7
Profile Picture

Real Friends? Fake Friends? What's in a word?

6 yıl önce
Fake friends

(paraphrased from a New Scientist article)

A court in the US has ruled that Facebook friends don’t count as real ones. Florida’s Supreme Court justices were called upon to decide whether a judge’s Facebook friendship with an attorney meant he was too biased to preside over the attorney’s case.
In a written judgment, the court ruled that "...a ‘friend’ on a social networking website is not necessarily a friend in the traditional sense of the word… i.e. attached to another person by feelings of affection or personal regard”. Next they’ll be telling us that people didn’t really “like” your last selfie! ;-)

What happens when words clash with reality? Should a different word be used, or a new word created for social media 'friends'?
Yorumlar (2)
Profile Picture
FlagAmerika Birleşik DevletleriDers Satın Al
Hi Tom,

This is an interesting thing to think about. To be honest, I have a few Facebook "friends" whom I've never met in person and probably never will due to distance. However, if we lived in the same location I would most likely be social with them because we have connected via groups on Facebook and share common interests. So, I guess I would call them "potential real friends".
6 yıl önce
Metin Okuma
Tercüme Et
Profile Picture
[Deleted]
6 yıl önce
Profile Picture
FlagAmerika Birleşik Devletleri
the word acquaintances already exists.

Facebook 'friends'. Hmm, though one.

A friends is someone whom you have something in common with, someone whom you relate to, someone whom you trust, someone whom you share thoughts with, someone whom you even share secrets with.
Can that not be done with someone you befriended on Facebook?
6 yıl önce
Metin Okuma
Tercüme Et
Profile Picture
Hello Christine!
I'm Susy, from Mexico. I really agree with you. I can't feel afection for a person who I do not Know. It is necessary to be in real contact, to express with body language, eye contact and gestures. Also to live different experiences together to call a person "my friend".
6 yıl önce
Metin Okuma
Tercüme Et