Semi OT: Facebook and Current Players
So after the whole fiasco with Tate's facebook status and whether or not he was starting, I became interested in facebooking some current players. I just thought it would be interesting to see what they put for their status (as Tate proved) and other such things. In no way did I think this made me their friend or anything.
Which brings me to my point. What is the etiquette on writing on the walls of players you don't know and never will? The reason I ask is every player that confirmed me as a friend, I went and looked at their profiles, and this middle aged man writes on all of their walls all the time. I personally felt that crossed a bit of a line. I realize they add you as their friend and they control that, but I just think there should be some kind of limit at least against people out of college. If you go to UofM currently, you at least hypothetically could meet them or be their friend, but I don't think Tate or Denard or anyone else is interested in befriending middle aged men. In fact, they may think it creepy that they are on facebook at all. (I'm out of college but was in college when facebook started).
I was just curious what the community thinks of adding players as facebook friends period (which I have done) and writing on their walls as if they know you when they don't (which I haven't done).
November 18th, 2009 at 2:28 PM ^
My personal policy is to observe but never write on the wall of players who have profiles open to the Michigan network. I never friend players. This way, I'm able to balance my voyeuristic urges (and check out all 8 million of Tate's female friends) but no one actually knows I'm a creepster. Except for you guys.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:28 PM ^
Unless you know them personally, you should never do it. Even more generally, old people should not be on FB, let alone FB stalking players.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:35 PM ^
Old people have taken over facebook. I say this not just because I am one of them, but because I read an article about it. You know, how old codgers like me are using it to find classmates from their one-room schoolhouse and or buddies from mastodon-hunting days.
There's a wonderful website devoted to the horribly embarrassing things people find their parents writing on facebook.
But I agree, stalking football players on FB is low-class.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:48 PM ^
www.lamebook.com is great
November 18th, 2009 at 2:40 PM ^
"old people should not be on FB, let alone FB stalking players."
Tell that to my grandma. She's always telling me everything that Ricky Reyes is doing on a daily basis. It's weird grandma, quit it.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:28 PM ^
as friends. but i have never written on any of their walls. and if you read a lot of the stuff that people write its pretty pathetic. i look at this way, you're adding them because you're a fan of theirs not because you want to facebook stalk them.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:52 PM ^
It's a look but don't touch policy for me. I have all of the Michigan players/recruits in one group so that I can use it like a Twitter feed of Michigan information.
While we are talking about it, did any one else see that Will Campbell is sick as a dog?
November 18th, 2009 at 2:55 PM ^
That's weird, my wife has the same policy towards me
November 18th, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
...via facebook. I never do it by, you know, meeting people face-to-face and introducing myself, or something else played out like that.
I'm so glad you kids let me play in technologyland. Thank you so much.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:02 PM ^
I'll admit I haven't stalked any college football players on Facebook, but I'm betting that they create these for the fame recognition.
In other words, much like the original purpose of MySpace, which was to provide an easy web page template for Music Artists to manage a fan web site.
So when Tate agreed to become your friend, it was primarily to make sure he had more friends than Denard, or "BG" or whatever.
they are not really your friend, you are their fan.
don't forget that Brian posted things to the effect that Will Campbell loved making jokes to mess with people, and on his signing day he had multiple hats in front of him and made big show over which one he would pick, before finally picking up the Michigan hat.
Do you really think he's sick?
November 18th, 2009 at 3:36 PM ^
I don't friend players, because I don't even know them, but I get all the status updates of note here so whatever.
My younger brother has some "friends" on the team and wrote a message to Zoltan after last year along the lines of "Im a big fan, Im still supporting you guys, and good luck next year" and received a very kind response. Oh and something about being way better this year. We're still holding him to that. 7-6 > 3-9
November 18th, 2009 at 3:42 PM ^
feel the need to send friend requests to people, let alone football recruits/players, that they don't even know are sorry sacks of shit. Then they go on everyday and HAVE to read what these kids are doing to boot. Get a God damn life why don't ya.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:20 PM ^
I don't see it as a problem, as long as you're within reason: I just graduated this past year, and I have most of the current or recently-former players friended.
I wish them well every now and then, and sometimes defend them from idiots.
I had classes with a few of them, and met others while I was in Marketing. That must legitimize it at least a little bit.
November 18th, 2009 at 9:01 PM ^
I am a current graduate student and I will only friend a player if I am their GSI and only after the semester is over. There are certain ethical considerations I have to go by regarding facebook and my current and past students.