It seems every site nowadays gives you the opportunity to follow "friends".
So, what type of "friends" are there? Let's take a look....
1. True friends. People you personally know. People you talk to at least once per month. The people who probably know way too much about you. The people who you would have to pay to be silent if you ever decided to run for public office.
2. Business Associates. Colleagues you do business with on a regular basis. Maybe you work in the same office. Maybe they have done your loans/home inspections/closings for the past 5 years. People who know you personally, but probably don't REALLY know you. 
3. Clients. Past, present, future. You handled a business transaction for them 3 years ago, haven't talked to them since - but that doesn't mean they don't like you.
4. Former classmates. Gary the Geek, Popular Priscilla, Doug the Druggie, Wanda the Wierdo....you know what I mean. The old boyfriend who is now married with 3 kids or your best friend from 7th grade.
5. Social Networking friends. This gets tricky. People you have never met face to face but have watched on YouTube, read their blogs, subscribed to their feed, etc. People you feel like you know - though you have never personally met.
6. Acquaintances. People you have heard of, or they have heard of you - though you really do not know much about them.
7. Circle of Sphere. People who know people you know. You may or may not ever get to actually know them.
8. Strangers. The friend request you get that you accept and the person is some guy who builds skateboards out of his garage in Brazil. You have absolutely nothing in common....and probably never will.
When deciding who to "friend", keep this in mind.....what is the purpose of the site you are on and who are you trying to connect with? Very often, your "friends" will take a look at the others you have "befriended". Be careful here....if you are using Facebook for business, do
you want Boobalicious Brenda or Boozing Bernie to show up in your friend feed? Also, periodically check out your "friends" - you may be surprised what their new profile picture looks like and how it can reflect back on you.
Tina in Virginia
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Tina Merritt and her Associates. can be reached at email: tina@nestrealtygroup.com or 757-287-6338.
Our Network consists of both buyer and listing specialists helping buyers and sellers in Southeast Virginia, Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Isle of Wight County, Hampton, Newport News and Poquoson, Virginia. In Southwest Virginia, the New River Valley, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford, Pulaski, Dublin, Floyd, Narrows, Pembroke, Pearisburg, Glen Lyn, Rich Creek, Check, Hiwassee, Indian Valley, Parrott, Newport, Shawsville, Pilot, McCoy, Long Shop, Fairlawn, Wythe, Draper, Willis, Sowers, Elliston, Eggleston, Ironto, Riner, Auburn, Rogers, Giles County, Montgomery County, Floyd County, Pulaski County.
Visit our website: NestRealtyGroup.com
Tina:
With the birth of Web 2.0 and Online Social Networking, the Internet has given me many opportunities to travel down Memory Lane. Along with my Former Classmates, I have also been blessed with a growth in my Acquaintances and Sphere of Influence.
It can only go ONWARD and UPWARD in 2009.
On a side note........your Tweet caught my interest to read this post. Now...please explain what attention are you attempting to garner with the picture in the left margin? ;-) Just Curious!
Great Post!
Tina, I too have found some long lost friends on face-book recently. We scanned and shared some college photos from 25 years ago, and I hope to reconnect soon. Business can come from anywhere the greater your sphere of contact the more likely a friend of a friend will need your services. Plus it is fun..to visit in a quiet market..lord knows we have the time. Steve.. P.S. Happy Birthday we do follow everyone on line.
It's funny how I meet new friends now. Most are on the Internet. I do weed through and check out profiles to see if I would want them to be connected or to follow me.
Tina,
I liked your groupings, although for some of us #4 is irrelevant. :)
Steve
Thanks for sharing the list you are right our friends today can come from many different places.
Tina you are 100% correct. You need to watch who you accept to your friend list. People can go overboard with the pictures they post.
Tina, I had these same questions a few months ago and my friend requests had grown to over 100 people waiting. I finally gave up and accepted (most) of them if they were business associates from KW or Remax that I had never met. I figured FB was not my social network I was trying to keep so closed.
Although I don't accept my kids friends for the reason you named above.
Now on Plaxo and LinkedIn, I am more careful. Speaking of Plaxo did you get my card? I've been having some say no, so let me know. Not sure why it is not going through all the time, and I pay for Premium Membership.
Excellent post, with important "alerts".
Tina, I didn't know that you were friends with Boobalicious Brenda too!
Wow - are these pics or your friends?? :-P
Steve - not my friends...yours?
Brian - she's a great gal, huh?
Li - thats for reading and commenting
Missy - no, I did not get your card. It takes a lot of time to go through the requests correctly, doesn't it?
Carol - you aRare so right!
Pat - many places indeed
Lizette - it takes more time - but definitely is a smart decision
Steve - thank you for the good wishes
David - glad you liked my pictures!
Steve - thank you for reading and commenting!
Hello Tina,
Thanks for the info.
Jenny
Hi Tina,
Cute post. Have a great day and Merry Christmas.
This is an excellent post Tina, great categories you have here! Might have to re-blog this on SMV.
This has been quite a dilemma for me but I try to do business with same minded people, and I try to remind myself that a school teacher is allowed to go out and have fun too as I have caught myself being judgemental when I can be just as "scandaous"! Good reminder post! Thanks