Friendster

Lynn introduced me to Friendster over the weekend. It's the second time i've been invited by anyone, though i didn't give it much of a thought earlier, dismissing it as just another gimmicky fad..

Looking at it more carefully now, it does seem like it is actually a pretty good idea - a giant social-network helping users find dates and new friends by referring people to friends, or friends of friends, or friends of friends of friends, and so on... i guess it could technically go on forever! eventually, we are all linked up, even if only ultra-superficially.. the idea is, you can easily find someone who shares a similar interest and send them a message, and then hopefully end up knowing each other better. it's a way of linking up with long-lost friends as well.. the possibilities of this medium have yet to be fully exploited..

it has even spun off the new jargon: A friendster is not exactly a friend, but rather an online acquaintance about whom a lot is known, thanks to the degree of disclosure in their social resume, which, of course, may or may not be true.

it's an inevitable consequence of the growing web culture, no doubt..

i'm still a bit of a sceptic honestly, although i am someone who believes in the power of connecting with people..

reason is: although i'm technically linked up with some 860 people now (much less than the 250,000 acquaintances most people have, and one of the guys on my network looks suspiciously like a black NBA player.. :O) , only 3 are really my direct friends (cos i haven't sent out any invites other than a test one - so don't cry if you haven't received an invite from me.. i tend to procrastinate on stuff like this).. if you ask me how likely i am to contact the rest? umm... don't know... not likely i think.. especially since even the Giant Squid has got friendsters.. umm... actually, i wouldn't mind being the Giant Squid's friendster... haha... :p

nonetheless, check out Friendster's phenomenon growth

anyone wants to be my friendster? :p