Sunday is just around the corner. My wife and I decide we want a few friends around for a Sunday lunch.
But who to invite? Here is how the conversation goes …
- I want to get my old mate from school who I met 30 years ago with his family.
- But she wants to invite the new friend, she made at our eldest son’s school – feels that the two couples will not get on.
- So, I suggest we invite my friend from university.
- She thinks this is a great idea, but again, the two couples will not get on.
- So, I suggest that invite my mate from university and you invite your friend that you met at work.
- No, they won’t mix…. this is getting hard. Like trying manage the seating at our wedding.
And so on it goes. We spend the next half an hour trying to work out whom of our social circle will get on with each other and who we will invite for lunch.
Social Blobs versus Social Propellers
You have had the same chat that my wife and I had. I’m just lucky that we can have a civil chat on this topic as it can be quite testy.
(I’m sure there are a few divorces that have ended, because social circles are not compatible).
Yet when we go online, we create this massive social circle. A one size fits all type of circle.
We add all types of relationships to our Facebook profile from school friends, family, co-work, and so on.
Here is a quick test. Just go and look at your Facebook profile as ask yourself:
- How many people do you actually engage with on a daily or weekly basis?
- How many people do you trust to share different [not intimate] details with over one broadcast
- How many comments are light hearted banter that are pretty meaningless
- Would everyone feel comfortable if you put them all in one room
Beyond the blog ...