What does it mean to have friends here??

[CathyA]

haha........that sounds like I don't know what its like to have friends. I'm just curious.......when someone requests that you be their friend.......what does that mean? Does it just boil down to people knowing you have "friends"?? I don't quite understand it.

[Alan]

According to the board's FAQ: "A friendship is a mutual, two-way relationship between two users. It is initiated by one user and accepted by the other."

As far as I can tell, the only benefit to having a "friend" is that if you go to your profile page, you'll see a list of all of your friend's most recent posts, all gathered together in one place.

[CathyA]

Thanks Alan.

[Float On]

I always forget about that "Friend" thing.
I guess if this were a huge board with several thousand posters there might be a way to "circle" the "friends" to follow your friends posts more closely.
So.....CathyA.....I sent you a friend request so you wouldn't feel left out! ;)

[Gregg]

Hope I haven't offended anyone with my lack of response, but I just chose to not bother with it. With the current incarnation we're a small enough board that its pretty easy to see what is posted in threads that interest me so I haven't felt the need to do anything that refines my searches. Plus it has a social media ring to it that I'm just not overly crazy about.

[ctg492]

I consider everyone my friend here :)

[peggy]

Hope I haven't offended anyone with my lack of response, but I just chose to not bother with it. With the current incarnation we're a small enough board that its pretty easy to see what is posted in threads that interest me so I haven't felt the need to do anything that refines my searches. Plus it has a social media ring to it that I'm just not overly crazy about.

ditto

[CathyA]

me too. I was just curious about what it was all about.

[Mrs-M]

I have 95 friends, and I'm proud to have each and every one of them. Adding friends to my profile (for me), was my way of letting those who I sent requests to, that hey, "would you like to be be my friend", as in, I feel comfortable around you and enjoy your presence and company on the forum.

I can't even begin to tell you how many requests I sent out where members didn't get back to me, and I'll admit, that hurt. As much as I know there were members who didn't receive my requests, account not having their profile page and settings adjusted to accept such invitations, I know there were others who simply ignored my requests or didn't want my friendship. Sad to say but true.

So in my case, friends, have absolutely nothing to do with cliques or anything else. IRL, I'm a warm and caring person, who is just as apt to reach out and hold or hug someone (in need) who I don't even know, just as quickly as I'd reach out and hug someone I do.

Furthermore, adopting friends, was my way of letting those who visit the boards know that, "hey, I'm not alone when I come here, because, YAY, there's Mrs-M, on my profile (or so and so)". I did what I did out or warmth. I'm the same with kids. I'm forever hugging and kissing and holding other people's kids and adopting other neighbourhood children and calling them my own (all the time). Handing out cookies (and love) is me.

Sorry if I offended anyone by being the way I am.

[leslieann]

I have a few "friends" here but don't see that as any kind of limitation....I really enjoy and appreciate the chance to read here and to post here, and to catch up with people whom I think I "know" as odd as that probably is.

The friend function doesn't seem too useful since this board is more information based and less socially oriented. Or maybe that's just how I use the service.

Mrs. M....I like how you are.

[herbgeek]

Mrs M-


I can't even begin to tell you how many requests I sent out where members didn't get back to me, and I'll admit, that hurt.
Some people may not have noticed the friend request- I know it was likely several days before I noticed it in my inbox- that's just something I don't normally check. I just dive into the threads.

So while they may have been some that ignored you intentionally, I would bet most just didn't see it, or didn't know how to accept a friend request.

[Spartana]

Mrs M-


Some people may not have noticed the friend request- I know it was likely several days before I noticed it in my inbox- that's just something I don't normally check. I just dive into the threads.

So while they may have been some that ignored you intentionally, I would bet most just didn't see it, or didn't know how to accept a friend request.

Same here. Not only do I not check to see if I have messages here, I often don't even go online or check my e-mail for days (and sometimes weeks) at a time. But am proud to say I am "friends" with Mrs. M. Hope we'd be friends IRL too desite our different personalities and interests, as she seems to be one of the nicest people on the planet. And she cooks! I always like to stay friends with people who cook :-)!

[iris lily]

I don't understand what "friend" functionality is here and am not interested in learning. I read most all posts, so rest assured that if you wrote it, I'll be reading it. That seems like what a friend would do n'est-ce pas?

[martha]

Until this thread, I didn't even realize that we HAD an inbox here! :doh: So if I've ever ignored any messages from anyone, it was not intentional, and I apologize.

That said, like Iris Lily, I'm not interested in learning how it all works, either. I don't do Facebook or Twitter, since I'm generally behind just on my personal and work email, and don't get to read nearly all the posts on the forums that I would like to. There's only so much time and so many demands on it; I avoid establishing new relationships, online or otherwise, that I'm afraid I won't have enough time to properly tend to and nurture. Like others have said, I feel a sense of community and friendship here, and don't feel a need to single out specific people, which would imply that I valued others less. The whole SL community is valuable to me. Thank you all for being here!

[Mrs-M]

I agree, Leslieann, that the friend-function does seem somewhat idle, but there's a warmth I get from having the friendship portion of my profile full-filled. P.S. Thanks, Leslieann, for your words...

I'd venture to say that you are right, Herbgeek.

Spartana. You strike me as being someone who enjoys eating others creations, and I'm always so happy to cook for those like yourself who enjoy. My husband is a monster at the table, he absolutely LOVES food, but I'm forever telling him, "slow down honey, there's lots more where that came from".

I understand, Iris.

Excellent point, Martha, Re: the implication of valuing others more, through friendship sign-ups, although that wasn't the case with myself.

[Mrs-M]

Bump.

To any/all who may be feeling left out that Mrs-M, hasn't extended a friendship request your way (as of yet), please don't. I've been working on adding members as I find them/come across them, but it's a slow arduous process, because just when I think I have succeeded in adding all that I can add, I find another member (or two) who managed to slip through the cracks, so it's a day-by-day project.

[BayouGirl]

I was just reading this thread and saw Mrs-M's post about sending invitations to be friends and I looked up at my notifications and lo and behold, there was an invitation form Mrs-M. How timely! Thanks Mrs-M !!

[pony mom]

Mrs M-


Some people may not have noticed the friend request- I know it was likely several days before I noticed it in my inbox- that's just something I don't normally check. I just dive into the threads.

So while they may have been some that ignored you intentionally, I would bet most just didn't see it, or didn't know how to accept a friend request.

Me too. I eventually noticed it but didn't realize what it meant. I consider all of us here friends.

[Mrs-M]

You are most welcome, BayouGirl.