When new to fb in 2010, was delighted to see all my scattered friends offered on the same social platter, with pictures and videos to boot!
Mad and frenzied friends requesting followed till I had nabbed each long lost person, who ever had had a walking role in my uneventful life!
Though I wonder now how many of these "persons" I eventually connected with on a personal basis, and how many remained exactly what most fb friends are designed to remain, "personae", may I add dramatic personae?; 😉
Coz all you ever see are the cool things or the glam stuff or the hint of a sob story inviting the advice of a hundred agony aunts.
I quite understand this.
The reverse phenomena is a perverse desire to inflict one's acquaintances with mundane details only. Items had for breakfast, that breathtaking walk to the bathroom, and the menu plan for lunch.
That's nice if you're a foodie which I am, so cool with that.(barring the bathroom bit).
In 2013 I rediscover poetry after a 17 year hiatus! And make some really exciting distant connections with diverse talented poets all over the world.
Now starts a second phase of frenzied poet collecting.
Someone I won't name messages me good advice regarding putting copyright on my poetry.
Advice taken I receive a request and accept. This person goes through my friends list and informs me i have 80 odd poets in my collection! ( Early 2015...by now it's crossed hundred probably!)
I'm left gaping at this end, at the audacity. Person was finally blocked after he accused me of ingratitude for accepting medical advice for a toothache, yet failing to keep in touch thereafter.
Well I used to raid my hubby's medical cabinet for painkillers when that dreadful wisdom tooth ached, and if someone knows the names of a few painkillers, I'm eternally grateful, but that's no reasonable basis for keeping in regular touch. Or being called ungrateful.
Rant done with, this year I'm become far more circumspect.
Two reasons. I can keep accepting requests.
Or I could try to be nice to the friends I have.
Deleted loads in December and exited FB for few months.
Returned in April to find 50 odd requests waiting.
Sadly not one has ever bothered to read my poems, or the poetry of my friends or written any. Or simply because one mutual friend has accepted them, they felt free to ransack their newly acquired friend's list of friends and sent out "fresh" 😉 requests!
Talk about a Ponzi scheme!
Barring of course a handful of well meaning erudite souls who I have frequented on common friends discussion threads. Nothing but respect for them.
But now I'm a FB pro not an ingenue! Plus I am far too supremely content with my current culled down list.
And expansion isn't my game plan anymore.
Finally my dull brain has caught onto the fact that, however many friends and poets you collect, someone else will Always have collected More.
And yes, I most contrarily reserve the right to request where I haven't a single solitary mutual friend! If I like the mind that wields the pen.
That's about it. Capping the candour with a rueful smile.
And some tea for this terrible insomniac. I have an aunty somewhere in America who loves me to death, Who I "request", ☺ 'Please dont scold!"
Lots of loving hugs to the very real caring friends and soulful connections i have made on Facebook and hearty pokes to the enthusiastic pokers.
And my very best to the wunderkind of FB, the super adorable goofballs. They're the wise.
They're the Magi! 😋
