I accept all requests but I remove them if there's nothing to talk about.

I quite like to know people a little bit before meeting them in the real world (that's probably also why I don't participate to events)

exactly the same as you Maria :)

It's funny that,isn't it,maria,those men who have never met or spoken to you but want to be your "friend".Basically,I just tell everyone I only add them as "friends "if I have actually met them.

I actually got into a longish email argument with a guy who hadn't even arrived here yet about why I refused to be "friends"

In the Facebook age,some people just don't get it!The word "friend" has another meaning for them,I suppose.

I don't send/accept a friend request to/from someone I haven't met.

But sometime ago I sent a "hello" message to a lady I met in one of those salsa for beginners lesson that take place once in a while. We danced a few times as normally one rotates and dance with different partners several times. We exchanged names, a few words and that was it.

She never replied. Not that I was expecting to ask her out, date her or anything like that but yes, I felt sort of disapointed about it. 

Yes,I'd be disappointed too.

Then again,you don't know what else was going on in her life at that time.Maybe she was hyper busy and rarely looked at her social emails(I know people like that)

There are many possible reasons why she never replied - not necessarily because she didn't want to know you.Just think of it as her loss!

As a general rule I dont accept friend requests until I have met them... and by meeting it's more than shaking hands at an event...it requires conversation...

I have on two or three occasions accepted a request with people I have exchanged emails with and where there is a high probability to meet in the near future : eg at a kids event etc... for ease of future contact.

In fact in the Glocals guidelines it does state "only accept friends with people you know"....

As with every social media site there are collectors of guys/gals for potential dating long and short term on here... each to their own. pretty easy to spot really if you use common sense..

As with life...even people you have met briefly in real life and appear perfectly normal can turn out to be bunny boilers or potential axe murderers online or as you get to know them... they get deleted quick sticks...

Like Charlie, I only accept friend requests from people I have met and interacted with. (I made one acception to this, I was highly intrigued by his banter and was in a risk taking mood.) 

I used to decline offers with a message explaining that I only accept requests from people I have met, but then I thought I read that after 3 refusals people are kicked off the site which I thought was very harsh (a fair percentage of the requests I felt were probably from non 'bunny boilers' or 'axe-murderers' but from people genuinely looking to broaden their social horizons) so now I just ignore them.  I feel rude doing this, but dont want them to be deleted because of me. (Maybe I read wrongly, happy to have the situation clarified).

Maybe you are exagerating a little bit, no?

I've made some AWSOME friends through random friend requests (that I have made or received) and some of those friendships lasts for more than 15 years!!! They are still from the time of the old mIRC (the youngest probably never heard about it).

And nowadays it's even easier to understand why: in a forum (like this one) we have a profile where we describe our tastes, hobbies, etc., so if someone who adds you as a friend has probably the same tastes and hobbies and you would probably get along!

And furthermore, why do people join a forum like this one if you don't want to meet people? What's the difference between beeing a "friend" before even seeing the person, or a "friend" after you have seen the person?

I know, you will say that after seeing and talking to the person you can be sure if you have the same tastes/hobbies and if you would get along...really? And does that mean also that the person you have just meet is better than the other one that had sent you a "friend request" and that you automatically assumed that he/she is a serial killer? I guess not...

So, come on people, don't take this so seriously and enjoy the Internet Era and tools like Facebook and Glocals (and so many more) to make new friends because I guess that's why you are ALL here.

With time you will just delete the ones you don't really like ("real" or "virtual") but the good friends will remain...

Peace

Good post, Maria.  For me it’s all about quality not quantity. 

There’s one member who has over 900 friends, only knows them by their glocals name and probably couldn’t ring any of them at 3am with a problem.  Friends are precious and should be valued, so where’s the value in that?

Unfortunately for some, glocals/faceache/twatter (et al) can be a “popularity contest” and because they’re lacking confidence or self-esteem in the “real” world, will accept anyone and everyone into their “virtual” friends network.

But on a lighter note, I never decline a friend’s request as I think it could be hurtful, in the same way I would never ignore someone who approached me in a bar.  Especially if their 3 "hits" get declined and they get removed from glocals - I would hate to be part of that happening to anyone.

To be fair, I don’t always hit the “accept” button either.  Obviously!!  I leave them in limbo for a while, until we have met socially or they have got to know me a little better, by which time they'll have removed their friend request, in any case. 

As for being declined myself?  Well, one of the joys of being famous, is that I don’t have that problem as I don’t send out requests.  People come to me and if, only IF there’s space in my network (which also famously stays around the 100 mark) then I let them in. 

There’s currently about 20 potential “friends” forming an orderly queue in my inbox.  Please be patient.

