What's the point of having lots of friends on Facebook - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brad Russ · 06-25-2011, 04:12 AM

I actually asked this question on Facebook a couple weeks ago, but I'm thinking it will get more responses here. My question is, Why do so many Facebook users have five hundred and sometimes even thousands of friends? I mean there is absolutely no way a person can keep in touch with that many people. A person with a thousand friends could probably stay in touch with only a hundred of them, and I think that's being generous. Can you really call the 900 people that you never talk to a friend? For the people who want to have that many friends, my question is why? What's the point in having so many friends when you never even talk to them? How is that a friendship? This has always made no sense to me.

Waterston_Fan · 06-25-2011, 08:01 AM

One reason is the games if you are interested.

Like Mafia Wars (Even though as of late, I've been losing interest in it), Cityville, Crime City....

Mafia Wars, the bigger your mafia or friends you have the more you can kick ass.

Cityville, they can help you with your city.

Liza · 06-25-2011, 11:54 AM

There are a lot of actors and celebrities that have facebook accounts. Their fans like to friend them. I'm actually friends with a lot of actors from "Dark Shadows." I've never actually met most of them, but I like being able to see what they're up to and fans ask them questions from time to time that they answer. I think Donna McKechnie has about 4900 "friends." Butch Patrick had to start a second facebook page because he had over 5000. I doubt they personally know most of them, but it's a new way of sending fanmail I suppose.

Rezny@gmail.com · 06-25-2011, 12:59 PM

I can understand certain actors having a facebook page to communicate with their fans.aside from that Brad Russ is right.there is no purpose in having hundreds of people you dont or hardly know on your facebook.i dont mean to offend facebook fans,but facebook overall is stupid.

associate · 06-25-2011, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liza

There are a lot of actors and celebrities that have facebook accounts. Their fans like to friend them. I'm actually friends with a lot of actors from "Dark Shadows." I've never actually met most of them, but I like being able to see what they're up to and fans ask them questions from time to time that they answer. I think Donna McKechnie has about 4900 "friends." Butch Patrick had to start a second facebook page because he had over 5000. I doubt they personally know most of them, but it's a new way of sending fanmail I suppose.

Are you sure it's them. Several celebrities I have met in-person have told me Facebook pages have been started in their names but don't have a Facebook page or are not affiliated with the pages. You have to be real careful with celebrity Facebook pages.

Family Ties Forever! · 06-25-2011, 06:17 PM

I think that site uses the word 'friend' loosely. There is no way to keep in touch with 1,000 people. How can you have a real friendship if you don't communicate. You might be able to consider some of them associates, but it's unlikely that someone will have so many actual friends on a website like that.

Brad Russ · 06-25-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Family Ties Forever!

I think that site uses the word 'friend' loosely. There is no way to keep in touch with 1,000 people. How can you have a real friendship if you don't communicate. You might be able to consider some of them associates, but it's unlikely that someone will have so many actual friends on a website like that.

Exactly!

Schmoopie · 06-26-2011, 02:54 AM

I only have about 150, which to me is a lot, but I try to keep the list under control. I rarely interact with all of them, but it's nice to be able to communicate with them. I do like interacting with the people from this board because on FB I can get to know them as their "true self" and not just a screen name!

Nighthawk76 · 06-26-2011, 03:36 AM

I've been a member of Facebook for two years and I have a total of 204 friends. I think there is this thing at Facebook where people are sort of playing on online version of a popularity contest. The more friends that they have then the more popular they feel. I've also noticed, and this isn't always the case but is quite often, the people with the most FB friends are the ones who have the least offline friends. I really don't see the point of having 800 friends. Like Emily, a number of my Facebook friends are actors (Brent Spiner, Shawnee Smith) and authors (David Gerrold, Kevin J. Anderson) and are not "friends" in the literal sense.

Nighthawk76 · 06-26-2011, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterston_Fan

Cityville, they can help you with your city.

PZelda · 06-26-2011, 08:54 AM

I have close to 400 friends, and no, you can't see my friends list. Hid it from view from the rest of my friends, because there were a few people shuffling thru my friends list and adding people they REALLY DIDN'T know, as friends, and I thought that was just weird. So yes. I don't care if you do it, but get the **** out of my friends list! Don't use me! You know?

A lot of the friends on my list are family. IRL friends. Classmates. Coworkers. Online friends. And yes I do interact with a lot of them.

Keep in mind, I've been on FB for nearly 5 1/2 years now (since early 2006), so I've had a LOT of time to rack up that many friends. I do have the occasional TV figure as a friend, though (Amy Duggar - cousin Amy - from "19 Kids and Counting" and Damone Roberts, who used to do makeup on the now-defunct TLC show "10 Years Younger" - he has CRAZY AWESOME hair and WHOA he rocks at what he does!).

Liza · 06-26-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by associate

Are you sure it's them. Several celebrities I have met in-person have told me Facebook pages have been started in their names but don't have a Facebook page or are not affiliated with the pages. You have to be real careful with celebrity Facebook pages.

A good point. Actually it's surprisingly easy to figure out which ones are real and which ones are fake, at least the ones I've seen. I wouldn't "friend" someone like Brad Pitt, but former soap stars aren't that famous and the fakes are easy to spot.

TVFactFan · 06-26-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Russ

I actually asked this question on Facebook a couple weeks ago, but I'm thinking it will get more responses here. My question is, Why do so many Facebook users have five hundred and sometimes even thousands of friends? I mean there is absolutely no way a person can keep in touch with that many people. A person with a thousand friends could probably stay in touch with only a hundred of them, and I think that's being generous. Can you really call the 900 people that you never talk to a friend? For the people who want to have that many friends, my question is why? What's the point in having so many friends when you never even talk to them? How is that a friendship? This has always made no sense to me.

