Thursday, April 28, 2011

Word Up Wednesday - Flirtbook

So when I first used this word, it was when a friend of mine brazenly and unashamedly called another friend of mine "fetching" on Facebook. Bold and confident, he flirted with her openly for the world wide web to see. Nothing has ever romantically transpired between these two, but when she responded that she "loves a man in uniform," the flirtbooking could not be denied. I called them out, told our mutual friends about the ridiculous fun, and we still laugh about it.

These two Flirtbook - make flirtatious comments over Facebook. It's fun, and I can imagine that if I'd had Facebook when I was single, I'd definitely be flirtbooking hotties 24/7. When I first used the term, it was light-hearted and merry, just a fun way to say, "Hey, I see what y'all are doing and it's silly." But recently, I've been thinking about flirtbooking and what it could mean in a dimmer light.

Maybe because I just read a few articles about Facebook being linked to 1 in 5 divorces, but Flirtbooking can actually be dangerous. Whether you're married or not, have kids or not, initially interested in someone or not, it's way too easy online to "bump into" past loves and share intimate details about your personal life with the wrong people. All relationships have their ups and downs, and a simple Flirtbook when someone's love life is in a more stressful phase could start the ball rolling down a slippery slope.

It's one thing for you and your spouse to run into his/her ex, for example, at the supermarket or a ball game. There is the tense introduction, the gracious small talk, and then going your separate ways and enjoying the rest of your day. You judge his/her ex's attractiveness in comparison to your own (come on, don't deny it) and may glean information such as their marital status, their form of employment, or whether they prefer paper or plastic. It's a quick conversation, awkward even, and then everybody moves on; but in a brief, real world, accidental face-to-face encounter like that, you don't go through their photo albums, find out which of your old mutual friends you still share, or have access to their email address/phone number.

So, what I'm suggesting is this: protect your relationships. All my single ladies, Flirtbook away! And if he put a ring on it, then close the Flirtbooking chapter just like you did with cage dancing, hooker boots, and body shots.

And PS - I promise you that your ex will enjoy his/her birthday even if you don't post on their wall. If you wouldn't call them at home to wish it, then don't disrespect their spouse by doing it online for the world to see.

Okay, so all of this is obviously just my humble opinion. :)

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