Jason English
When Do You Un-Friend Someone?
by Jason English - September 3, 2010 - 12:49 PM
bloghead_fridayhappyhour1.gif

Every Friday, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

1. I’ve just been told it’s Delete-A-Friend Week (on Facebook). When do you decide to give someone the boot? Have you ever been confronted by that person later, either online or in person?

2. I’m working on a new regular feature called Three Books I Loved as a Child, where famous (or interesting) people will write about…well, you can probably figure it out from the title. Who should we (try to) get to contribute?

3. Last week we talked about companies we’re boycotting. Reader Christi had a good idea for a follow-up: to which companies have you pledged your lifetime loyalty?

4. I’m going to be going away for a while after my wife gives birth (due date: September 14th). While I’m gone, I’d love to use some of your questions to keep our Friday Happy Hour fun going. So leave a question and I’ll use some of the best in the coming weeks. Thanks guys!

[See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]

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Comments (104)

  1. 3. Barnes and Noble. They sell books, AND music, AND movies, AND board games. And most of them have a Starbucks inside, so I can eat chocolate there too. It’s like Nirvana.

    posted by Amy on 9-3-2010 at 12:55 pm

  2. 1. I un-friended a childhood friend who changed her status literally every five minutes, and almost everything she said was negative. She would go on long rants about family and friends – stuff she should have been discussing with her therapist instead of putting out there for everyone to read. I have no idea how she reacted to me un-friending her, but I’m sure she complained, since that’s all she ever did!

    2. David Sedaris.

    3. I’ve always had good experiences with Bed, Bath & Beyond – and their employees are always nice.

    4. What’s the weirdest thing your boss has asked you to do?

    (And congratulations!)

    posted by Jenn on 9-3-2010 at 12:57 pm

  3. My nephew is also due on September 14th. Congratulations!

    posted by Jo on 9-3-2010 at 1:02 pm

  4. 1. I used to un-friend people I rarely interacted with or whose status updates where always negative or sympathy-seeking, but they would usually request to be my friend again. Now I just hide them.

    2. Harper Lee

    3. A small shop in my hometown called The Silver Mesa–best customer service ever.

    4: Describe your recurring dreams/nightmares.

    posted by CPete on 9-3-2010 at 1:06 pm

  5. 1. I just un-friended several people fairly abruptly. Part of me regrets it but most of me doesn’t…they’re friends of my boyfriend and since we started dating we’ve noticed that they’re not inviting him (or other friends that are now part of couples) to any of their activities and are blowing off our invites. Common comment: “The kegerator’s still in storage, right? Call us when you get it moved back in.” A few nights ago one of them posted a passive-aggressive status update clearly in response to something I’d said and two of his friends “liked” it…and I un-friended them all. Heck with ‘em. Life’s too short. :)

    posted by Alice on 9-3-2010 at 1:08 pm

  6. 1. Haven’t un-friended, but I’ve un-followed lots of people so they no longer show up in my feed. Mostly people with opposing political/religious views. Some of the ignorant comments I just can’t not comment on, so I’m forced to ignore them rather than waste half a day every day engaging in a winless debate.

    2.Charles Manson. Seriously, I think that would be quite interesting.

    3. Hormel. The were one of the first brands with the guts to put ‘gluten free’ on their items. It’s gotten trendy now, but they were doing it back in the dark ages.

    4. What childhood treasure did a family member/spouse accidentally lose/throw out?

    posted by EV on 9-3-2010 at 1:10 pm

  7. BTW — congrats, Jason. The second is where the fun begins!

    posted by EV on 9-3-2010 at 1:12 pm

  8. 1. It’s hard to delete the people that I have developed strong feelings (good or bad) about, since that makes them, well, interesting! I’ve got to wait until the apathy kicks in. Mosquito-type annoyances will get you the boot, though. And “statuses” that are really proselytizing.

    2. Allie of Hyperbole and a Half; John Cleese

    (I second Sedaris!)

    3. Chaucer’s bookstore in Santa Barbara, California. Not just for being a great spot but for plain old surviving.

    4. What music would be on the soundtrack of the movie of your life? What music would you want played at your funeral? Who has an unusual wedding or “love” song in their life?

    posted by Mary on 9-3-2010 at 1:12 pm

  9. I hope this isn’t the most stupid question suggestion anyone’s ever seen, but maybe…What’s the weirdest/most nonsensical marketing piece you’ve ever seen? Inspired by my employer’s Davidoff Cool Water (perfume) ping pong paddle…lol

    posted by Rachel on 9-3-2010 at 1:16 pm

  10. 1. I have unfriended. When asked (by one of many that I deleted), I explained that I was limiting it to close friends and family. They were okay with that. I guess.

    2. Dr. Seuss… of course.

    3. Chik-fil-a. I love that Truett Cathy has his belief that his employees should have Sunday to spend with their families and sticks to it, no matter how much pressure he gets to be open on Sunday.

    posted by Hyacinth on 9-3-2010 at 1:16 pm

  11. 1) Today, I unfriended my bff’s ex who posted a bunch of pictures of himself with his new 19 year old girlfriend that he left her for.

    2)Teller, of Penn & Teller, of course!

    3)Amazon.com after I bought a prime membership. I’m getting tons of groceries delivered FREE with 2-day delivery! Staying out of the grocery store…priceless and well worth the cost of the membership!

    4) What’s your favorite comfort food that you are pretty sure no one else eats? Mine is out of the box macaroni and cheese with salsa mixed in. :)

    posted by jlditton on 9-3-2010 at 1:20 pm

  12. 1. I friended a ton of people after my 20 year reunion. I un-friended about 50 of them a year later. I figured that once I was caught up with everyone’s life status, I didn’t need to hear about their day to day crap.

