Are the 'friends' on facebook really my friends???
Do friends must have actual contact?
Do virtual contact acceptable?
If I only chat with them once a month,
are they still my friends?
What does the word 'friend' mean?
I try to create my Friend Wheel on Facebook to understand my social networking. It can be divided into four groups: toastmasters, secondary school classmates, EP classmates, groupmates from interest groups.
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| My Friend Wheel on Facebook |
I discover my friends are closely connected with each other (some of them are friends and I even do not know!!) Besides, I agree to keep strong weak ties as a connection provide a chance for people to contact. Friend A wants someone to be a part time tutor and I introduce friend B to A, it is a win win situation to benefit themselves.
At last, I share a video clip about social networking, hope all of you enjoy!
I finally find a definition of 'friends': friends is you know all about him/her and still love him/her. If we know nothing about 'friends' on facebook (maybe randomly search), how can we call them as 'friends' and 'friend' them?? I really hate this virtual friendship!!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting of your definition of "friends". 1 or 2 years ago, I was willing to make phone calls to my friends for chatting or organizing gatherings or whatever. However, I rarely do that now but I would probably send a Facebook msg (not sending SMS because of the charge:D) instead of ringing them. That's a bad habit I would say...
ReplyDeleteThe word "FRIENDS" is really ambiguous. Someone is your "friend" but actually when you think of friends we have got, you would not think about him. The online virtual world provide a new definition of friends of course, but at the same time it changes our communication behaviour. it's much more convenient but it also lengthen the distant between true friends. What a pity!
ReplyDeleteI agree with two of you that there is a new interpretation of the word 'friend' due to new technology. I still cannot tell whether Technology connect people or disconnect people.
ReplyDeleteCrystal, I found that the meaning of "friends" in FB is that you know his/her name. For me, I only accept those friend request from those I recognized and met before. I think it is a way to "secure" my information or at least, not disclosing myself directly to someone I don't know. =)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that virtual friendship really exist based on this kind of setting...but I do think that FB is a great platform to maintain relationship with those you are not familiar with and may helpful to you in the future. Why not press your "like" button on his/ her status and photos? =)
Kari, I see your point. Maybe I prefer f2f communication when I meet friends so FB for me is to make new friends and maintain passive contact.
ReplyDeleteCrystal, I did it the same as you, added everyone no matter whether I have mutual friends with them. However, more and more people I added, I felt a bit insecure as they can access my information(e.g.photos) easily. So, my practise changed. I would only add those I have mutual friends and divide them into different groups. So that I can choose to disclose my status n photos to the one I want to.
ReplyDeleteI also have so many friends in Facebook who are my primary school friends. Some friends on Facebook are strangers. I accepted their friend request a few years ago. At that moment, I dun think that it is dangerous. However, this year, more and more strangers try to add my Facebook. I rejected them and blocked all the strangers on Facebook. I hope it helps.
ReplyDeleteHow about the friends that you used to know and you have added them in Facebook, but in real life you actually rarely talk to them, but still you know each other? I still consider them as friends... how 'bout u?
ReplyDelete