Most of the rich world is on facebook. We all have to be, it's both trendy and useful. We are all a great family connecting and sharing thousands of pictures, feelings, states of mind, informations, games, and all that can be considered as additional trash (stupid games, tests and everything else that you can chose to hide).
Facebook is a great tool to get in touch with friends we actually do care. Those that you remember more than once a year because suddenly their status turned into "single" again. After a while I got myself with almost 300 friends, quite a few that I actually never met or just shared an event or crossed eyes with. In the real world it is enough for acquaintance and will provide a smile, a nod or even a good day if ever encountered again. It may evolve to a real uninterested "how are you?" whose answer is never expected to be more than a "fine, thanks. And you?".
But Globalisation wants to Facebook them as friends. Friends with the apparent similar friendliness level as the ones who were there for you during those not so nice times in life. Or equal in status those co-workers that never said anything to you in the last two years but believe that you should share with him/her the last Christmas pictures with your Aunt Agatha or the last Bachelor Party revival that you hosted for your University mates.
More out of need than boredom I started to do some clean up. I thought it would be ok to start by the ones I never met. Net buddies. It didn't work. Some are actually cool net buddies with whom I shared common interests and keep in touch with. So they had their place within my Friend list. But it was starting and the list grew thin. Then came the list of friends of friends that think that the old proverb "friends of my friends are mine too" (or something like that). Actually some of the friends of my friends are mine too, but not all of them. So here some more were sent to oblivion. Strangely nothing happened so far. Not a single complain.
Starting to feel lighter I kept on going. Where should I continue? Known people or Workplace one? I'm not sure where I could draw a line, so I started to separate those to stay and those to go. I know lots of people I shared some time with in many ways and many forms but it was gone. No need to keep bounds that never existed. Other characters travelled through my life for an amazing short period of time, and unexpectedly, stayed in touch, being the both of us to be blamed. Sometimes life provides some nice encounters. Arriving at the workplace situation it was quite easier. I took off all of those I actually don't really speak with. Still easy and swift. No harm taken.
But the time to face oddness came. What about those friends who were more than good friends and are now completely unaware I even exist. Should I keep them for memory's sake or just accept them as good memories? Naa. Pressing the "unfriend" button. Now it was done. From almost 300, I came down to 150 something. Only one was willing to "friend" me again. But as I recall, we were not really close. Nor did we speak. One complain was heard from afar. But it never came before, in the real life at least. Only the virtual killing of a friendship shook the wounded relationship.
For now I'll keep the numbers as they are, actually I would like more people to do as I do. I may go lower than 100 if I'm lucky.