    2. Mo Willems

    3. Randazzos, a local market in SE Michigan. Great customer service. They were once out of a particular brand of wine I was looking for, so the wine mgr met me at the checkout and gave me a bottle of another brand to try, on the house!

    4. If you could be any age a second time around, what age would you pick?

    posted by kmk on 9-3-2010 at 1:30 pm

  13. EV: I do that too. I felt bad about it at first, thinking that I should be strong enough in my beliefs that seeing opposing viewpoints don’t matter. It was later I realized they don’t, and what they were posting was usually ignorant ramblings intentionally meant to bother those of us that didn’t agree, so to start an unwinnable argument (I was actually told such by one of these folks). I didn’t need the annoyance.

    posted by ovaryacting on 9-3-2010 at 1:30 pm

  14. 1. I unfriend people that I don’t really know or people from childhood/high school/college that I don’t talk to and am unlikely to talk to again. They are probably people that I’d hidden in my feed for a substantial amount of time and haven’t talked to for longer. I haven’t gotten the nerve to unfriend a bunch of people from a social circle I’m no longer in because I do still talk to a few people in it and they may say something.

    4. What fictional character would you want to solve your murder?

    posted by Marial on 9-3-2010 at 1:34 pm

  15. 2. Christopher Walken

    posted by Jan on 9-3-2010 at 1:37 pm

  16. 1. I don’t do Facebook

    2. I’d say Douglas Adams, but that’s kind of impossible now, so I’ll go with my current favourite funny writer, Christopher Moore.

    3. Mostly local businesses, or ones that started locally (like Mountain Equipment Co-op). Otherwise, I’ll shop anywhere as long as there’s nothing to boycott them for (I’m looking at you, Wal-Mart!).

    4. What semi-obscure book would you love to see made into a movie?

    Oh, and congratulations on your upcoming addition! My daughter will be 5 on September 14 (not that your baby is likely to be born on the due date anyway…).

    posted by Jon. on 9-3-2010 at 1:38 pm

  17. 1. I have unfriended someone when they fired me! Seriously, I was facebook friends with my boss. Then, he had his boss fire me (so he didn’t even do the dirty work himeself). After a couple more days of seeing pictures he posted in my feed, I had enough. I’m not big into facebook though

    posted by dmg on 9-3-2010 at 1:40 pm

  18. 1) I un-friend people who I haven’t talked to in a long time and I don’t have a history with- for example classmates in college who I only took one class with

    3)Mountain Dew/Pepsi- what can i say, I love mountain dew!
    and Nike because they are the only ones that make shoes that last for a long time when I wear them (I tend to abuse my shoes so I go through a lot of shoes)

    4) What is the most interesting conversation you have overheard?

    posted by Suz on 9-3-2010 at 1:43 pm

  19. 3. Calphalon. Their cookware is not cheap, but once you have what you want you will never have to buy pots and pans again. Ever. That stuff is practically indestructible, and if you do somehow manage to ruin one of their pans (I did) you can send it back and they will ship you a shiny new one.

    posted by Meredith on 9-3-2010 at 1:46 pm

  20. 1. I have unfriended people a couple of times on Facebook, both in instances where I added them almost automatically when the request came in before I realized that I really didn’t know them. Neither time did I hear anything about it.

    2. Sean Connery

    3. Before I cut the cord on my home telephone and went strictly with a cell phone, I had sworn allegiance to AT%T for long distance service (and local where available). Their customer service was always great, and even if I could beat their price, the difference was worth staying with them.

    4. “If you were facing a hurricane, flood or some other disaster, and only had time to save one item from your home, what would it be?” – This seems to be a good one with hurricane Earl hitting the east coast right now.

    posted by Gordon Daily on 9-3-2010 at 1:48 pm

  21. 1. I don’t do the social networking thing, so this never happened to me
    2. Stephen King, President Obama and Andy Rooney
    3. None—because they will all sell-out or turn eventually. Even the mighty Apple is starting to show its bad side with all the DRM, etc.
    4. What is the longest distance you ever drove in the continental United States, not using the Interstate Highways and why?

    posted by Wayne on 9-3-2010 at 1:48 pm

  22. I unfriended every single person that could be connected back to my work. It was very liberating.

    posted by motorkitty on 9-3-2010 at 1:49 pm

  23. 1. I’ve been unfriended a couple of times but never done the deed myself — I’m not really all that into Facebook to begin with.

    2. Eddie Izzard, the cast of the Office, Neil Gaiman, Stephen Colbert, anybody really, it’d be especially interesting to look at celebs that we don’t really think of as readers…

    3. I buy the magazines I read every day at breakfast from either KW Bookstore or Wordsworth — independent local stores with great selection.

    4. When do you find yourself yelling at the TV? Would your career change if you were the other gender? What would it be? (The second two are inspired by a Family Feud question: “We asked 100 men what career they would have if they were women.”)

    posted by Becky on 9-3-2010 at 1:50 pm

  24. 1. When I get daily Farmville/Mafia Wars/Bejeweled updates and invites from someone, they’re usually history pretty quick. It takes one extra mouse click to hit the “skip posting this update” when you’re done with your stupid game!

    2. Beverly Cleary

    3. I agree with Hyacinth, gotta be Chik-Fil-A. And Hobby Lobby, for the same reason. Employers giving major retail store employees Sundays off for church/family time/football/whatever is A+ in my book.

    4. Everybody has that one scar somewhere on their body that comes with a cool story. Either you did something dangerous, something happened by accident, or you were doing something dumb. What’s your best scar story?

    posted by NukeGuy on 9-3-2010 at 1:51 pm

  25. 1) I’ve so infrequently on Facebook that I just don’t care anymore. Generally I only friend people in the first place if there’s good reason to. I ignore a lot of requests.

    2) The Mythbusters. Between the five of them I’m sure there’s bound to be some very eccentric choices.

