How many "friends" do you have on Facebook?

[Athaleyah]

I used to have over 300 from games... but I purged it down to 18 people who know me from some non-Facebook context. Few PB, some very long time online friends, and a few people from church.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

I have 49. I know all of them in one way or another. I have one request in to a guy I knew in high school that another friend of mine recommended so it will probably be 50 soon.

I am new to facebook. My cousin asked me to get an account a couple months ago because I was hard to keep track of. I have found it very interesting reconnecting with people I have lost touch with over the years. A couple of them I haven't seen since I was a small kid.

 

[Marrow Man]

390 on Facebook, 62 on the Puritan Board

 

[caddy]

432

 

[BJClark]

JoyFullMom;

After I realized that a large number of my many relatives were there, I jumped in. I quickly found out how many from my husband's large family....who are dispersed all over the world...are there. So, I signed him up too.

a large number of mine are as well..when they had a family reunion this past summer I couldn't make, but they were all posting pictures right away..

I recently located a lady I knew when I was a child, our parents were best of friends when our dad's were stationed together in the Navy. when my dad left my mom, her mom came and stayed with her, then they moved overseas and they lost touch..I contacted the daughter who in turn called her mom who told her I was asking about her, her mom asked to call me..she called a couple days ago, we talked for a good two hours..I was like in 4th grade the last time I seen them..it was a real blessing to me as I've really been missing my mom lately, so to have someone to talk to who was her friend and who knew her in a different context other than sister or mom was nice..

 

[Scottish Lass]

I have just under 300, the vast majority of whom I have at least met in person. I taught school for several years in four different cities, so former students and colleagues make up a chunk of that. We've had connections with several churches, and so I have a few that way, a reasonable number from here, plus people from high school, etc. I have fewer than five that I have no connection to other than a game on FB. I don't accept requests from people I don't know unless they're clearly from here (if they're marked as having 24 mutual friends with me, all of whom are on here, I can do the math even if I don't recognize the name).

I feel odd about asking someone famous (even just within Reformed circles) to be my friend with the exception of Dr. Jay Adams, whom I've met several times personally to the point he actually knows my name.

It's been a great way to keep up with old friends since we've moved a lot in the last ten years. Lots of people can pray for Tim's ministry and my pregnancy that never would have known otherwise.

 

[ewenlin]

1228

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winnah!

 

[cpomann]

I have about 35. Family, friends, and a few ole military buddies. Biggest pleasure is keeping up with the family. I have a daughter in Okinawa, and another in Atlanta, Ga. So much easier than e-mail and I love all the pics I have access to.....

 

[JoyFullMom]

JoyFullMom;
a large number of mine are as well..when they had a family reunion this past summer I couldn't make, but they were all posting pictures right away..

My husband had the same experience. He had to miss a big family reunion, but has reconnected with many relatives anyway and saw pics right away.

He grew up an MK in Indonesia. He has reconnected with many from there. He even has a couple of people from the tribes there who speak Indonesian and *write* in it on his FB! Incredible isn't it??

 

[Andres]

last time I paid attention, I had 96 friends on FB. I do personally know all of them, although some I haven't talked to face to face in years, such as people I went to HS with. I have turned down lots of friend requests because, to be perfectly honest, I really didn't care what was going on in that persons life and I didn't want them to know that much about mine. Am I a jerk? Also (here is another jerk move, man I am bad) if a person posts too many annoying updates, BAM!, I delete them from my friends list.

 

[Bern]

109 friends, all I know personally. I have people from college etc on there, and sometimes that can get annoying, due to them posting rude messages and videos... I actually have half my contacts hidden from view so I never know what they're up to. I use it to catch up with Christian friends, and to evangelise and discuss the bible with non Christians. As people have said, it can be a massive time waster though. I haven't got any reformed contacts

 

[Christian Soldier]

I have 340 right now. Most I don't know personally, but I have "met" some really cool Christian people this way. Some use Facebook just for friends, but others like me use it for networking as well. Good way to meet other like-minded people. Just like the Puritan Board.

 

[Scottish Lass]

I do have several of my former students hidden from view---if they're going through that I"m-drunk-every-weekend phase or something similar, I merely hide their statuses from view. That way I'm still available if they want a paper edited or whatever, but I don't have to see the profanity, etc. that often occurs.

I'm sure many of them have me hidden since I tend post links to very conservative political issues...

 

[Marrow Man]

I am sure some have hidden me as well -- some of my friends back in SC now attend Perry Noble's NewSpring church, and I have posted some critical videos, etc., concerning him and the church. At first I got a few flames and PMs, then I was "de-friended" by a few, now I am pretty sure the rest simply hide my comments.

 

[Ivan]

I have about six or seven, do not really use it.

My ex pastor has over 5,000 and that is the limit so then he had to start a Fan page. He did not like that but thats the rule.

Ed Stetzer?

-----Added 11/12/2009 at 10:42:02 EST-----

1228

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winnah!

There are more now. I probably gain 2 or 3 "friends" a day. Most are Christians...friends of friends...some non-Christians...family...church members...old friends...business associates...and on it goes.

It has become a way to fellowship, gain information and minister to people. It has been a very good thing for me. Very different than the PB, but different in a good way.

 

[Skyler]

I think I have about 10. All of them are people I know in real life(mostly other folks from church).

 

[Skyler]

It varies from day to day. Believe it or not, I'm quite the popular fellow away from the PB. I'm pretty much the epitome of popular on the internet. I have arrived (on the internet). I have attained nirvana (on the internet).

So, anywhere from 3 to 5, then, huh?

 

[Skyler]

Silence, peasant, lest ye die and untimely death (on the internet).

I don't want to untimely death. But I like the Facebook song. I will be quiet and listen now.

 

[carlgobelman]

I don't have a Facebook account. I'm a paranoid loser.

Anyway, I have some real life friends and they were talking about their Facebook account and one of them talked about having 286 "friends." I wondered at how that is possible since I know for a fact that he doesn't even know a quarter that many people.

So I have two questions: How many "friends" do you have on Facebook?

Second, please give me an insight into Facebook culture:
How does someone get so many people to want to be their "friend" on Facebook when they don't know them at all? On what basis does someone become a "friend" when they don't know them in real life at all?

How is that possible????

I think I'm up to about 101 friends on FB. They fall into several categories:

1. Family
2. Actual friends I currently associate with
3. People from church
4. Co-workers
5. People from other internet networking groups (e.g., Theologica and PB)
6. People I used to work with whom I've reconnected with on FB
7. People I used to go to school with whom I've reconnected on FB
8. People from the church I used to attend

Usually when you 'friend' someone, you can check their friend list to see if you know someone in common. You can also have FB check your email contact list to see if there is anybody on your list that is on FB. Finally, there is a feature on FB that suggests people that you might want to 'friend.' This is usually generated from friends of your friends that aren't your friend.

I personally wouldn't friend anybody with whom I have had no personal contact with in some way shape or form.

 

[Jim Peet]

More like an acquaintance

A Facebook friend is more like an acquaintance

BTW: I am on Facebook. It's a good way to connect with people (say if you are in a large church).