More Facebook Etiquette

Here are a few more tips on Facebook Etiquette based on the lessons I learned from my "citizenship" in FB country.

1. Acknowledge and respect feelings. When a friend posts a "feeling" in his or her "shout", don't argue. Feelings like "sad today" or "cranky" or simply "happy" are all valid. Friends post them because they either want sympathy or are simply eager to share joy. When friends post a negative feeling, it is often a cry for help. So, I put in a simple comment like "hoping things get better" or "am just here for you". I will not say "you should be happy" or "the day is too beautiful to waste on useless moping." I will NOT ask "why". I will leave it to my friend explain if he or she feels like doing so.

2. "Agree with my politics, or keep off my profile." Sometimes, friends post a political view or opinion. When they do so, it could be a knee-jerk response to a political situation or personality. It is hardly a dissertation based on a political philosophy. Such a post is more often than not just waiting for affirmation. Definitely, it's not looking for a long-drawn discussion. If I can't agree or say something enlightening without putting my friend on the spot, I will stop myself from commenting on the post.

3. Humor is welcome; insults, not. Occasionally, I put in a wisecrack on a friend's post. For example, one friend posted Kiyosaki's quote, "The lack of money is the root of all evil". I commented, "for corrupt people, evil is the root of all money". My friend recognized the humor, thanked me with a smiley. On another occasion, I posted in one site my recollection of an accident involving a prominent citizen of our town. I said he died in a helicopter crash. One person posted a reply saying "you are wrong; it was a small plane". Insulting. He made me look like an ignoramus . He could be correct, but he placed me in an embarassing situation. I stayed away from the profile, thereafter.

At the end of the day, these tips on FB etiquette are nothing new. They are the very same principles we applied when friendships were still mostly a face-to-face interaction. They made for lasting and enriching friendships then. They can still do the same in the Facebook era.