    3) I’ll second Jon’s assertion of Mountain Equipment Co-Op. Not only do they have wonderfully useful products, their customer service is awesome. I have also had excellent customer service from Apple on a few occasions. Oh, and Lee Valley Tools as well.

    posted by Bert on 9-3-2010 at 1:51 pm

  26. 1) I never unfriended, but I have refused to become friends. My boss wants to be my friend, but I know that she’d use info against me if she ever felt the want.

    2) Tim Burton

    3) Amazon.com – I ordered an MP3 album that I already owned, they refunded my money right away without complaint. Plus I’ve always gotten items quickly, usually with free shipping.
    Our local Walden Books until they closed. We knew all the employees just from shopping there, to the extent that they knew we could find what we looking for and left us alone til we. Unfortunately they closed

    4)Favorite horror movie monster or villain?

    posted by hockeyzombie on 9-3-2010 at 1:58 pm

  27. 1. I generally do not un-friend anyone, mainly due to the fact that despite having Facebook since it first started, I am not really that active. Most of my friends were the girls that I met in class anyway… I have been un-friended once in a while, but it was by people that I have only met once, so it was no big deal.

    2. FREEMAN DYSON; a brilliant, creative, responsible yet humble person. It makes me sad he has never won the Nobel Prize. Look him up everyone!

    3. I am with jlditton, on that I absolutley adore Amazon.com and all things by Mr. Bezos. I started back @ Grad school a short time ago, and I have not even been to my local bookstore for ANYTHING. Amazon is just too good, reliable and cost-effective. I love Prime too, and I will not buy any item unless it it covered by it.

    posted by Kirkland on 9-3-2010 at 2:00 pm

  28. Response to three:

    3) REI – http://www.rei.com

    posted by Jeremy on 9-3-2010 at 2:03 pm

  29. 1) If I’ve never talked to them since I friended them, if their posts become offensive, or if all they post is Farmville or other game-related things.

    3) Lush and Body Shop. I absolutely love the scents of most of their products, and I am glad that they don’t test on animals.

    posted by Erica on 9-3-2010 at 2:08 pm

  30. 1. I unfriended someone with whom I disagreed politically, but not for that reason. I unfriended her because she was posting hateful and hurtful messages about people of my political persuasion, and it was just too negative. I also had someone unfriend me, but not my mother or my sister. That was awkward.

    2. Sarah Vowell, I’d love to hear how her interest in American History got started.

    3. LL Bean, their return policy is great, their stuff lasts forever and although I don’t usually like their clothes, they have good options for travel and camping.

    posted by Nicole on 9-3-2010 at 2:13 pm

  31. 2. John Green, Scott Westerfeld, Brockaway from Cracked.com
    3. it`s not really a company, but they`res this fantasic thai restaurant in Vancouver called Baan Wasana. I go there around once a week
    4. what is your biggest fashion regret, and why

    posted by Genevieve on 9-3-2010 at 2:13 pm

  32. 1. Delete friends when they die or when you die…whichever comes first.

    2. You should get Duff Goldman, Paul O’Neill, Gene Simmons, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and Dee Snyder.

    3. I am loyal to Wagner’s IGA, one of our local grocery stores.

    4. What is the one song that you love, but would never tell anyone that you listen to?

    posted by Rob Young on 9-3-2010 at 2:25 pm

  33. Congratulations by the way!!! :)

    posted by Rob Young on 9-3-2010 at 2:25 pm

  34. Apparently, I can’t read. Dr. Seuss is sadly no longer with us. So I will amend that comment to… Dane Cook.

    posted by Hyacinth on 9-3-2010 at 2:25 pm

  35. 1. It sounds cold but I un-friend-ed my grandmother after she friend requested me and had a COMPLETELY inactive profile for 8 months. I figured she just couldn’t figure it out or wasn’t into it. However it appears she did go on but was just a lurker. The next day she had posted on mutual family members walls that I was on a “rampage” and “cutting people off from my life”. A bit odd, yes. But it did bring the LOLs. It’s just a web game after all. :P

    posted by Sarah on 9-3-2010 at 2:28 pm

  36. 2.jon stewart
    3.TiVo-best DVR ever
    4.What’s the most interesting way you got a bunch of other people to do your work for you?

    posted by joe on 9-3-2010 at 2:28 pm

  37. #2 – Agree with Neil Gaiman, would add Neal Stephenson and William Gibson.

    posted by Anne on 9-3-2010 at 2:28 pm

  38. 1. I haven’t unfriended anyone yet, and don’t plan to. I’ve only hidden one person, who made status updates of no substance or interest to me (“Going to starbucks, then hanging out with my girlfriend!”).

    I’m actually glad that, as far as I can see, nobody has unfriended me. Lately I’ve been really political, which may offend some people. I think everybody on the other side of the aisle just hid me.

    2. How about politicians? Obama and his cabinet might be aiming a little high, but famous senators and governors might be cool.

    3. I’ve yet to get too angry at most restaurants, food makers, NetFlix or the local library. Oh, and mental_floss.

    4. I could come up with a lot. Here’s three:
    What foodstuff do you find most people love, but you can’t stand?
    Have you ever had an idea for something, then found somebody else had done it?
    How have you used mental_floss in your life to impress people?

    posted by Sillstaw on 9-3-2010 at 2:30 pm

  39. 3. Ooh! Also Stephen Fry, please!

    posted by Mary on 9-3-2010 at 2:34 pm

  40. 1. When I started getting messages from all my gal pals asking why I told a guy friend of mine it was “Ok to contact them for the sole purpose of finding a wife”. Yes a guy who I thought was a friend (and knew personally) had decided it was perfectly OK to troll through my friends group and message any hot chick he wanted because he was friends with me. BUT He wasn’t asking or talking to me about it, but was telling the girls I said he could go ahead. I unfriended him. How sick.

