(CNN) -- Facebook, for better or worse, is like being at a big party with all your friends, family, acquaintances and co-workers.

Facebook can be a great tool, and an occasional annoyance. What kind of Facebooker are you?

There are lots of fun, interesting people you're happy to talk to when they stroll up. Then there are the other people, the ones who make you cringe when you see them coming. This article is about those people.

Sure, Facebook can be a great tool for keeping up with folks who are important to you. Take the status update, the 160-character message that users post in response to the question, "What's on your mind?" An artful, witty or newsy status update is a pleasure -- a real-time, tiny window into a friend's life.

But far more posts read like navel-gazing diary entries, or worse, spam. A recent study categorized 40 percent of Twitter tweets as "pointless babble," and it wouldn't be surprising if updates on Facebook, still a fast-growing social network, break down in a similar way.

Combine dull status updates with shameless self-promoters, "friend-padders" and that friend of a friend who sends you quizzes every day, and Facebook becomes a daily reminder of why some people can get on your nerves.

Here are 12 of the most annoying types of Facebook users:

The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore. "I'm waking up." "I had Wheaties for breakfast." "I'm bored at work." "I'm stuck in traffic." You're kidding! How fascinating! No moment is too mundane for some people to broadcast unsolicited to the world. Just because you have 432 Facebook friends doesn't mean we all want to know when you're waiting for the bus.

The Self-Promoter. OK, so we've probably all posted at least once about some achievement. And sure, maybe your friends really do want to read the fascinating article you wrote about beet farming. But when almost EVERY update is a link to your blog, your poetry reading, your 10k results or your art show, you sound like a bragger or a self-centered careerist.

The Friend-Padder. The average Facebook user has 120 friends on the site. Schmoozers and social butterflies -- you know, the ones who make lifelong pals on the subway -- might reasonably have 300 or 400. But 1,000 "friends?" Unless you're George Clooney or just won the lottery, no one has that many. That's just showing off.

The Town Crier. "Michael Jackson is dead!!!" You heard it from me first! Me, and the 213,000 other people who all saw it on TMZ. These Matt Drudge wannabes are the reason many of us learn of breaking news not from TV or news sites but from online social networks. In their rush to trumpet the news, these people also spread rumors, half-truths and innuendo. No, Jeff Goldblum did not plunge to his death from a New Zealand cliff.

The TMIer. "Brad is heading to Walgreens to buy something for these pesky hemorrhoids." Boundaries of privacy and decorum don't seem to exist for these too-much-information updaters, who unabashedly offer up details about their sex lives, marital troubles and bodily functions. Thanks for sharing.

The Bad Grammarian. "So sad about Fara Fauset but Im so gladd its friday yippe". Yes, I know the punctuation rules are different in the digital world. And, no, no one likes a spelling-Nazi schoolmarm. But you sound like a moron.

The Sympathy-Baiter. "Barbara is feeling sad today." "Man, am I glad that's over." "Jim could really use some good news about now." Like anglers hunting for fish, these sad sacks cast out their hooks -- baited with vague tales of woe -- in the hopes of landing concerned responses. Genuine bad news is one thing, but these manipulative posts are just pleas for attention.

The Lurker. The Peeping Toms of Facebook, these voyeurs are too cautious, or maybe too lazy, to update their status or write on your wall. But once in a while, you'll be talking to them and they'll mention something you posted, so you know they're on your page, hiding in the shadows. It's just a little creepy.

The Crank. These curmudgeons, like the trolls who spew hate in blog comments, never met something they couldn't complain about. "Carl isn't really that impressed with idiots who don't realize how idiotic they are." [Actual status update.] Keep spreading the love.

The Paparazzo. Ever visit your Facebook page and discover that someone's posted a photo of you from last weekend's party -- a photo you didn't authorize and haven't even seen? You'd really rather not have to explain to your mom why you were leering like a drunken hyena and French-kissing a bottle of Jagermeister.

The Obscurist. "If not now then when?" "You'll see..." "Grist for the mill." "John is, small world." "Dave thought he was immune, but no. No, he is not." [Actual status updates, all.] Sorry, but you're not being mysterious -- just nonsensical.

The Chronic Inviter. "Support my cause. Sign my petition. Play Mafia Wars with me. Which 'Star Trek' character are you? Here are the 'Top 5 cars I have personally owned.' Here are '25 Things About Me.' Here's a drink. What drink are you? We're related! I took the 'What President Are You?' quiz and found out I'm Millard Fillmore! What president are you?"

You probably mean well, but stop. Just stop. I don't care what president I am -- can't we simply be friends? Now excuse me while I go post the link to this story on my Facebook page.

Full Story

SEARCH AUSTIN TEXAS HOMES

 

11 Comments on The 12 most annoying types of Facebookers

SEP
17
213,891 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Lee I totally agree with you about the Chronic Inviter- I really don't want to become a member of your mafia. And what president are you? Am I somebody else besides myself or something? Thanks for sharing. Great post.

1:45pm • #1
Outside Blog

Hi Lee,  very entertaining.  That's hysterical.  By the way, will be my facebook friend and join my cause?  (Tee-hee)

1:50pm • #2

The game people are getting on my nerves.  Farmville, Mafia Wars, Which disney character are you,  I just want to see what people saying.  I don't care if you just found a cow or are ready to harvest your corn!!  Too much crap to sort through!  Sorry, but I had a rant about this very thing last night.

2:09pm • #3
Outside Blog

I'm with Karen Let's clean out and round up all the loose cows, pigs, etc. and ship them to the market.

2:13pm • #4
SEP
21
1 Featured Post Outside Blog Hit Router

That was the funniest post I've read in a long time!  Very well written....and so true!  Thanks so much for sharing.  I think I'll post it on my Facebook page as well.

9:04pm • #5

Facebook is great.  These folks that are annoying you, you can always hide....

11:03pm • #6
SEP
23
179,577 Points Outside Blog

I've seen most of these folks and i just ignore them. Maybe they feel the same about me. You never know.

12:33pm • #7
SEP
27
218,344 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Les~ I have to admit your post was too funny.  I just ignore most of those updates.  Some of the updates I read are unbelievable! 

11:22am • #8
OCT
05

I knew it, I knew it.....I am not the only one who notices these annoying posts and invites. At one point I actually removed my facebook page in an attempt to dodge these pesky facebookers types....only to rejoin in a week and commit these facebook crimes as well!!!!

1:58pm • #9
OCT
23

Les:

Your blog post has placed the Facebook "Friend-Padder" tag on me. Unfortunately, my Facebook strategy for database growth and the Facebook "Friend" term can be seen by some in a negative light. This is proven by your blog post.

However, you make great points in this post. Furthermore, you have motivated me to write my own post in relation to Facebook "Friend-Padding".

Keep up the good writing!

9:24pm • #10
OCT
24
567,809 Points 95 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Very funny...and true.

I wish I had started differently.

But...now I am more selective.

Adding the lists has been a huge help.

8:52am • #11

Leave a response…



(optional)
What does the graphic say?
 
Relaxed_agent_photo Rainmaker_large

Les Sherman, ABR, CRS, CNE

Austin, TX

More about me…

Re/Max Austin Associates

Address: 3006 Bee Cave Rd. A-210, Austin, TX, 78746

Office Phone: (512) 328-8333 x 108

Cell Phone: (512) 947-8333

Email Me



Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find TX real estate agents and Austin real estate on ActiveRain.