So they can win the "facebook friend total award"-LOL

TVFactFan · 06-26-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PZelda

I have close to 400 friends, and no, you can't see my friends list. Hid it from view from the rest of my friends, because there were a few people shuffling thru my friends list and adding people they REALLY DIDN'T know, as friends, and I thought that was just weird. So yes. I don't care if you do it, but get the **** out of my friends list! Don't use me! You know?

A lot of the friends on my list are family. IRL friends. Classmates. Coworkers. Online friends. And yes I do interact with a lot of them.

Keep in mind, I've been on FB for nearly 5 1/2 years now (since early 2006), so I've had a LOT of time to rack up that many friends. I do have the occasional TV figure as a friend, though (Amy Duggar - cousin Amy - from "19 Kids and Counting" and Damone Roberts, who used to do makeup on the now-defunct TLC show "10 Years Younger" - he has CRAZY AWESOME hair and WHOA he rocks at what he does!).

Are you talking about the male friends on your facebook who sent friend requests to girls on your friends list they didn't know?

Miss Lisa · 06-26-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shine

I've been a member of Facebook for two years and I have a total of 204 friends. I think there is this thing at Facebook where people are sort of playing on online version of a popularity contest. The more friends that they have then the more popular they feel. I've also noticed, and this isn't always the case but is quite often, the people with the most FB friends are the ones who have the least offline friends. I really don't see the point of having 800 friends. Like Emily, a number of my Facebook friends are actors (Brent Spiner, Shawnee Smith) and authors (David Gerrold, Kevin J. Anderson) and are not "friends" in the literal sense.

That's exactly what it is, a popularity contest. Being in highschool, I have heard a few people bragging about how many friends they have on FB. Personally, I think its stupid to brag about something like that.

06-25-2011, 04:12 AM	#1
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	What's the point of having lots of friends on Facebook I actually asked this question on Facebook a couple weeks ago, but I'm thinking it will get more responses here. My question is, Why do so many Facebook users have five hundred and sometimes even thousands of friends? I mean there is absolutely no way a person can keep in touch with that many people. A person with a thousand friends could probably stay in touch with only a hundred of them, and I think that's being generous. Can you really call the 900 people that you never talk to a friend? For the people who want to have that many friends, my question is why? What's the point in having so many friends when you never even talk to them? How is that a friendship? This has always made no sense to me.
	Last edited by Brad Russ; 06-25-2011 at 06:19 AM.

06-25-2011, 06:17 PM	#6
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	I think that site uses the word 'friend' loosely. There is no way to keep in touch with 1,000 people. How can you have a real friendship if you don't communicate. You might be able to consider some of them associates, but it's unlikely that someone will have so many actual friends on a website like that.
	__________________ Jenny

06-26-2011, 02:54 AM	#8
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I only have about 150, which to me is a lot, but I try to keep the list under control. I rarely interact with all of them, but it's nice to be able to communicate with them. I do like interacting with the people from this board because on FB I can get to know them as their "true self" and not just a screen name!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

06-26-2011, 08:54 AM	#11
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	I have close to 400 friends, and no, you can't see my friends list. Hid it from view from the rest of my friends, because there were a few people shuffling thru my friends list and adding people they REALLY DIDN'T know, as friends, and I thought that was just weird. So yes. I don't care if you do it, but get the **** out of my friends list! Don't use me! You know? A lot of the friends on my list are family. IRL friends. Classmates. Coworkers. Online friends. And yes I do interact with a lot of them. Keep in mind, I've been on FB for nearly 5 1/2 years now (since early 2006), so I've had a LOT of time to rack up that many friends. I do have the occasional TV figure as a friend, though (Amy Duggar - cousin Amy - from "19 Kids and Counting" and Damone Roberts, who used to do makeup on the now-defunct TLC show "10 Years Younger" - he has CRAZY AWESOME hair and WHOA he rocks at what he does!).
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

06-25-2011, 08:01 AM	#2
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	One reason is the games if you are interested. Like Mafia Wars (Even though as of late, I've been losing interest in it), Cityville, Crime City.... Mafia Wars, the bigger your mafia or friends you have the more you can kick ass. Cityville, they can help you with your city.

06-25-2011, 11:54 AM	#3
Liza BestYearsofOurLives Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 24, 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 6,537	There are a lot of actors and celebrities that have facebook accounts. Their fans like to friend them. I'm actually friends with a lot of actors from "Dark Shadows." I've never actually met most of them, but I like being able to see what they're up to and fans ask them questions from time to time that they answer. I think Donna McKechnie has about 4900 "friends." Butch Patrick had to start a second facebook page because he had over 5000. I doubt they personally know most of them, but it's a new way of sending fanmail I suppose.

06-25-2011, 12:59 PM	#4
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	I can understand certain actors having a facebook page to communicate with their fans.aside from that Brad Russ is right.there is no purpose in having hundreds of people you dont or hardly know on your facebook.i dont mean to offend facebook fans,but facebook overall is stupid.

06-26-2011, 03:36 AM	#9
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	I've been a member of Facebook for two years and I have a total of 204 friends. I think there is this thing at Facebook where people are sort of playing on online version of a popularity contest. The more friends that they have then the more popular they feel. I've also noticed, and this isn't always the case but is quite often, the people with the most FB friends are the ones who have the least offline friends. I really don't see the point of having 800 friends. Like Emily, a number of my Facebook friends are actors (Brent Spiner, Shawnee Smith) and authors (David Gerrold, Kevin J. Anderson) and are not "friends" in the literal sense.