    2. Posthumously: Shel Silverstein

    3. Many mom and pop pizza shops, and any and all mom and pop music stores!

    4. Have you ever been mistaken for someone else with funny or disastrous results? (Famous or not)

    posted by MetalRose on 9-3-2010 at 2:37 pm

  41. 1. The only person I ever un-friended on FB was the college classmate that drunk-posted asking me to sleep with him… detailing all the “services” he offered… I saved the post for laughs but deleted him from my friend list.

    2. All my favorite childhood authors are dead: P.L Travers, L.M. Montgomery, the Pippi Longstocking series lady… Laura Ingalls Wilder…

    3. Johnson and Johnson… I just love all of their baby products! And I always buy Pond’s Cold Cream, because my grandmother and great-grandmother used it and it just seems like a family tradition… :D

    4. What’s your most embarassing vacation story?
    What’s your most entertaining vacation story?
    What’s your favorite blog and why?

    posted by Heather on 9-3-2010 at 2:38 pm

  42. 1. I defriend people when they attempt to harass me or my IRL friends. This happens more often than it should. I went to a tiny liberal arts college with extra emphasis on the “liberal,” and I ended up friending a few recreational outrage addicts who read sexism, racism, and classism into everything. I’m a lefty too, but I can’t stand that kind of humorless and cruel behavior.

    2. Steve Wozniak, if you haven’t already. He’s the ur-nerd.

    3. Apple, although the thick layer of DRM swaddling all their latest products is seriously testing my patience. My first computer was an M0001 128k, and I was zero years old at the time – lifetime brand loyalty woo.

    posted by Jane S. on 9-3-2010 at 2:42 pm

  43. 1. A while ago, I unfriended a guy who called me “gay” multiple times as he could not think of a more intelligent argument tactic. I’ve also unfriended multiple people who have gotten their accounts hacked.

    3. Hm… Five Guys? God, their stuff is good.

    4. Have you ever been apart of a flash mob or mass prank (like with Improv Everywhere)?

    posted by Stephen on 9-3-2010 at 2:45 pm

  44. 1- Just signed on to FB this week so I haven’t reached that point yet.

    P.S. What is it with defriending people over differing political views? I bet you all consider yourself openminded too.

    3- Herr’s chips, Tastykake, or other local food companies. Most companies are evil so you might as well try to keep the money local.

    4- If you could go in the past and show one person what the future is like who would you choose. (Ben Franklin) I know, cliche question with a cliche answer.

    posted by Turtle on 9-3-2010 at 2:49 pm

  45. 1. I’ve never un-friended anyone, but I got tired of several people constantly posting their latest Farmville, Cafe World, etc. updates, so I hid all posts relating to Facebook games. So I may as well have unfriended them, because they never post anything else, so I never hear from them again.

    2. Harlan Ellison

    3. Apple Computer. Not intending to start the usual Mac vs. PC flame war, but I’ve NEVER had a bad experience with Apple’s hardware, software, or tech support. If there’s a PC maker that can offer that kind of experience, I’d like to know who.

    4. Who would you like to play the part of you in a movie based on your life, and why?

    posted by Tracy on 9-3-2010 at 2:51 pm

  46. 2. Shaquille O’Neal. He’s always good for a quote.

    3. Amazon.com earned a lifetime of loyalty from me this week. A friend of mine dropped something on my Kindle last weekend and broke it. My warranty expired couple months ago, but I decided to give Amazon a call anyway. I explained what happened, and they overnighted me a new Kindle. Amazon.com… more like AMAZING.COM.

    4. What fictional character do you find you can relate the most to?

    posted by Chris on 9-3-2010 at 2:53 pm

  47. 2. George W. Bush. I know that will come across as disrespectful, but that’s not at all intended. (I’m a strong Republican.) Actually, given his wife’s chosen profession, the question would be interesting for him, his wife or his daughters.

    posted by Kenton on 9-3-2010 at 2:56 pm

  48. 1. I didn’t bother un-friending on Facebook — I just went all the way and deleted my account. Among the final straws were my dad friending me (I’m bothered by anyone over the age of 40 having a Facebook), realizing I was ‘friends’ with a bunch of people I never talked to, and just feeling like the whole thing was getting out of hand. All those applications, and they just kept adding more. I got a Twitter account; it’s much simpler.

    2. Neil Gaiman

    3. I don’t know if I would say I’m *loyal* to Starbucks – it’s more like a crippling addiction. I’m loyal to Target, because c’mon, they’ve got some of the cutest home decor I’ve ever seen. I’m also loyal to Old Navy, because their jeans are the only ones I can wear. And, you know, cute cardigans.

    4. For the Grammar Nazis: If you could magically erase one grammatical error from the whole of human consciousness, so no one would ever make it again, what would it be?

    posted by Jill on 9-3-2010 at 2:57 pm

  49. 1. I really need to unfriend a bunch of people. Most of them are people I went to highschool with that were total a-holes to me.

    2. Ken Burns (going to see him later this month tee hee), Neil DeGrasse Tyson, or Bill Nye

    3. Quick Trip, at least the one by my office. I’ve been comped a couple of times because I know everyone who works there.

    4. What was your favorite childhood cartoon?

    Congrats on the impending little one!

    posted by Tinkerschnitzel on 9-3-2010 at 2:59 pm

  50. @MetalRose I just got hit on by a friend of a friend, but nothing like your ex-friend!
    1. yes, but my problem is more how to ‘not’ friend in the first place I’ve got 4 in the queue now that I will continue to ignore
    2. John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, Robert Plant, Tom Petty, Richard Thompson…I second Stephen Frye, Neil Gaimain, Neal Stephenson, add Lucy A. Snyder…
    3. Whole Foods, everything a great experience and great food
    4. What was your favorite lunch in elementary school (to bring and get at cafeteria)?

    posted by carol on 9-3-2010 at 3:00 pm

  51. 1. I don’t do facebook or the whole social networking thing.

