Please forgive me. After 3+ years on Facebook and being added by all sorts of people just looking to sell me something, recruit me, evangelize me, convert me, marry me (I am, apparently, very popular in the Phillipines) or otherwise solicit me, I am reticent to confirm all friend requests. 

I'll generally accept any connection where there is common ground. They could be in the real estate industry, fellow parent at my childrens'school, or a dozen other legit connections. That's the sort of healthy engagement that makes the platform so worthwhile. 

But what I have to object to is the person who adds me with the following characteristics:

  • Their privacy settings are so locked down that I can't find out a thing about them.
  • They have one profile photo, and it is their logo. By the way, to anyone who has a Facebook profile with 26 sunsets and 42 flower arrangements, but no actual rendering of yourself: that is creepy. Seriously. 
  • The most information they have on their profile is their "elevator speech." Oh, really, you transform paradigms and cultivate synergy to cause breakthroughs?  I sell houses. 
  • Their wall is a spammy perpetual TOS violation pimping their business.
So I'll make a deal with anyone who adds me on Facebook: You introduce yourself, and I won't have you in queue for perpetuity. If you are so spooked about privacy that you don't want to change your Fort Knox settings to any non friend, take 30 seconds and send a message. Clue me in. Throw me a bone. 
 
At this point Facebook is not a new phenomenon and this stuff shouldn't be a big shock. Tell me who you are. That is known as an "introduction."
 
Does that seem fair? 
 
 


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76 Comments on A Modest Facebook Proposal

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

AUG
19
942,152 Points 94 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

You much know folks who are much more private than I do. I have not had that happen very often.

7:41pm • #58
763,111 Points 107 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Phil, I'm with you. I don't understand when people use photos of someone other than themselves. Photos or dog, cats and flowers always make me wonder about these people.

8:35pm • #59
1,352,557 Points 42 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

J. Philip - There are a lot of people I've ignored of FB because I have no idea who they might be.

10:02pm • #60
648,311 Points 63 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I get a lot of people wanting to "friend" me. Now days I have to have some idea of who they are.   What really makes me annoyed though are people who do that on Linked In.  Linked In is NOT FB and you need to know who you are linking up with. 

10:21pm • #61
488,382 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Another great blog Phil, I agree that getting friend requests from somebody you don't know to begin with and then when you spend the time to try to find out who they might be is trying to solve a puzzle is very annoying. 

10:26pm • #62
AUG
20
1,951,758 Points 478 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I am most annoyed by entities who contact me with proposals, products, requests for connection, etc., where there is no easy unsubscribe. 

Since I never subscribed, I'm annoyed that I must "unsubscribe" to end the annoyances. 

I can find anything I want on Google.  Why must I constantly fight the "something you may be interested in" garbage. 

 

3:04am • #63
730,964 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Phil, I totally agree! One of the many reasons why I don't bother with Facebook.

3:31am • #64
285,397 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Phil, absolutely fair.  Early on I was doing much like you - just accepting any and all...then the chat boxes would open with a person just wanting to say "hi" or "what are you doing".  Obviously I would pull up their profile only to find there was not much to go on.  After two such exchanges, I found those two and their mutual friends, some legit and some not.  Those not were purged and blocked.

Now, if I get a friend request I actually do the requisite research before accepting a request.  I probably have as many blocks as I do friends!

5:25am • #65

Hi Phil, have you ever thought of setting up a Facebook page instead of a profile?  It reduces the amount of time as you do not have to deal with the whole friend request information and you can you have them "like you".  This saves a lot of time with management of page.  This makes it so it doesn't mattter how many people like you in terms of time management - really isn't the more people you can get your message out to the better?  Also once you can 25 likes, you can name your page.  If you are able to put your name and real estate or any other good keywords, it can help with SEO.

Does anyone use Google+ and like it better?

5:30am • #66
985,530 Points 106 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Adam has a good idea. I recently set up a business page on Facebook and I don't know what took me so long to do it. Probably because I spend zero time on Facebook. I sign on to my page and ask myself: who are all these people, what are they doing on my page and why in the world do I care?

5:59am • #67
373,542 Points 24 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Phil... I recently was requested to be friends with someone I thought I knew.. and now I am having difficulty in getting rid of him.. Good to be a bit cautious.... at least some info.. as you put it.. "throw me a bone" to let you know the connection. I do have a few that have been hanging out forever.. and no i don't want them... kind of creepy.. 

the philippines.. You would fit in perfectly!

6:02am • #68
879,132 Points 48 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

It doesn't bother me at all what you have as your profile picture. It's your page, do what you want to do. ☺ 

7:46am • #69
179,436 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog

What are privacy settings? LOL In many ways, Facebook is morphing into MySpace with people adding people just to add people.

8:56am • #70
397,391 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

J. Phillip, I like your commnitment to Vets.  I have recently had some VA clients.  I hope more agents do good for them.  They seem to be the most grateful clients I've had.

9:03am • #71
229,764 Points 1 Featured Post Called Shot Master

I have a different approach to FB. If I haven't shared a meal or a beer with you, we're not friends.

9:13am • #72
182,097 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I get those all time and I consider them spam, hit delete and I'm done with them.  As a side note I had to turn off the comments on my wordpress blog because of the spam links going into my blog/website.  Some came from ActiveRain the spammers have no morals. If your getting request on facebook, comments on activerain, your outside blog and anywhere else, it's best to report if possible and delete the comment or request. My two cents. 

10:12am • #73
479,117 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I am on your page. . . if I get a friend request and don't know them and can't find anything about them because their page is blocked, I don't accept their friendship.  I like Michael's thought of SPAM consideration.  :)

2:42pm • #74
715,735 Points 69 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Phil - It is so interesting to see the comments on this thread.  I only accept FB friends where I recognize the name and can figure out who they are - AR, community, local Realtors, etc.  I sold a house via Facebook last summer to someone who I only knew through their visits to Open Houses, so I know the commercial value of FB.  It is part of my social media strategy.

5:31pm • #75
AUG
21
198,920 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor

Hi Phil-

But I thought you liked my "elevator speech"...and I was "standing up" !!!   ;-)

7:16am • #76
SEP
07
101,963 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Sunsets and Flowers.  I almost spit oout my coffee from that!  They are nuts.  Anyway, I follow the rule similar to yours, connect with those you know on Facebook (or have some common vibe as you mentioned) and connect with eveyone one LinkedIn.  Networking through LI seems to go much deeper and you never know who knows who.  Thanks for the FB wake up call.

4:53am • #77

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J Philip Faranda, Broker-Owner

Briarcliff Manor, NY

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J. Philip Faranda (J. Philip R.E. LLC) Westchester County NY

Address: 522 North State Road , Suite 100, Briarcliff Manor, NY, 10510

Office Phone: (914) 762-2500

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Phil Faranda is broker and owner of J. Philip Real Estate LLC in Briarcliff Manor, NY. Since founding the firm as a sole practitioner in late 2005, the team has grown to over 30 agents & closed 350+ transactions valued at $140 million. He is in his 4th term as Vice President of the HGMLS. This blog commentary is geared toward consumers and industry colleagues alike. You can reach him at (914) 723-8900.
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