Comments on: Why not all friends are the same

By: closedmouth

closedmouth — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 05:56:47 +0000

Hmm, I probably should have said “those of us” :-/

By: hickorywind

hickorywind — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 22:49:49 +0000

Very interesting post. The only social networking site of which I am a member is last.fm. The number one reason, besides the charts, is discovering new music. Personally, 99% of the bands I have been turned on to have been through last.fm friends, not the recommendation system. The whole “friends” system has allowed me to do this, through journals and the online friendships that have developed.
I definitely agree with your point regarding older folks needing this sort of outlet for music. Like you, my real life peers aren’t on the same wavelength musically, as they were when I was younger. Through the journal system, it’s almost like hanging around the Record Store on a Saturday afternoon back in the old days. This is the only way I can do that now, and it’s a blast!

By: Nancy Baym

Nancy Baym — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:21:52 +0000

Though I have to stick my 2 cents in here and say that there’s no reason to think people with online friends don’t have “friends in real life.” If anything, research suggests that people who have no friends in “real life” don’t have any online either. Although, people who are very anxious about communicating face-to-face may have an easier time online. Plus of course, the things we do online are real too.

By: closedmouth

closedmouth — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:20:16 +0000

Spare a thought for those without friends in real life, hehe

By: Irene

Irene — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:04:23 +0000

Nancy:

I loved your very thought-provoking post on friendship. I quoted you on my website that focuses on female friendships!

Take a look: http://www.fracturedfriendships.com

Best,
Irene

By: Nancy Baym

Nancy Baym — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:20:44 +0000

Thanks for the feedback all.

@Jason — perhaps I overstated my lack of interest in what my FB peers listen to. Or, more seriously, maybe I understated my lack of interest in bringing most of my Last.fm peers into the more professional circle of my FB friends. I do like knowing about my colleagues’ pop culture taste, I just don’t want them as my *primary* source of music information. And on the other side, I want contacts that are *limited* to music, which FB cannot provide me, but Last.fm (or other music-based sites) can.

By: Irene

Irene — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 03:33:30 +0000

Hi Nancy:

As someone outside the social networking world but interested in learning about its relevance to friendship, I loved your post and the subsequent comments!

My best,
Irene
http://www.fracturedfriendships.com