Facebook Etiquette

Rather than rehashing some things I have gone over countless times of late, there is something new that's been in my thoughts. Recently, I joined Facebook, and at first it was very interesting. My motives for joining were less than respectable, but once I joined, I was happy with the result. I connected with some co-workers and even found a really good friend I hadn't spoken to in years. It was interesting, like this time warp back to another period, until there were some startling realizations. I didn't really like that period so much. I was happy that I had reconnected with my friend, but then the requests for friendship started rolling in.

In two days, seven people from my high school sought out and requested my friendship. I accepted, because I wasn't sure what the etiquette is with rejecting folks. Would this somehow affect my friend-getting ability down the road? And then it dawned on me, my mindset had gone immediately back to high school and that fear of rejection all over again. If these people had ever really cared what I was doing in all of these years, wouldn't they have sought me out sooner. For that matter, wouldn't I had done the same. For one I was lucky, because I am glad we found each other, but the others, I am reduced to the same line of questions. How are you, how many kids, what do you do, etc. They don't care any more than they did a week ago, nor do I. But did that mean I should have never accepted them then? Its funny how blasts from the past, can suddenly remind you of the reason why its in the past.

Well, needless to say, in the fear of rejection from people from 15 plus years ago, I have never rejected a soul. I can't help it. I still want them to like me. Strange, years can pass, life can give you all kinds of things, but in an instant you can become that scared, outcast, pimply high school kid all over again.