I found this rather uncanny similarity between mobile profiles and the relationships we maintain with our Facebook friends… especially if we're talking about Facebook accounts with 400 or 500+ friends…like mine, for instance :-D he he!
· General
This is the most common way we maintain relationships. You notice a recent profile update and you go on the fellow's wall and post "Hey there, dude/babe! Whassup? Long tym!" and then the guy/girl replies with their most civil reply. And then you don't give a damn if you don't keep in touch with each other for the next six months! This is something like exchanging pleasantries. A social obligation of sorts.
· Silent
There may be people on your buddy list that you are not really comfortable with but can't remove from your friends' list either. This usually happens with family and extended relations and of course a few 'friends'. People you are sure to run into often or at some point every now and then. If they are removed, you will be in a terribly embarrassing situation the next time you meet. Further explanation not necessary, I assume. It is with such people that we maintain a 'silent' approach. Pretend that we do not see their status updates and take care never to tag them or comment on their photographs, no matter how tempted we may be.
· Loud / Outdoor
This is how you are with your closest chums. Daily 'walling', daily commenting on photographs, tagging, messaging, chatting, offline friendships, and so on. These are the people who are the reason you are actually on Facebook in the first place or people who share exactly the same wavelength and/or interests as you do.
· Discreet / Meeting
This is a very specific and rare way of keeping relationships, usually seen when one or both parties have (usually) romantic or some other motive behind keeping the relationship under wraps. In this type, there is meagre or literally no public communication. No posting on walls and no tagging. Messaging and chatting happens almost everyday but everything is done in private. We don't want to give ideas to prying eyes on our buddy lists do we? ;-)
· My Style / Custom
This is usually with one or two people on your buddy list with whom you have to apply one of the above four at different times…depending on the situation, your mindsets at the time, etc. This is usually with people you are exceptionally close with… a spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend, a sibling or a best friend.
