Monday, March 1, 2010

Peeving


I have a pet peeve. It's not even a FAIR pet peeve, it just IS.

Facebook allows a certain number of individuals to be a friend. Makes sense because I'm not sure how many people can actually claim that they have more than 2500 friends that they know on a personal and tight basis. I'm not one. I just don't share that much info with people. Sorry.

To off-set this inconvenience to the business person who is using FB to network, they create new pages for "fans". Now, this isn't so annoying in itself. What DOES annoy the snot out of me is the Name Specific Fan Page and the note sent out to everyone in your address book.

What do I mean? The hundreds upon hundreds of emails I get are added to by one writer or professional after another recommending that I become their fan. Seriously? I'm not much of a fan-girl type. There are people I am absolute fans of because they are spectacular. But I hate... no, let me rephrase that... I HATE it when I get an email from John Doe (whom I don't know and don't even remember what he does) telling me that as my "friend" he highly recommends that I become his fan.

*Gag*

Do you really need to hit up strangers for your obviously over-indulged ego? Really? Because I've never heard of you, Johnny, and I certainly don't know your work. So why the f*ck would I become your fan? Just a question. An honest one, I think? Who are you that I should stop everything, thank the gods that you invited little ol' me to join the fold of your many, many followers. Oh, thank you! Thank you, kind, kind Johnny Doe!!! I've been just waiting for the opportunity to be recognized as YOUR. BIGGEST. FAN!!!!! Thank you, for asking me-the peon existence beneath thy feet-to lay prostrate upon your greatness! A debt of gratitude! NAY! My first born (when I have one) given to thee as an offering for thy generosity. Oh, Great, Johnny, would that I deserve such recognition. Please, please, PLEASE allow me to bestow upon you the accolades your merest glance commands!

*gargle gag*

Whatever. I have to do important stuff.

Like, pee.

17 comments:

Chris said...

LOL! You're not selling FaceBook to me here, that's for sure. :)

I see this to a much lesser extent on GoodReads. When people "friend" me, I always try to figure out the connection before accepting. (Hmm. I read 99% m/m romance. This person has read none of the books in my library. We have one friend in common, who was a dubious connection in the first place. Hmm. What point, beyond ego, does adding me as a friend serve? Hmm.)

Unknown said...

LOL I'm so glad I'm not on FaceBook. But if I were I'd ask you to be my fan to see if you'd gag!

Mia Watts said...

I usually like-ish FB but I don't get over there to check on things so often. Sigh.

Amber, you WANT to see me gag? It's sooo not pretty. ;)

Molly Daniels said...

I'm with you. I'll only friend or become fans of certain people. If I've never heard of them, no way.

Kris Norris said...

You so crack me up Mia,

I swear, I think I have like 20 friends on facebook, and some of those are kids I watch after school and their friends... a mom has to keep tabs you know.

But, I agree. I don't mind being friends with fellow authors because I like to keep up on stuff, but Johnny Doe doesn't sound like my cup of tea...

Guess this means I won't be asking you to be my friend... for fear of eternal prosecution!!! ( giggle, giggle)

hugs,
Kris

Julia Barrett said...

I have to laugh because one particular well-known author kept being 'suggested' - I kept getting the suggestion that I 'friend' her as we had soooo many friends in common. So I wrote to her, asking if she was willing to friend me, and I received an automated response from this author informing me that her friend list was full but I could become a 'fan.' Uh, no thanks. I'm not a fan girl. Facebook can be annoying.

Carol Lynne said...

OMG!! I was just complaining about this to my friend last weekend. If you want to be my friend on Facebook, great. By you want me to become a fan of yours? Uhhhh...not for me. "Please, step out of the Diva Closet with your hands up!"

Carol Lynne said...

Crap! Can you say, too early to type and spell this morning? Sorry.

Brynn Paulin said...

Well gosh guys, when my friend set up my page, I sent invites to several of you and I guess I should say I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd feel this way. I've been trying to keep my writing posts on my fan page and my other more personal posts on my regular page--though sometimes, I post writing stuff on my regular page for my relatives and school friends I didn't invite. Feel free to just delete the invite if it bothers you.

Mia Watts said...

Brynn, come on now, do I know you? Do I know what you do? Do we hang? Totally. It's those people who think I should and to whom I have no personal connection asking me to fan that annoys me. I don't "fan" on facebook as a rule, but there are people I KNOW that it wouldn't make me blink over. You're one of those. In fact, Julia would be one of those and so would Chris and Bron and Carol. Still wouldn't fan, but I wouldn't stew about it either.

I love my girls.

Mia Watts said...

PS. Unintentionally left out others who have posted here. You know I know you. Therefore you don't fall into that "John Doe" rule. Just saying'

Brynn Paulin said...

Mmmm...yes, but then I did send fan invitations to a bunch of people I don't know. As a rule, I don't send friend reqs to people on FB I don't know. So the main share of people I sent to had friended me. Do they no me, do I know them? Nope. So I guess I did abuse the John Doe clause.

Brynn Paulin said...

*know me

sheesh, I just can't type this morning.

Rassles said...

I have absolutely no qualms about letting people know I am not their fan or their friend.

Let's be real here, people.

Mia Watts said...

Well, Brynn, if you are die-hard to own it, it's all yours. LOL.

J- Um, yeah, you're definitely a character. My favorite part is when you stand in front of your mirror naked. That's STILL with me. Just want ya to know.

Rassles- HEY BABE! Where ya been? I'm totally a fan of the Rassles. As long as you don't ask me to be one on facebook.

Brynn Paulin said...

The only thing I 'want to own' lately is Queer as Folk. Otherwise, this week, I'm just in a fragile mood, wheezy and with a throat full of glass...

prashant said...

agree. I don't mind being friends with fellow authors because I like to keep up on stuff, but Johnny Doe doesn't sound like my cup of tea...

your healthy choice