With the Internet, the social networks, and the blogosphere, we have amazing opportunities for connection and re-connection. With all that potential for contact comes greater potential for disappointment because our expectation has risen exponentially. So when that friend or family member who previously would have only sent a Christmas card once a year ignores our brilliant and intuitive post on Facebook, we somehow feel ignored and even rejected.
What is the solution?
Have you seen FB posts that say they’re running a test to see who actually follows their posts, and they pose some kind of crazy question, like “When was the first time you saw me brush my teeth?” And the folks whose loyalty is really in question ignore the post, primarily because they are busy finding a cure for cancer, reading a Harry Potter book, or in some way saving the world. Then an irreparable rift happens or at least a good sulk. Well, I think the solution lies in lowering our expectations and in only talking to perfect strangers, sexual predators excluded.
So here it is: I if you have never met me, have never seen me brush or floss my teeth, and couldn’t care less what the name of my first pet was, re-post this to every social network you are involved in, and some you are not, as well as attach a message by carrier pigeon and carve the words in a tree. Then when I have a revelatory moment and reflect on how pitiful it is to have so few friends and so little influence, because no one will actually do that, I will sit down and have a good cry, brew some coffee laced with trans fats, and write another blog to pollute the ionosphere because in the larger scheme of things I really don’t care. :-) Well, a little.

LOL! Perfect.
My sentiments precisely!
And see if we lived by each other, we would enjoy each other’s company enough to have tea, as long as we only typed to one another!
A strange but gratifying relationship to be sure! Like in-person pen pals.
I love your blog! You do not make me smile, you make me laugh so hard! God Bless, SR
See, you are the perfect stranger I’ve never met!
My carrier pigeon hasn’t flown home in weeks. So sorry–does that mean I’m out?
You will always be in.
Love it! My thoughts exactly.
Thanks, perfect stranger.
Ahaha, you’re so right on. ^^ And well… hugs from this end.
Have a pleasant week!
Yep
That was great!
I am sure that Charles Dickens didn’t need every reader to be his friend. Keep writing and I’ll keep reading. I like your writing and whether you would like me or I you if we met, which we won’t, is like the internet, immaterial.
Humm, haven’t notice too many “tests” which I promptly ignored. Could be I don’t get them because I don’t bother to have a lot of “friends” and don’t care what or when someone is eating or if the waiter was “rude.” Waste of time drivel. I do love seeing photos of family, or trips, or home projects before and after. Those are delightful to me.
tHESE TOOLS CAN BE REALLY GREAT WAYS TO STAY IN TOUCH, BUT WE NEED TO TAKE THEM ALONG WITH THEIR LIMITATIONS. aHHHHHHHH I hate cap lock!!!!!!!!!
Along with those idiotic posts about where I met someone, I also don’t like Awards, especially if they require me to work (such as requiring me to list 26 things about me from A to Z and then nominate 15 other people). Didn’t I already do the work? Who gives awards out before the work has been done? I have far better things to do. I’d rather be out in the blogosphere actually meeting people rather than doing innocuous things like that.
If you get a chance read my post about a new award I started. Only cost you 10 bucks.
http://apronhead.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/its-new-the-pyramid-blogger-award/