As I said at the start, it’s all about quality over quantity and appreciating the true value of friendship, (famous or not – darlings).

If we've been to the same activity then I accept friend requests. If the person is in another city and there is little to no chance of meeting them and there is no personal info visible then I ignore the request. 

I don't use this as a social platform so much as an activity information source. 

(don't tell the marketers I said that ;-))

Richard uses glocals for what its supposed to be!!

I prefer the old system of emails to friends or acquaintances plus I do not want to be advised all the time about what 'friends' are doing. True I miss out on some things but my social life is too full anyway.

I receive friends requests from time to time, usually from people I know well or ones with whom there has been some interaction on the forums.  I always decline with a message which in my case is quite straightforward, stating that it is nothing personal but I just do not accept firends on glocals.

As I do not request frienships I will not be stressed out by being number 7 on a wait list because that person wants no new friends - I find it hard to imagine a situation where you limit yor friends to a specific number.

I must have missed something somewhere. What is your claim to fame?

Interesting comments and perspectives. As for me , i only accept requests from people who i have personally met, and from those with whom ive had some kind of interaction on here.

Glocals is a very useful and  informative platform, but I also view it as a social network.

As an event organisor, I do get frequent requests from those who have attended my events, and i take each request on its own merit. Some are accepted , some are refused.

I dont often make personal requests, but those I do , are to people who share the same values as myself, or to those who i think we could be good friends. I think around 95% of those on my freinds list , i have personally met, on more than one occasion. If there are bunny boilers or axe murderers on Glocals Ive never met one, yet, could be quite intriguing though :)

Karl, may I be your friend?... I like your posts

Dear Izzy, please apply through the normal channels, where your application will be strictly vetted, according to my exacting guidlines on accepting freindships from unknown persons. This procedure takes approximately 14 days, after which you will be subjected to a personal interview which takes about 30 seconds. The interview can take place at a place of your choice.

If you are eventually accepted, then freindship for life guidlines apply. If you are declined, then i wish you much joy and happiness finding new freinds elsewhere. 

This really cracks me up!!! Thanks Karl, I will follow the normal process!

Only 30 seconds, Karl?  I wouldn't advertise...  ^_^

the 30 seconds is actually 10 x longer than the usual 3 seconds it takes to decide if you like someone or not ... , get your durty mind out of the gutter richard.... :) this was an extremely serious response to someone who desperately needs a freind :-P 

*Ahem* - Izzie doesn't "need" any more friends..... she has moi 

Geez... this is so disappointing!!!

Disclaimer: I cannot be held responsible for who takes this seriously and has no sense of humour...

Better to meet them first...pictures can be so misleading....

I can't believe I trusted you with my old school photo, Charlie.....

the years have indeed been good to you then Caro

Well, when you're as rich and famous as I am, you can have access to some VERY good orthodontists, plastic surgeons, laser treatments and hair weaves.  

I'll send you my address book, dahling.

 A Picture speaks a 1000 words.... :) 

Your only dissapointed, because i havent responded yet... sorry ive been busy dealing with freinds requests... :) 

Dear Izzy, thanks to your mail, i have been inundated with freindship requests!!

So i shall retain the right to accept or decline freindship requests based on the following... 

Racial discrimination........ I choose who my freinds will be, no matter what colour , race or creed you are .... 

Facial Discrimination... I choose my freinds no matter what your face looks like.., or how other people see you. HOw i see you is what matters.

Textual relationships.... are not accepted unles part of being a more meaningful relationship.

Whatsapptual relationships .... see above

any accepted freinds relationships will be outed publicly at my discretion.

any declined relationships will be discreetly held in confidence.

Applications from bunny boilers or Axe murders are treated equally, and subject to the level of interest you can provide.

Applications from males or females will be treated equally...

i retain the right to change my mind at any time about our freindship 

@Karl .. your posts are truly Monthy Piton-quality .... makes me always grin and chuckle stupidly at office making my assistants worry for my sanity

Ever considered changing sex? I would marry u in an evening of bilge drinking

This was Caroline ... OMG shock horror... ... holds my hand to my mouth in stunned amazement... 

@ swisskiss

"facepalm"

NOW look what youve gone and done IZZY .... 

I know.. had bad role models  

SwissK..I think its more a case of your drinking "bilge"  (which technically  is the water thats left in the bottom of boats)... its often very old and stale and obviously poisonous... 

next time try alcohol .... at least on a alcohol  "binge" drinking session you're more likely to hit on women...

Strange, that reminds me of something...mmm.. what can it be...?

Funny you talk of change of sex... I first thought the poster named "swisskiss" was a woman... It was a great idea to add a pic to your profile

Mind you, at some point I also wondered if you could be Keith P!

