friends

I am not a "Web 2.0 cynic" (as Prof Ian Bogost describes himself), but even I chafe at the idea of "friends," a term used way too loosely and coercively.   Here are some of my views and then a reblog and a link to Ian's very compelling discussion of the difference between being a "friend" on social networking sites such as "Friendster" or "Facebook" and being (let's face it!) a "LinkedIn" contact.