Why do casual acquaintances wish to become FB friends?

More than half of my Facebook friends are aquantiences – from past jobs, high school, college, meetup groups, etc. I think it’s normal, Facebook is about connecting with people, not just people you know really well. Just my opinion

I don’t mess with Facebook. I think the friend me thing is just juvenile High School type crap. Blow it off and move on. Just my own two cents worth.

Because they want to know you better and be your friends?

I have been surprised at how differently I view casual acquaintances from the past when they get on Facebook. You actually learn so much more about them in that venue. Some I’ve been sorely disappointed in and I just unfriend them. As for the rest, we have fun! Mostly.
A good number of those on my list are people I’ve never met, just people I stumbled across on Facebook and they caught my interest. Those are some of the best ones.
I wouldn’t shut my self off from anyone, until they’ve proven themselves unworthy.

That is one of the reasons I deleted my Facebook account a few years back, I had people I barely knew or didn’t know at all wanting to be my friend.

My brother lets me use his account to see what distant aunts and relatives are up to,and still only use it maybe once a month or less, have a cousin down south in the us that most post to Facebook at least 89 times a day,no thanks.

I just recently opened a FB acct. after deleting my old one and not participating since 2011.
I have no desire to get reemed with hundreds of “friends” postings or collect hundreds of “friends.”
I am keeping my friends list to 10 or less. Think I have 5 or 6 now, all jellies from this site and my daughter.

I was reluctant to open another FB, but I did so to follow my daughters travels in Europe in May, and then, upon my suspension here I was invited to the jelly group on FB. I have zero personal info up and don’t plan of doing so. I like to remain fairly incognito and have zero desire to hook up with certain people from my past. Keep it simple is my mantra.

Who knows? I’m sure different people have many different ways of relating to Facebook, rather than there being some answer we can give.

For example, I have a FB out of curiosity, with fake info, which I have some people I know on, and others who just share some interests or political alignments, and I mostly post fun things and environmental and political stuff on it. I rarely invite a casual in-person acquaintance unless I think they want to see a bunch of political petitions and stuff.

Maybe these people think fondly of you and are simply, and genuinely curious as to how you are doing now.
A number of people from my small high school contacted me to be friends on FB and I am delighted I accepted. We are all more interesting now, 40 years later, and I would not have missed getting to know these people again for anything.
That’s why I accept, and sometimes make these requests, anyway.

I like FB, unlike so many on Fluther, I like my FB friends and being in touch.

Hilarious Urban Dictionary definition of Facebook: “Sign up for facebook and let the US government know exactly what you’re up to at all times! Remember to use your real name! And get used to all that farming! Once the Bilderbergs take over all you’re going to have is dirt”.

@rojo Just nosy?

I have a FB account and I have a lot of friends. Jelly friends (it gives an added dimension when you’re friends on FB as well as being friends on Fluther), work friends, family friends, you name it.

As for why, sometimes it’s just that if I am at an event with someone and we take photos, it’s easier to share the photos if we just friend each other.

Sometimes, with someone I knew long ago, it’s just out of concern and curiosity. It’s nice to get in touch with a friend I had from a long time ago. FB has put me in touch with people I knew when I was in elementary school, and even a half-sister. It’s just a way to keep in touch and follow each other forever.

I’m sure some people just want their friend count to go up, no other reason. They could care less about the person and more about having a million friends.

Some, I suppose @AshlynM. I have reconnected with people from high school, most of whom were “casual acquaintances” back then. One of them was responsible for stealing my boyfriend, who I’d dated for a year, in 11th grade. We became super good friends on Facebook, actually.
Others I now wish I’d known better in high school, and I’m glad to have that chance now.

Others, who I counted as good friends then, now leaving scratching my head today going “WTH was I thinking???”

Just try it. You’ll see a different side of them on Facebook, just like I see a different side of all the Jelly friends I have on Facebook too.

@Dutchess_III Funny how people change over time. I’ve had experiences like that too, even though I don’t do Facebook. But I’ve run into people I knew in school that I never cared for much, and we’d end up b.s.ing on a street corner and exchanging addresses and phone numbers, so we could get together. I’ve encountered others I knew well, and it’s pretty much well, nice to see ya, got to run. Funny how things work out sometimes.

With my friends from high school, who I’ve seen IRL since Facebook, my 15 year old self can still relate to them. But my 58 year old self can’t. It’s like they never really matured from those days.
The boyfriend stealer turned out to be the one I liked the very most. But then…she died. So sad.

Well that sucks… now I’m bummed out. Sorry to hear that Dutchess. I’d like to console you with platitudes like how she’s in a better place, but I just can’t. I just don’t buy it. But I am sorry.

^ Well..on an up note, she can’t steal anyones boyfriends anymore. LOL

I do enjoy me a person with a sense of humor – kudos, Ms. Coloma, thanks for the chuckle!

Well, for what it’s worth it didn’t make me laugh. She was my friend. I’m glad I took the time to get to know her instead of stewing over a very real heartbreak that happened over 40 years ago.

@NomoreY_A No worries. I don’t buy any of it either. But I appreciate you taking the time to make the mention.
I never know what the hell to say to people when they post “PRAY FOR MY MOTHER!” I mean, I want to acknowledge in words that I hear and sympathize, but with a few exceptions I can’t pretend like I actually believe prayer will work.
I want to say, “I’m so sorry. I’ll be thinking of her.” But that sounds so lame compared to calling upon all the gods and angels and powers of the universe to care for this woman.

Open mouth, insert foot. I’m good at that. No offense intended.

No problem. I appreciate the turn around. I made a joke that back fired not to long ago. I’ve been much more careful about what I joke about now.