Lemondrop

"Greg" is one of the 70 people who work on my floor and one of 40 I've had no interaction with. We never exchange e-mails or amiable smiles by the copy machine. So I was all sorts of perplexed when Greg's notification popped up requesting my friendship in the indelible form of a Facebook bond.

I realize everyone's on Facebook now, so I'm happy to spend 45 minutes navigating the privacy settings to block photos so my boss is tricked into thinking I'm a well-adjusted person. But when co-workers (or people who have interviewed me for jobs and didn't hire me) initiate virtual relationships in lieu of face-to-face ones, I get miffed. If we sit in the same small space for upwards of 40 hours a week, we should be able to clunk our way through a little verbal communication before we declare our friendship on the Internet.

Susan RoAne, author of "Face to Face: How to Reclaim the Personal Touch in a Digital World," suggests that in the event of an unknown Facebook request, you send a quick message asking the person how you met. This would be great, except Greg and I haven't met. RoAne also suggests ignoring the request until you finally do speak. Sound advice, but prolly won't happen with Greg and me unless we're trapped in an elevator and out of wall space to stare at.

Maybe I'm making too much out of this non-friend friending pressure.













Emme Martin is Lemondrop's online etiquette columnist.