    2. Monica Seles, Rachael Ray and Elizabeth Gilbert

    3. This is such a tough question.. I am loyal to Leinenkugel beer, the German airline Lufthansa, Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing and Dial Soap.

    4. If you could own a vacation home anywhere in the world where would it be?

    posted by Emma on 9-3-2010 at 3:18 pm

  52. 2. Harvey Levin, Chris Rock, John Madden, Tina Fey, Ruth Ginsberg…

    3. Overland Park Cinemas in Boise: $4 for a 2nd run movie w/ popcorn and a drink. This quickly became my favorite pasttime.

    posted by Amy on 9-3-2010 at 3:24 pm

  53. 1. I don’t know that I’ve ever unfriended someone. It’s not like it changes anything with the way my page runs, so I figure maybe I was a bigger influence in their life than I thought. Also, I try to get along with most people, so I feel unfriending someone is rude.
    2. Stephen King, John Lithgow

    posted by Lindsey on 9-3-2010 at 3:36 pm

  54. 1. I got unfriended by a lady who chose to slam me as her status twice. The first time I didn’t say anything but the second time I put as my status, “It looks like I am important enough to have an enemy.” and then I pasted what she wrote about me, horrible spelling and all. She (within 4 minutes) had defriended me, and I changed my status. I originally had defreinded her about 6 months ago, and she asked me, “did you defriend me? Why?” Ugh…
    3. There’s a paper shredding company in town that picked up a few boxes full of mine at my home and would not take payment for them. Also, the Walgreens here in town is par excellence in offering coupons and discounts and the staff is all friendly. Wonderful store.

    posted by Helenann on 9-3-2010 at 3:49 pm

  55. 1. I periodically purge to keep my friends total right around 100. I get rid of anyone who friended me who never once posted or communicated with me in any way. It’s amazing how many of them there are. I mean, why friend? Just looking to rack up numbers?

    2. Allie of Hyperbole and a Half. Just discovered her and LOVE her!

    3. Heinz. For the catsup. Nothing else will do.

    4. Name your most interesting/odd/freaky vacation experience.

    posted by Fran on 9-3-2010 at 3:59 pm

  56. 2) Ray Bradbury – I’d like to see how all that imagination developed.

    Also, can somebody explain to me why anybody might consider it “disrespectful” for Kenton to suggest George W. Bush? Has he officially reached the point of he-who-shall-not-be-named status?

    posted by Jon on 9-3-2010 at 4:25 pm

  57. 1) Don’t delete a friend. Delete your Facebook account. And MySpace. And LinkedIn…

    2) Anthony Bourdain or Chuck Palahniuk

    3) I seriously considered getting a Dr. Pepper bar code tattooed on me… Luckily, I did not. I switched to Coke.

    4) Can’t think of anything…

    posted by Stuart on 9-3-2010 at 4:32 pm

  58. 1. I unfriended someone who only posted critisism about mutual friend..o and she only did it in a sort of txt ebonics.

    2. Steven Colbert

    3. I LOVE Netflix. I’ve had them for 6 years and it just keeps getting better. But after sitting beside Mr. Cathy in coach on a long flight (he gave be a squeaky cow) I have to agree that Chik-fil-a definatly has my respect. One of the most caring and genuinely happy people I’ve ever met.

    posted by Bell on 9-3-2010 at 4:47 pm

  59. 1) I went through a small FB games addicition kick and added a whole mess of people to get gifts and what not.. then I wasn’t on for a week.. just one week and was flooded with stupid amounts of said ‘gifts’ and requests.. I went through and removed everyone I had added during that ‘kick’… I doubt they even noticed me disappearing.

    Now the problem I have now is, de-friending people that I WAS close with, but don’t seem to be anymore.. and the more and more I read over their profiles and updates, the less and less they become the people I remember. Maybe I’ll take the chance and remove them today, now that I’ve been reminded. I’m sure it will be the same that they don’t even notice I’m gone XD

    posted by Dazee on 9-3-2010 at 4:55 pm

  60. 1. Anyone I work with, I haven’t spoken to in years, and who I don’t find terribly interesting. I’m also one of those awful hypocrites who confirms a friend, then unfriends them a week later if they don’t hold my interest. Terrible, I know.

    2. Neil Gaiman, Christopher Moore, and Bill Nye would be interesting. John Madden would be even more so.

    3. My beloved Target.

    4. What would your superhero name be?

    posted by Cara on 9-3-2010 at 5:09 pm

  61. 1. I deleted my sister.

    2. Ann M Martin or Beverly Cleary.

    3. Progressive Insurance. After being wrongly accused of a hit-and-run, they totally fought for me and got me cleared, and never increased my rate.

    posted by Bethany on 9-3-2010 at 5:39 pm

  62. 1) I am very particular about who I friend in the first place, so I rarely defriend anyone. And I feel the need to point out that “defriend” is now in the Oxford English Dictionary.

    2) I second Christopher Moore. He’s my favorite author in the world. Outside of the author realm, I’d love to hear words from random people – Jon Stewart, trash collectors, managers of Target, my mailman. A real cross-section of the world, actually.

    Side note – someone suggested the Mythbusters. The school where I teach tried to get Adam and Jamie as speakers – they cost 60k for a day. Way out of my small school’s budget.

    3) I don’t have a life-time loyalty to any specific company, but I always pick a local business over a big box store when possible.

    4) Which television mother (or father or sibling) did you grow up wishing was part of your family?

    posted by Sara on 9-3-2010 at 6:03 pm

  63. 1. I recently unfriended my ex-boyfriend. I tried to remain friends with him after he broke up with me, but he was always sending me flirty texts in an effort to try to fool me into thinking he still had feelings for me. I also got tired of how one day he’s posting that he went to an amusement park or sporting event then a few days later whine about how after two years he still can’t afford to get his car fixed. He’s done that several times. Between the two, I decided I was sick of trying to deal with him.

