OT: Something Strange

[pmulcahy11b]

I got an email from a surprising person -- an old girlfriend (as in from high school) who wants me to join her Facebook page. Strange -- it's been over 30 years. What does one do in such a case?

[Legbreaker]

Hope she's retained her looks?

[pmulcahy11b]

And how many people on this board look the same as they did when they were teens?

[Raellus]

Well, it's nice she thought of you and made the effort to seek you out.

But don't read too much into it. Some folks collect FB "friends" like people collect bottle caps or stamps.

[cavtroop]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

And how many people on this board look the same as they did when they were teens?

I do!

Um, I'm just...more filled out. And slightly more wrinkled. And ALOT more cynical. And...

Bah, you're right...

[copeab]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

And how many people on this board look the same as they did when they were teens?

People I haven't seen in 25 years have no problem recognizing me.

[Legbreaker]

Actually last week end I attended the 20 yr school reunion (god I feel old).
Although most had aged there was one VERY nice blond who if anything, had improved since I last saw her 20 years ago.

[sic1701]

Give it a shot...you may be surprised with the results.

For my Facebook story, I didn't care much for high school; had moved from one small town to another two hours distant in 8th grade due to a divorce, and everyone in my "new" small town pretty much grew up together. Not much room for me, I was kind of a dork anyway ("No!", I can hear you saying...), and was social only during school hours. Outside of school hours I kept to myself or with a very small group of friends; living out in the sticks and not having a car also had a lot to do with it. Certainly not among the popular crowd. When I graduated, I kept in contact with two people I had become good friends with but everyone else I pretty much blew off, and moved out of state a few years later.

Flash-forward to last summer, as the 25th year reunion is gearing up. I had blown off information requests for the previous reunions, as it's two states away and didn't want to perform the time/money expenditures to attend. But now, along comes Facebook...and there were several people from my class seeking me out, remembering tales from long ago, and I figured, "What the hell, why not?" And I was amazed at how many people I did remember, how many events and stories from h.s. that I thought "Meh" at the time but with the benefit of hindsight and maturity now I remembered as good times, or at least okay times to be recollected. And how many people remembered me and thought well of me enough to reach out to me. Next thing I know, I'm helping the reunion committee find other lost sheep and at the actual reunion I'm being given kudos and clapping for helping to make it a success. And it was a good time after all, and I was glad I went.

Afterwards, everyone returns to their own lives and pursuits but a few times a week you hear from an old classmate or get some good gossip that makes it worth having gotten on FB in the first place. And you may be surprised to discover some things you have in common with people from your past, whether it be high school, grade school, a former job, what-have-you, that you never thought possible. I've formed some friendships on FB that I never imagined I would have without FB making that available.

In that regard, it's sort of like the camraderie you might find on a forum in which you are a long-time participant.

Facebook is what it is...a social networking tool. Like any such tools, it can be used for good or ill. You can find an old friend or an old flame (and let's be honest, guys; didn't you ever wonder what became of so-and-so, or how age and childbirth and gravity affected Susie Big-Tits after 20 years?), see what's transpired in their lives in the interim, and see if there's enough in common to restoke an old flame or revitalize an old friendship. Or if they're the same dumbasses you remembered from way back when. Only one way to find out. And, if it turns out you don't like them or discover they're the same back-biting asses they were in h.s., then you defriend them and they're outta there. Our busy society makes disentangling yourself from FB drama very easy to manage.

So, pmulcahy11b, give 'er a shot. Accept her friend request, ask her what she's been up to lo these past thirty years...and then check out her profile and see what her relationship status is. Depending upon her privacy setting, she may have her profile page available for viewing without having to friend her to see it. Certainly if she has a photos page, you can see them without having to friend her first, then evaluate what thirty years has done. If her relationship status "married", you're probably pretty safe and she's just using FB to see what's gone on in the lives of people she knew back in The Day. If it's "in a relationship", there may be some other intriguing possibilities that might involve her seeking out some extracurricular dick, not to put too fine of a point on it. If it's "single", book your flight to where she's at because you're probably gonna get laid...if she's single and checking you out after thirty years, I'd put good money down that that's what she's interested in. Or, at the very least, can be tempted into a lil' rendezvous.

Come back and give us a status update, buddy...or an after-action report.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I got an email from a surprising person -- an old girlfriend (as in from high school) who wants me to join her Facebook page. Strange -- it's been over 30 years. What does one do in such a case?

I treat all Facebook requests as a form of phising and delete them unread.

Brandon

[Targan]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I got an email from a surprising person -- an old girlfriend (as in from high school) who wants me to join her Facebook page. Strange -- it's been over 30 years. What does one do in such a case?

Do it. You've got nothing to lose and maybe when she gets to know you again she'll realise you're still a great guy.

[waiting4something]

Ignore her. The past is the past. Most likely you have nothing to say to her or her to you, except old school memories. After that, it's dead air.

[Legbreaker]

And yet things do happen......
People tend to open up after 20 years have gone by, expressing the true thoughts and feelings they couldn't while they were young.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by waiting4something

Ignore her. The past is the past. Most likely you have nothing to say to her or her to you, except old school memories. After that, it's dead air.

That's pretty much where I'm leaving it. Been too long. I never go to reunions anyway.

[Targan]

Aww, really? Why not just check it out? If you get a bad vibe you can always just leave straight away.

[Legbreaker]

It's the net. It's not hard to extricate yourself if it's not going well....
Take a chance!