Child-like

[pen_grunt]

So in trying out the friending meme on LJ I have some new friends. Which is awesome.

The friending meme protocol has been something like, "Hey, you sound interesting...want to give the friends thing a go?" "Yes! Hello New Friend!"

It reminds me of small children playing together--not in an insulting way, but in a simple, innocent way devoid of hangups and reservations. Hey, you and I both like coloring. Want to try being friends? YES!

It's a bit intimidating, to tell the truth. But also exhilarating.

And Live Journal, man. I can't think of another place where people actually become real friends; and frequently take the step of knowing about someone's personal life online to meeting in real life and becoming real friends.

It makes my heart swell like a big ol' cheeseball.

Comments

[llythefaerye.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, in clicking over to the hub of all the activity, I was quite surprised to find such an almost-timid approach to what is (in its own way, for such a now-somewhat-hidden-and-forgotten-in-the-grand-scheme-of-the-interwebs place) really a very forward, put-your-self-out-there activity!

I followed the formula for one comment (request) I left, but - probably because I am so (perhaps probably overly-) sensitive to the Midwestern Passive Aggression Thing - my knee-jerk aversion kicked in, and on another I basically just said, "Yep! Totally adding you . . . " (There was a bit more to it, but . . . ) I figure that if folks are posting their summaries & participating actively, then they're looking for possible connections (since that is, in fact, the point), and the whole "do you mind? couldja wouldja?" seems a bit redundant, albeit an attempt to be polite. Comment before adding - absolutely! Spend three extra rounds going back-and-forth asking if it's alright, since this person posted publicly looking for new connections, if I follow their journal (at which point I can of course only see what they grant permissions for anyway), and then waiting for a response, et cetera . . . I dunno, maybe it just seemed all-too-familiar, all things considered.

And, yes, you're spot on, too . . . I totally see little kids on the playground making friends. And that ain't all bad. *smile*

Also, for those (perhaps new-to-you?) folks who may not know / share your location and/or heritage . . . you should really explain the wonder that is the cheeseball in order to give it full effect. *GRIN*

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't remember the origin of the cheeseball reference!

[llythefaerye.livejournal.com]

I was simply meaning that we Scandehuvians really love our cheese and it occupies a place of great import in our lives. ;) Don't mess with the Cheeseball of All that is Good . . .

(Of course, I was taking your "cheeseball" to be of the type you see at holiday gatherings, not cheese puffs you buy in the junk food aisle . . . so I could be way off.)

[krissasaur]

That structure of friending meme's really stresses me out. Instead of just asking to add people, I have noticed I tend to avoid that topic and start a conversation, and just wait till they say it, or they add me first. It feels weird to just add people without a conversation first, though.

Anyway, it is really nice to meet you!! ♥♥ Hopefully we can become good friends, as well.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

It's a little weird for me too. I just sort of...jumped into it and figured that everyone was feeling equally awkward. :)

[decemberthirty.livejournal.com]

You know, I had never thought about the child-like nature of this method of striking up a friendship before, but it's really a spot-on way to describe it. And the corresponding hope, I suppose, is that if the friendships don't work out the participants can go their own ways as easily as two small children who are done playing together.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

It does seem more "no-strings-attached" than my usual method of slow journal stalkage, timid introduction, and then potentially realizing that it's not a good friend/journal fit (this hasn't happened yet).

I like it. I wonder why we stop doing it as adults.