    3. Love Payless Shoes. They have great shoes at reasonable prices. The store I go to has very friendly and helpful staff. I also love Yankee Candle and Starbucks.

    posted by Vicki on 9-3-2010 at 6:17 pm

  64. Hey FB people. If you want to, you can hide just the farm, cafe, whatever posts and still keep the friend. Just click the ‘X’ and it will ask what you want to hide. Never see another Farmville post again. Voila! But you can still see the person’s status updates.

    posted by Sharon on 9-3-2010 at 6:22 pm

  65. 1. I’ve considered unfriending people, but I haven’t quite done it yet. Differing political views is one thing, enthusiastically liking Glenn Beck is quite another, y’know?

    2. Betty White, Rufus Wainwright, Diana Abu-Jaber (seconding the Stephen Fry, Beverly Cleary and David Sedaris suggestions!)

    3. Burgerville is a burger chain in the Pacific NW that uses local ingredients and sustainable practices, including taking great care of their employees. I’m also a huge fan of Pacific Foods, another local company that makes organic soups. They donate entire production lines to our local food bank and encourage healthy eating.

    4. Who is the most interesting person you have met while traveling? Have you stayed in touch?

    What language do you wish you could speak and why?

    How did you meet your significant other?

    posted by Tarn on 9-3-2010 at 6:37 pm

  66. 1. I only lasted a couple of months on facebook. I found it inane and a waste of time. The only people I care about can just email me.
    2. Sandra Day O’Connor, Suzanne Collins, J.K. Rowling
    3. Target, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks
    4. What obscure tv show or movie would your recommend?

    posted by Hermione on 9-3-2010 at 6:57 pm

  67. 1. I had blue hair in high school, and wrestled (i’m a girl). So people remember me, but I don’t remember them. I don’t friend people I don’t recognize immediately.
    3. REI. The prices are high, but the info is great.
    4. What little gadget improves your life in a significant way?

    posted by KT on 9-3-2010 at 7:42 pm

  68. Yes unfriended on facebook, yet he has my cell number, work number and knows where i work. He was really offended, but he didn’t want to hangout, talk or anything.Yet he wanted to know what I was doing, where I was going and who I was hanging out with. Strange! He still won’t speak to me.
    oh well his lost.

    posted by wonder twins on 9-3-2010 at 9:11 pm

  69. 1. When all they do you post random crap, or quote songs for every single post. Or I have simply tired of them as a friend and being associate with them in any aspect of my life.

    3. Valve, Waldenbooks, Chick-Fil-A, and Coca-Cola.

    posted by Austin on 9-3-2010 at 9:40 pm

  70. I was un-friended by a vegetarian friend for posting that I ate whale sashimi.

    posted by Elsa on 9-3-2010 at 9:50 pm

  71. 1. I won’t lie…I delete people I don’t talk to or who don’t acknowledge me on the streets every few months. I’ve yet to be confronted.

    2. Stephen King. WHAT was HE reading as a child?!

    posted by Kim W on 9-3-2010 at 10:08 pm

  72. 1. I’ve not really defriended anyone yet, except for people I added solely for the purposes of a game. However, one of my best friends was recently defriended by some mutual acquaintances for moving in with a guy who’s currently on their blacklist. They won’t talk to him IRL either. I’m going to friend the blacklisted guy on Facebook and if they defriend me – well, I don’t mind causing drama when they’re being ridiculous idiots.

    3. Target. Most of the time stuff (er, clothes) is too pricey for me, but sometimes you can get AWESOME deals. New favorite pair of shoes – $5. Purple dress I loved and already owned in black – $8. Not to mention they sell the best home decor stuff.

    posted by "Maggie" on 9-3-2010 at 10:57 pm

  73. i do not un friend a lot, it has to be bad. for example- i just un friended my brothers girlfriend (well now x) because he found out through facebook that she is cheating on him, and he is currently in Afghanistan and will not be back until christmas. and it gets better…she is cheating on him with our step brother! so yeah i got rid of her

    posted by big z on 9-3-2010 at 11:00 pm

  74. Tinker, for #3, I completely agree (and not just because I worked for them twice) QuikTrip is awesome, and for anyone who doesn’t live in Georgia (as from the Ken Burns statement I’m guessing you do), Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, or Nebraska, next time you are in one of those states and see one, stop by. I’ve been to RaceTracs (which are pretty much QT’s closest competitor) and RaceTrac pretty much seems to copy QT, and not nearly as well. If you’ve ever been to a RaceTrac, consider QT similar, but way better.

    posted by Gof on 9-3-2010 at 11:29 pm

  75. 2. second Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Sarah Vowell. maybe add Ira Glass or Peter Segal to that list.
    3. Menards hardware superstores and Meijer grocery/everything stores.
    If you live in the midwest (I live in MI) both of these are the way to go.

    posted by cory on 9-3-2010 at 11:46 pm

  76. hmmmm. People over 40 shouldn’t be on FB?

    1. My HS reunion is next month and I can’t wait to see the pics on FB (not going). I’ve defriended Glenn Beck fans too.

    3. Hickory Pit in Northern California. Wosniak took Kathy Griffin there on her show a few seasons ago. For some reason it’s where I always bring visitors, except my mom because the place is decorated with pigs and she doesn’t eat pork.

    posted by Dina on 9-4-2010 at 12:16 am

  77. 1. I’ve unfriended people I will most likely never speak to again or when I get tired of their postings of ridiculous information and drunk photos. I had one coworker who insisted on commenting on all my post with vulgar frat-boy humor. My grandmother could see it! Therefore, he was unfriended.

    2. Well since all my favorite children authors are dead French dudes (Tintin, Babar) I’d have to say the author of Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak, was important to me because it helped me realize that scary things may not be all that scary.

