A Facebook Failure

I'm a Facebook user. For those of you who are unfamiliar, it's kind of like Myspace but puts up barriers between people who are obviously not connected in some way. If I set privacy settings saying I don't want anyone who isn't a "friend" to access my profile information, then weirdos can't contact me outside of the messaging system. You have to have an email address with a domain reflecting a college or university, certain companies, and I believe they're letting high schoolers in now, too. I just checked - now they've got it open to everyone. *rolls eyes*

I really use it to keep up with all my peeps back home (those I still speak to). I like I don't have to go through the formality of sending a full email to someone when all I want to say is "wtf?!?". It's also nice to see what people look like all these years later. All I can say is that I'm glad I've "held up."

One of my peeves about this sort of system, though, is that occassionally - no matter what privacy settings you select - you get friend requests from people you'd rather not communicate with. I systematically delete these requests from strangers who try to add me merely because I live in Durham. Usually, if someone from my high school adds me I go ahead and accept whether I know/remember them or not. My hometown just isn't that big, so the chances are that I'm either related to them or related to someone who's related to them (or in some situations, I've dated them OR dated someone they've dated, heh! small world, can't hold grudges over high school boyfriends.).

I got a friend request yesterday from a guy who took me to dinner once like 5 1/2 years ago. Several weeks later, I hooked up with Scott. When he contacted me again, I expressed that I didn't want to be in a relationship with him. When he aggressively questioned me on why, I had to be honest and tell him I wasn't attracted to him and that I was with someone else. Well, that set him off. It seemed that an ex-friend whom I hadn't spoken with since early in my college days had sent him in my direction (knowing full well he wasn't my "type"). She also told him some very personal, sensitive information about me that I will NEVER forgive her for should I ever see her. Imagine my shock and disgust when he relayed that information back to me! I regret now ever looking to that big-mouth for support.

Anyway, he tried to add me and I ignored it. He also sent me a "poke" which is a tool people in Facebook can use to communicate, whether or not you've allowed strangers to read your profile information. He can't see my email address or anything like that, so he's flagging me for attention.

If I "clear" the poke, that'll indicate that I saw it, and he'll a) be able to poke me again, and b) know that I saw his request and ignored it.

I'm trying to handle this tactfully. Maybe he'll just leave me alone.

Posted by Tiffany at October 30, 2006 11:09 AM | TrackBack