"Thousands" of friends
"Thousands" of friends
The recent story in ST 10th June about 2 sisters who had thousands of ‘friends’ each in their 11 Friendster accounts (together) raises eyebrows and opens floodgates of discussions and comments in the papers, via net forums, etc.
I began to ponder whether the number of friends one has equate in a way to one's popularity? And it makes me wonder too, how many of the sisters' net-friends do they personally know, and how many are truly able to be classified as "FRIENDS".
There are many levels in friendships - beginning from mere acquainctance (hi-bye sort), to slightly better friends (possibly classmates, schoolmates, colleagues, etc), to those one don't mind hanging out regularly with (at least you are comfortable to be yourself in their presence), to those that really know you and your secrets/struggles (those that can blackmail you, those you can allow your tears to flow freely in their presence and be vulnerable), etc. Well, what I've written may not even be exhaustive - just based on my personal experiences and my way of "classifying" friends.
I won't comment on how they managed to add so many friends into the net account - I'll leave you to browse through the copy of 10th June ST on your own.
Personally, I have a network of friends connected with me via msn, or even Facebook - but these friends are added or invited because I knew them personally. In fact, I would hesitate to add someone that I did not know into msn or Facebook (1 case pending which I had written to ask the person to identify herself first before I acknowlegde the invitation) - after all, the net and the web can be a place lurking with real danger if you are not careful. Ever wonder how pictures of people get re-edited by digital technology (negatively) and distributed all over the place? Scary huh ...
For me, I need friends in my life, and I definitely enjoy the friendship and companionship of friends, but I don't need many friends around me to "tell" me that I'm popular, or I'm loved, or I'm appreciated, etc. My "popularity index" or my security is not based on that - it is based on the fact that I belong to a God who cares for me, who has redeemed me to be His very own, and who provided a good network of friends to strengthen and support me in this life journey.
The Bible has a lot to say about friends and friendships in the book of Proverbs. A good friend is definitely one who sharpens you and grows with you in life ... one who dares to speak the truth even though he knows that could be hurting because he cares ... one who sticks closer than a brother ... one who loves at all times and gives you the support you need when your world caves in.
One of the thing that this 10th June ST article disturbs me and makes me "uncomfortable" is that the "definition" or perhaps the "concept of friends" has been reduced to such a shallow level ...
The recent story in ST 10th June about 2 sisters who had thousands of ‘friends’ each in their 11 Friendster accounts (together) raises eyebrows and opens floodgates of discussions and comments in the papers, via net forums, etc.
I began to ponder whether the number of friends one has equate in a way to one's popularity? And it makes me wonder too, how many of the sisters' net-friends do they personally know, and how many are truly able to be classified as "FRIENDS".
There are many levels in friendships - beginning from mere acquainctance (hi-bye sort), to slightly better friends (possibly classmates, schoolmates, colleagues, etc), to those one don't mind hanging out regularly with (at least you are comfortable to be yourself in their presence), to those that really know you and your secrets/struggles (those that can blackmail you, those you can allow your tears to flow freely in their presence and be vulnerable), etc. Well, what I've written may not even be exhaustive - just based on my personal experiences and my way of "classifying" friends.
I won't comment on how they managed to add so many friends into the net account - I'll leave you to browse through the copy of 10th June ST on your own.
Personally, I have a network of friends connected with me via msn, or even Facebook - but these friends are added or invited because I knew them personally. In fact, I would hesitate to add someone that I did not know into msn or Facebook (1 case pending which I had written to ask the person to identify herself first before I acknowlegde the invitation) - after all, the net and the web can be a place lurking with real danger if you are not careful. Ever wonder how pictures of people get re-edited by digital technology (negatively) and distributed all over the place? Scary huh ...
For me, I need friends in my life, and I definitely enjoy the friendship and companionship of friends, but I don't need many friends around me to "tell" me that I'm popular, or I'm loved, or I'm appreciated, etc. My "popularity index" or my security is not based on that - it is based on the fact that I belong to a God who cares for me, who has redeemed me to be His very own, and who provided a good network of friends to strengthen and support me in this life journey.
The Bible has a lot to say about friends and friendships in the book of Proverbs. A good friend is definitely one who sharpens you and grows with you in life ... one who dares to speak the truth even though he knows that could be hurting because he cares ... one who sticks closer than a brother ... one who loves at all times and gives you the support you need when your world caves in.
One of the thing that this 10th June ST article disturbs me and makes me "uncomfortable" is that the "definition" or perhaps the "concept of friends" has been reduced to such a shallow level ...
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