    3. Oh gawd, where do I start?! Ikea, H&M, Target, Amazon and Barnes & Noble are my top. The Swedes really have my taste and budget down pat. Oh, and Ross where I find all my cheap home things since I’m a starving student. That place is a goldmine. I’m also a follower of Chipotle because my friends and I have a tradition of catching up for hours over ginormous burritos.

    posted by Naomi on 9-4-2010 at 1:50 am

  78. 1. Anyone who sends me notes on Obama being a secret Muslim, people who play too many games, people who tell me that they only need 1,000,000 people to say Jesus is Lord, people who curse or talk about their degenerate life choices.

    2. David and Amy Sedaris, Ira Glass, Drew Carey.

    3. Dawn dishwashing soap because of the products they donate to animals in oil spills, Glad Force Flex trash bags because they are awesome.

    4. Craziest thing you have ever done on a whim and how did it turn out. Biggest mistake you have ever made. Do you regret it or did you learn from it?

    posted by AngelaAyaz on 9-4-2010 at 7:02 am

  79. 1-I unfriended someone I had attended university with (we were fine arts majors) who was super competitive to the extent of kinda feeling like he would lie in wait for the opportunity to bring people down. He also had a strong interest in the art I made and I didn’t feel like facebook becoming a competition for every lame picture I decide to take and every comment I decide to post. He lives across the country so I don’t know how he reacted.
    2-Jeff Koons?
    3-I’m rereading No Logo so it’s a bad time to ask.
    4-I like the whole idea someone had about things you secretly love, like a song, TV show or movie. Or that excentric thing you have a hard time convincing people to try (I rewatched koyaanisqatsi this weekend)?

    posted by Elaine on 9-4-2010 at 8:33 am

  80. 1. I unfriend people when it becomes a chore. One person changed statuses almost every hour, it seemed. And it was always snippents from the schmaltzy forwards we’ve all been emailed a thousand times. I also unfriend if your posts become too offensive or needlessly personal (I don’t need to know what color of underwear you put on that morning or every detail of your recent illness).

    2. Orson Scott Card, Brandon Sanderson, Neil Patrick Harris, Joss Whedon, Wil Wheaton. And I’m jumping on the Stephen Fry bandwagon.

    3. The Confectional, Netflix, my local used book store.

    4. New author you love. Worst way a recipe you’ve tried has ended?

    posted by Heathen on 9-4-2010 at 9:11 am

  81. 1. I haven’t unfriended anyone yet.

    2. Jay Baruchel, Andy Samberg, Charlie McDonnell (aka charlieissocoollike on YouTube), and I’m seconding John Green and the cast of the Office.

    3. Probably Glamour Kills. I love their clothes, and they always last and fit me well.

    4. What was the last movie you watched (either in theaters or elsewhere), and how did you like it?

    posted by devontastic on 9-4-2010 at 10:05 am

  82. 1. I am now up to whopping 35 friends, so I haven’t unfriended anyone but I have ignored a lot. If I don’t talk to you irl, I don’t talk to you on Facebook. I have no urge to talk to 99% of the people I went to school with so my ignore list is long. That sounds so rude when said outloud but really, I haven’t talked to these people in 20 years, what would I have to talk about with them now?

    2. Stephen King.

    3. Le Chateau. The store here in town has the most amazing staff and is one of the few places that I can get clothing that fits properly.

    posted by Eden on 9-4-2010 at 12:42 pm

  83. 1. every so often i clean house, and if they aren’t interesting enough to creep, and they don’t comment on my stuff, they get the boot.

    2. Josh Ritter. He is one of the most talented songwriters of our time, and he just finished his first novel. If you aren’t familiar with his work, go to his website and just read a handful of his lyrics.

    3. Independent coffee shops in general. I love the feel of them.

    posted by Stephanie on 9-4-2010 at 3:23 pm

  84. 3. Only defriended a couple. Most recently the sister of an old friend who posted tirelessly one-sided political rants though she claims to be a journalist and interested in bettering the political landscape. mmmm-k

    posted by Jim on 9-4-2010 at 6:11 pm

  85. 1. I have been unfriended and I have unfriended my sister-in-law. Long story but life is far more peaceful since I did that.
    2. Judy Blume
    3. I love Barnes & Noble. They have books, music, chocolate and comfy chairs. They have also donated books to the school library where I work.
    4. The best thing you ever ate

    Congrats on the new babies!

    posted by Kelly on 9-4-2010 at 7:11 pm

  86. people with social webpages have some sort of mental defiency, the internets sole useful function is the acquisition of repair parts, if you wanna be my freind, you gotta come over and drink my beer. anybody know where i can get a top for a 1957 chevy fuel injection plenum?

    posted by doc on 9-4-2010 at 8:06 pm

  87. 1. I actually just un-friended someone today. It was someone I barely knew anyway and he was my parents age, so we really had nothing in common. I don’t know what he thinks about it and I wouldn’t care.

    2. Stephen King was a good one, ummmm… what about Beck (the singer, not the crazy political commentator) or The Flaming Lips? I bet they had some interesting choices of reading material.

    3. I don’t think there is a company I have pledged my undying loyalty to.

    posted by AsherKat on 9-4-2010 at 9:05 pm

  88. 1. Defriended my SO’s youngest. Got sick of his stupid rants and pot smoking pics on FB. I hide posts of other people who post to much political/christian stuff.

    2. Christopher Walken?

    3. I’d have to say Apple. Up until last year I was as PC as they come. I now have an apple computer and 3 ipods (and one Nike+ thinger). There isn’t hardly a day that I don’t use one of my ipods…I’m a fan.

