If you’re reading our blog, you likely are also on Facebook. You’ve likely also seen more than your share of “25 Random Things about Me” posts from friends and friends of friends. The exception in the LGBT community might be those who are behind the curve and just joining Facebook or possibly those who already discontinued their memberships in advance of those pesky privacy issues being resolved.
It’s nice to be noted in a friend’s posting. It’s not so great to see their read through the list and empathize with their apparent struggle to come up with 25 different – and interesting – things about themselves.
Our friends at Queerty have followed the trend and recently posted “25 Random Things About Being Gay on Facebook.”
The tips range from hilarious to sublime, including a few insightful items like these:
• Everything on the internet is public. Look, we here at Queerty constantly use Facebook to look up people and write hilarious things about them…
• Facebook event invitations should not be considered real RSVP's. It's way to (sic) easy to click "I will attend" and never show up…
• If someone does not reply to your "Cause" invitation, try not to assume that person doesn't care about Lupus, saving kittens or bringing back Silver Spoons to prime time.
• So, you've started a Prop. 8 Facebook group. You've gone to the trouble of assigning officers and posting a snazzy photo and now have 2,000 supporters. Now, do something with all of them.
Among my favorites:
• If you do not state your relationship status in your Facebook profile, that means you are available. Stating that you're "single" in your Facebook profile means you're desperate.
• 45 "favorite bands" doesn't say that you have great taste in music so much as it says that you have decision-making problems.
• Do not ever defriend anyone. You may think it's justified, you may not have spoken to the person in question is years, but you might as well go into your former friend's house, p*ss on their bed … and then set their house on fire. Trust us on this.
And my absolute fave from Queerty:
• Family members and Facebook are a pretty delicate matter, especially for gay folks. My favorite aunt Facebooked me and I was nervous about adding her because I never had come out to her, but went ahead with it. After seeing photos of me marching in Prop. 8 protests, she wrote me a note saying how proud she was of me and over the holidays we talked and became closer than ever. Still, be aware that everyone's on Facebook now.
Are there any tips or anecdotes that you have from Facebook experience?
SUBSCRIBE
I don’t use Facebook other than for website promotion of my customers as the information posted is no longer yours. It belongs to the public at large and businesses that want your information.
My favourite:
17. We know you saw Milk and thought it was wonderful. You can stop telling us now.