It was somewhat of a bittersweet moment last night when one of my readers somehow tracked me down through my “bat email” last night to see why I haven’t posted in awhile. Leaving aside how this person found me, I thought I’d write a bit today.
First and foremost, happy holidays to all. Enjoy this time with your family & friends. Having said that, this brings me to my second topic today. The difference between friends and acquaintances. So much of social media is geared around one’s “friends”, but people seem to misuse the term “friends” in everyday conversation and I’m wondering whether social media is exacerbating the problem. Here’s a challenge - look at the definitions of “friends” and “acquaintances” below and then go back to your Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, or other such favorite social media network and see how many of your “friends” would qualify as friends rather than acquaintances under the definitions below.
Friends:
| 1. |
a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. |
| 2. |
a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony. |
| 3. |
a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe? |
| 4. |
a member of the same nation, party, etc. |
Acquaintances:
| 1. |
a person known to one, but usually not a close friend. |
| 2. |
the state of being acquainted. |
| 3. |
personal knowledge as a result of study, experience, etc.: a good acquaintance with French wines. |
| 4. |
(used with a plural verb ) the persons with whom one is acquainted. |
So, what percentage of your friends are actual friends rather than simply acquaintances? 50%? 25%? 10%? Here’s an even more alarming exercise. How many of them did you know prior to the social media explosion (i.e., through means other than social media)?
Anyway, just thought I’d share what was on my mind these days since I haven’t done so in awhile. Hope your holidays are happy and you are able to spend them with your family & friends (how ever you define them).