    4. Favorite piece of software you own that if you were outfitting a new computer you’d definitely put this software on it.

    posted by KathyinMN on 9-4-2010 at 9:13 pm

  89. 1. I don’t usually unfriend people, I just change my privacy settings so they can’t see anything. However, there is this one guy I blocked completely after I ignored his friend request a gazillion times. I have known him for years, but he is so creepy I want nothing to do with him. I don’t know what happened when I blocked him, but I do know that when I ignored his friend request he put his status as “I hate it when people I know don’t add me as friend” or something like that.

    2. I second Ira Glass.

    3. I really really love Cafe Zupa’s here in Utah. Delicious food, friendly service, and it’s really inexpensive. LOVE IT.

    4. Tell a funny/unusual birthday memory or story. It doesn’t have to be about your birthday. (Stolen from a friend who asked it at her birthday party tonight)

    If you could tell someone off with no repercussions, who would it be and why? Mine would be a hospice nurse who calls into the pharmacy I work at, or a patient who yelled at me twice this week for problems that were her fault, not mine.

    Congrats on the baby!

    posted by Janel on 9-5-2010 at 2:08 am

  90. 1. I unfriend regularly, I dont like the idea of having 300+ friends, so every few months i dleete people whom i havent even realized were my facebook friend…I also unfriend annoying people who send links to things, and grioup request ALL THE TIME..annoying.

    2. Patricia Cromwell, Mary Roach, John Stewart, Micheal Bloomberg

    3.Barnes and Nobels, Continental Airlines, Sony

    Congrats on the baby!!

    posted by Kandis on 9-5-2010 at 10:47 am

  91. 1. Like Kandis, I also defriend regularly. As time goes on I lose touch with people from school and work. I don’t think anyone really minds, nobody has said anything yet.
    2. Neil Patrick Harris.
    3. Cadbury. They used to have the most amazing Easter ads, and now I’m reading that they’re fair trade and everything. I don’t know much about Yankee Candle, but their scents are so spot on!
    4. What did you decorate your room with in college or university?

    posted by Kat on 9-5-2010 at 7:29 pm

  92. 1. never defriended anyone, but refused friend request from an old schoolmate that attempted to make my life miserable in high school (she didn’t succeed).
    2. Ellison for sure; Heinlein (if he was alive) or King.
    3.Google (have not had a bad experience with any of their products since they started)

    posted by The Sus on 9-5-2010 at 7:41 pm

  93. 1. I don’t do Facebook.

    2. Henry Rollins, Ben Folds, Steven Hawking and, of course, Harper Lee.

    3. Netflix, because I’ve never had a single complaint with them, I can get foreign films even though I live in a cultural black hole and their streaming service is fantastic.

    4. What is the first song you heard that changed your life, if any?

    posted by grouchonacouch on 9-5-2010 at 10:26 pm

  94. I would like to defriend my sisters’ kids. They are adults but act like children when I post something they don’t approve of. They run to my sister, who calls my mother, who calls me and says, “why are you revealing such personal information?”

    I didn’t know “had a bad day” was too personal. Meanwhile, these are “adults” that post their every meal, drunk photos (great for job prospects) and other things much more personal than “I had a bad day.”

    posted by Bryan on 9-5-2010 at 11:37 pm

  95. BTW, If I posted something REALLY controversial, my mom would probably call me within the hour. I’m 51 years old.

    posted by Bryan on 9-5-2010 at 11:40 pm

  96. 3- I must concur with L.L. Bean and Apple. Yes, I am a fanboy ( I almost mistyped BOT). I can see 10 apple products from where I sit.

    posted by gus on 9-6-2010 at 8:52 am

  97. 2. Neil Gaiman
    Terry Pratchett

    posted by Gareth on 9-6-2010 at 9:30 am

  98. 1- No unfriending just a liberal use of the hide button for people who stream negativity and personal drama in the hopes of getting attention.
    2- Hugh Laurie, Anthony Bourdain, Terry Pratchett
    3- Penzey’s Spices

    posted by deanna on 9-6-2010 at 11:18 am

  99. 1. I hide rather than unfriend, although I would if I needed to.

    2. I think it would be interesting to focus on a certain group — NFL QBs, reality TV “stars,” etc.

    3. Honda, Apple and Trader Joe’s

    4. What is the best meal you have ever had?

    posted by Shannin on 9-6-2010 at 4:20 pm

  100. 1. Yep. I also unfriend on occasion if I don’t keep in active contact with someone (and have no desire to do so). I’ve also unfriended anyone who joined a Sarah Palin page – I just can’t deal with that level of stupidity.

    2. Neil Gaiman and Stephen King. Perhaps JK Rowling.

    3. Big fan of Honda, Apple and LUSH. Being in New Zealand, there are a lot more small companies to support as well, such as Antipodes.

    posted by Logan on 9-6-2010 at 8:00 pm

  101. I unfriended three people who continually gushed religious garbage.

    posted by Sooner1 on 9-6-2010 at 11:31 pm

  102. I have a ‘friend’ who every time she gets mad…which is every other day…she either blocks or deletes me and our other mutual friends…shes a complete psycho and it gives me a good laugh lol! I’ve only deleted someone if given a good reason which rarely happens.

    posted by Autumn on 9-7-2010 at 12:14 pm

  103. your best and worst day, like in city slickers

    posted by jayhawk on 9-7-2010 at 5:33 pm

  104. 1) I never unfriend anyone. I guess I’m just really nosy, but I love reading everything that people post, even if I haven’t spoken to them in forever. I have been unfriended a couple times though, mostly after getting into fights with friends. I think I’ve refriended them all, but there is one girl I would love to unfriend. However, my curiosity is just too much and I can’t bring myself to do it!
    2) Anyone at all. It would be really great if you could get John Green to do it though.
    3) I’m a huge fan of Barnes and Noble.
    4) If you were a crayon, which color would you most like to make out with? -Hank Green

    posted by Katie F on 9-7-2010 at 11:37 pm

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