"Unfriending" on Facebook

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/30/12 at 10:25pm

I'd like a little feedback on something I'll be forced to do real soon: "Unfriending" a friend on FB.

A friend of mine virtually lives on FB--from morning 'til night. She posts every aspect of her life on it all day long. We read about where she's shopping, her young daughter's successes, her marital problems (there was a doozie recently), her economic woes, her first trip to see CHICAGO on Broadway, photos of every meal she prepares--and now detailed reports about her dog's illness and imminent passing.

My problem is that I don't want to know every single freakin' thing about her life. Basically she's a nice gal and her daughter's been very kind to my granddaughter. It's just that she posts too much information about herself and I'm feeling more and more uncomfortable about it.

I don't think there's a kind way to "Unfriend" a person. What have been your experiences in matters like this? Suggestions?

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/30/12 at 10:32pm

There is a way to select a specific friend and his/her posts won't show on your main page (Home).

Then you don't have to read her posts or unfriend her, unless you go to her page and read what she has to say. I've done this with some people on mine.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 4/30/12 at 10:34pm

If you don't want to sever all virtual ties, but you're tired of her FB presence, I'd recommend "unsubscribing" from her updates (statuses, links, notes, etc); that way, she won't show up on your news feed, and you can check in on her life/page at your leisure.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 4/30/12 at 10:37pm

Just unsubsribe to their newsfeed. That way, no more daily status, etc. There's an arrow of something on the upper right of their comment that click on. to unsubscribe/ You can keep friends, but not read their every thought. That's what I do. If I decide to read some of their stuff I just click on their page, and scroll down for anything that interests me.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/30/12 at 11:03pm

It is sort of funny how "Unfriending" someone has become the worst insult ever!

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 4/30/12 at 11:27pm

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=national+unfriending+day&oq=national+unfriending+day&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=youtube.12...2922.8680.0.11357.24.24.0.10.10.0.136.1345.10j4.14.0.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/30/12 at 11:38pm

I rarely unfriend people.

I hide them a lot, though. I just don't need a by-the-minute update of what's going on your mind.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 12:08am

I dunno, I prefer to be supportive when even mere casual acquaintances have a dying pet.

[Dead Kevin]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 12:12am

Yes, all you have to do is hide her post from your news feed. You can spare her feelings but never have to deal with her posts again.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 4:32am

Send her a registered letter, making sure she signs for it.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 7:20am

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll "unsubscribe" her.

As I said, she's really not a bad person, but this is a case of "too much information"--'way too much.

Namo, after learning the intimate details of this woman's marital problems, the dying pet is just something pushing me over the brink.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Updated On: 5/1/12 at 07:20 AM

[wexy]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 11:02am

I had to unsubscribe from my cousin, he was always posting some many annoying links. I did see someone who has unfriended me yesterday.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 11:46am

You can click on the "Unsubscribe from Marital-Problem Updates/Still Subscribe to Pet-Loss Shares" button.

Posted: 5/1/12 at 11:57am

Getting an "Unfriending" is kind of like winning a Tony Award. I managed to make one "friend" quit facebook all together. That was like winning a Nobel.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 1:19pm

I did NOT quit, Joe. Give back that Nobel.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 1:27pm

Getting a "Friending" is like being Elena Roger.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 2:14pm

Well this is a first for me, I got a "so and so accepted your friend request" the other day, and I had absolutely no clue who the person was, so I deleted them (we didn't have any friends in common either).

[StockardFan]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 2:19pm

I'm always curious when I get a friend request from someone I've never heard of with whom I have no common friends. I don't accept their request. But that's really weird that you got that message Dottie.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 2:24pm

Stockard, I've received the former (usually from questionable looking ladies), but never something saying someone accepted a friend request of mine (especially when I have no recollection of sending the friend request in the first place).

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 4:09pm

If I don't know them and we have zero friends in common, I ignore them.

Early on I would send private messages saying, "Do I know you?" None of them were ever answered, so I figured it was a phishing scheme and stopped asking. If they want to friend me out of the blue with no one in common, they can send me a message telling me why (a few have done that as well).

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 4:27pm

I do more than ignore - I delete them from being able to ask. (Well, I used to when I understood the FB settings. I can no longer keep up, so who the heck knows what is really visible and what is truly private...)

I haven't 'unfriended' anyone, but I've hid the newsfeeds of some. And have changed setting so I don't see all of the posts by some people.

Nobody on this thread, though!

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 4:37pm

I like having the flexibility to do all of that, too. But you're right, Addy, the settings change so much it's hard to figure it all out sometimes.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 5:08pm

I received a friend request from someone whose name wasn't familiar. It turned out to be the manager of the frozen foods dep't of the supermarket where I shop. He's a good-looking guy and hadn't the slightest clue that he was gay. Nice things are happening between us.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 7:24pm

Unfriending is very empowering. Every once in a while I clean house.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 8:53pm

If you've ever been employed in any aspect of the business, people will find you. Cyber stalking is pervasive, and it's the new "we of me," being friended by someone unknown socially or professionally. Beware. They can make you wish you never even visited FB. But then, so can someone you've known since high school, the YouTube Archivist from Hell, who thinks old LOVE BOAT footage with Barbara Rush is the thing you most want to see at 5:45 a.m.