National UnFriend Day

Apparently, someone named Jimmy Kimmel ('scuse me while I go Google) has decided that today should be National Unfriend Day. 

Ah... apparently he is a comedian and TV personality.  That's why I don't know him.  If he doesn't Think He Can Dance, isn't a Gleek, or hasn't appeared on a David Kelley show or an incarnation of Star Trek, I wouldn't know him.  Except for Steven Colbert, whom I actually only know through internet videos.

Anyway, Unfriend day has to do with Facebook, and it's supposed to "protect the sacred nature of friendship by cutting out any "friend fat" on their pages occupied by people who are not truly their friends."

Pretentious?

Okay, you could relable Facebook friends as "acquaintances and friends" but that just doesn't flow as well.  Are all my Facebook friends people I would tell my deepest secrets to?  I'm an INFJ.  We're very private so, for me, you can count those people on one hand.  Are my Facebook friends people I enjoy and like reading things about?  Yes. 

Does it have to get more complicated than that?

Time magazines' Newsfeed today has 10 reasons to unfriend someone on Facebook.  Here are their reasons and my responses:

1. They're your parents:  Okay, if you're the sort of person who likes to post Facebook photos of themselves fall down, vomiting drunk, you may not want to have your parents see them.  Really, though, do all the rest of your friends want to see that?!  I have Facebook friends of varying ages, political views, and senses of humor.  Not everything I would like to post is suitable for all of them.  I have different lists that I don't send various updates to - people who wouldn't appreciate a political view, a slightly bawdy joke, or just things I don't send to other people's teenagers. 
2. They're your ex:  Dear husband was the first guy I dated so this one is irrelevant.  
3. You don't know them:  I'm very conservative about "friending" people so this doesn't happen to me.
4. You would never say hi to them in real life:  I'm polite.  I would say hi.
5. They invite you to a million events:  If they're personal events - performances, etc., I'd be interested to hear about them even if I can't go.  Other things - it's not a problem to ignore the events.
6. They are in Loooovvvve:  A few of my Facebook friends have found love while on Facebook.  I'm happy for them. 
7. They bring you down:  Oh, and there's something wrong with trying to empathize, or cheer someone up, or just listen?!  Everyone goes through bad spots.  It doesn't mean you have to disappear from the world so that you don't bother anyone.
8. They send you dozens of quizzes and game invites:  You can turn off the game invites.  I got addicted to a few Facebook games when I first got on, then I decided I didn't want to spend my time that way.  And I enjoy a number of the quizzes...  let's see, in my recent quizzes:  I'm Molly Weasley (Which member of Order of the Phoenix?), I'm similar to five of my Facebook friends (possibly for three, not so likely for two), I'm Tim the Enchanter (Which Holy Grail character?), I am fierce and protective (Which warning sign should you come with?), and I'm Luna Lovegood (Obscure Harry Potter character?).  However, I could have well done without the nagging to go vote.  Even though I always vote, I was tempted not to this year because I was so sick of hearing about it.
9. You've already hidden them from your newsfeed:   I haven't done that with anyone.
10. You don't want them privy to your social media life (co-workers, teachers, etc):  I wouldn't friend them in the first place!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go see if I've read more than 6 of these books (BBC related book meme).