed you money. You can first Accept them as a Facebook friend to show reciprocity for their kindness. Then Reject them in an effort to avoid repayment. While morally questionable, this is accepted by my rules.

5 comments:

bosshart said...

Facebook looks like all fun and games, but it's really a way for "The Man" (your woman) to track your relationships. Your prudent friend management should help.

Scott's facebook photo relates to riding bikes.

Mac Noland said...

Thanks for that piece of wisdom. I think it's right on point. She wonders over every so often to "peek" and what I'm doing and looking at. Big Brother all over again.

Scooter said...

She can get her own facebook account and then tie herself to you as "married". It will say in Facebook "Mac is now married." Just in case she wants to put the scews to you. Of course, maybe that encourages some exes.

David said...

In regards to my age group...it would be wierd if you weren't friends with your ex on facebook.

If your going to cheat, your going to cheat. Facebook is not going to make it more or less likely.

Adam Fokken said...

If I recognize the name, or if I recognize someone from the picture, I friend them(exes included). I think "friend" on facebook is much broader than real life. That's why some people say "facebook friend" implying the broader sense of friend.