I don't understand sending friend requests to strangers on glocals. You get enough rejection in person so why get more frequent ones from people you don't even know have appeal in the first place. 

I'm only commenting to remove e-mail notification... flooded inbox. 

Oh I know what it reminds of...

Before I sign any contract to become your friend... I want to know if you have a red room of pain..

If you require a red room of pain, then i shall provide one for you 

Breshna anyone who takes that amount of holiday luggage deserves millions of friends. Love it!

This is NOT an excuse 

Lynn, thats not a holiday baggage but its moving baggage :) you can see only half in the photo above. We had 17 suitcases and several handbags, we moved to mexico for a year and now back in geneva. And Wife (aka Breshna) accept my friend request please ;) 

Usually I do not like to offend anyone, so accept the request. However, I am a man, therefore never overwhelmed with such requests.

I don´t accept most of them just because having one night interesting conversation in virtual world won´t lead us having one night a glass of vin. 

Perhaps you are right. But who knows.

I don't use the 'friends' version on Glocals, but I only accept friend/connection request if I know someone personally. For my personal networks (e.g Facebook) I also need to like the person. For my professional networks (e.g. LinkedIn) the person must have some use for me. I've always thought that in networking quality is more important than quantity. 

I've had a few too-good-to-be-true friend requests on (Glocals, Skype and Facebook) in the past. Gorgeous women from Easter Europe are apparently eager to meet me. But I normally just ignore the request. 

hahahahah, I mean damn now I know why I was ignored... too gorgeous for you!

Rui,

Your's is a briliant statement to those they call "Vanha Akka" in Finland, or "Late Hours" in Nigeria. While they constantly delete and ignore the nice guys (nice guy they say, is forgatable - by their standard), they continue sleeping with the devils repeatedly, until their hairs start dropping off from its place.

Get simple, and life will be simple for you

I also say peace. Bola

correction not vanha akka but Vanha- Aika :) cheers!

Hey Caro,

You forgot immortalizing yourself inside a laser glass cube, ever seen one? Your plastic surgery will never waver for 100 years to come... 

On a serious note, the laser glass cube immortalization is real, ask me about it...

Cheers! Bola

Edward, sorry that is crap.

I was called to work in Switzerland through an invite on LinkedIn. I did not know the head-hunter until I have accepted him (an English guy) - meanwhile I have reservation for English people for the caos their grand-parents created in Nigeria. Still, I can confidently say it was a good thing to have accepted his invite even though he was a stranger.

Mind you, having reservation for English people doesn't translate to disliking them. One of my best pal here in Zurich is English. And, I have lived here for about 3 years without learning/speaking German, but English.

Regards, Bola

My dear Merike,

Please ask a Finnish friend for a translation of that slang. You can also try the google translator. "Vanha-aika" = Old time. "Vanha Akka" = .... please do the translation yourself. ;)

I hope you are not one though... and not a Late Hour too 

Cheers! Bola

wow... this is a long post!...
 

Well reka, if you have to ask...

Havent had a random "shag me senseless" PM or friends invitation request in 24 hrs.... whats going on...????

Swisskiss must be away ... 

I'm not sure how my personal approach to social networks can be called 'crap', but you illustrate very well why I don't accept people in my network I don't like. 

That sounds harsher than I meant it now that I reread it. I don't know Bola and have no reason to dislike him. 

It doesn't happen often, but I've had a 2-3 personal messages from gorgeous women, who seem to be new Glocals members. I'd take it as flattery if, as I said, it wasn't 'too good to be true'. 

Yeah I'm happily married to a Russian girl. Not from a mailing list.

Not sure why you get interest from these countries specifically. Men from the 4 countries you mention don't really have much in common. Maybe they're all the same guy trying different tactics.

I've never seriously used LinkedIn. Maybe it's my loss. But I've also never heard of people finding jobs through it in my area (academia). 

Normally if people try to connect with me (in any way) I try to meet with them quickly to see if we can help eachother somehow. But I don't connect with someone if I see no immediate reason to.

ive had a request to meet via linked in... not sure if she had business in mind when she wrote... but it didnt turn out that way...

Same here. "Lets meet when your husband is away. Wink wink"

Well i have to give credit to the guy. He actually read the whole profile!

yep...

oh my... Reka and Maria, I got the same guy in chat 2 hrs ago ...

I was not out to pick a bone with you, Edward. I just wanted to point out that life is simple when you play it simple. You never will know how those people you reject or cautious of, could be part or one of your pathfinders in life... Its just my way. As we say back home - "me thinkin sayin" = Just my own opinion.

Cheers! Bola