When CUF and Real Life Intersect

[Clark Addison]

How do you react when your real life intersects in some way with your imaginary friednds on CUF? Sometimes, I will tell my wife something I hear here. When she asks where I heard it, I will usually reply vaguely that "Someone told me", so that my wife doesn't think I am a bigger nerd than she already does.

So today was Stake Conference, and this woman in my ward comes up to me before the meeting and says "Hey, how do you know (name of someone on CUF)? I saw you were his friend on Facebook, we used to be in his ward."

I admit to feeling a little bit silly when I responded "we participate in the same BYU sports message board". But maybe it is just because I am a little older than average. Maybe to most of you, it is perfectly natural to have virtual friends and acquaintances. Should I shed my inhibitions and be proud of my online community, or have you created a plausible cover story for situations like this?

[pellegrino]

How do you react when your real life intersects in some way with your imaginary friednds on CUF? Sometimes, I will tell my wife something I hear here. When she asks where I heard it, I will usually reply vaguely that "Someone told me", so that my wife doesn't think I am a bigger nerd than she already does.

So today was Stake Conference, and this woman in my ward comes up to me before the meeting and says "Hey, how do you know (name of someone on CUF)? I saw you were his friend on Facebook, we used to be in his ward."

I admit to feeling a little bit silly when I responded "we participate in the same BYU sports message board". But maybe it is just because I am a little older than average. Maybe to most of you, it is perfectly natural to have virtual friends and acquaintances. Should I shed my inhibitions and be proud of my online community, or have you created a plausible cover story for situations like this?

yes

[Fiyero]

So today was Stake Conference, and this woman in my ward comes up to me before the meeting and says "Hey, how do you know (name of someone on CUF)? I saw you were his friend on Facebook, we used to be in his ward."

Actually, there have been three times when I've been looking at a friend's facebook profile and was surprised to see we had a certain mutual friend, and think to myself "what a small world" and asked them "wow how do you know X?" and it turned out that they don't know each other; facebook suggested they might know each other because they both knew me, and so they just up and added each other.

I haven't had anyone ask me about you imaginary CUFers, but won't even bat an eye if they do.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I used to say things to my wife similar to you, like "I heard/read somewhere." She started calling me on it, now I just say on CUF, like it is a badge of honor that she will never achieve.

[JohnnyLingo]

it turned out that they don't know each other; facebook suggested they might know each other because they both knew me, and so they just up and added each other.

Facebook whores. They'll add anyone.

[Surfah]

I partook of the fruit and saw that it was good. I was desirous that my wife should also partake. She partook and saw that it was good.

And that's how I got the mocking to stop.

[pellegrino]

Facebook whores. They'll add anyone.

even you JL, even you.

[UtahDan]

When this happens I describe the folks I know here as people I first met on an alumni website. That is close enough to true.

[il Padrino Ute]

The internet makes the world very small. For example, here on CUF, I found out that some of fiyero's friends from a student ward while he was at the U are my cousins. And a member of the church from Bolivia that DDD knew while on his mission is now in my ward.

[Babs]

So today was Stake Conference, and this woman in my ward comes up to me before the meeting and says "Hey, how do you know (name of someone on CUF)? I saw you were his friend on Facebook, we used to be in his ward."

I admit to feeling a little bit silly when I responded "we participate in the same BYU sports message board".

bwaHAHAHAHA.

you think you've got it bad. Imagine me trying to explain to the dean of BYU law (who had noted curiously that I'm not a member) who talked me into applying to the school.

[Note: "A cyborg, a hedgehog, and a goose" didn't get me very far (though it does sound like a setup to a pretty good joke).]

[byu71]

bwaHAHAHAHA.

you think you've got it bad. Imagine me trying to explain to the dean of BYU law (who had noted curiously that I'm not a member) who talked me into applying to the school.

[Note: "A cyborg, a hedgehog, and a goose" didn't get me very far (though it does sound like a setup to a pretty good joke).]

I am sure you have shared it somewhere and I have missed it. What has made you decide to go to law school. Because of your wisdom and good sense, I am guessing you aren't just finishing your bachelors degree and moving on to law school. I am truly interested in what has caused you to take this path. If you went to BYU would you commute from Oklahoma or would your family move.

If this is all too personal, just tell me to mind my own business. I would understand.

[Babs]

I am sure you have shared it somewhere and I have missed it. What has made you decide to go to law school?

A simian and a bacterium talked me into it.

[Babs]

seriously, 71:

no, it's not too personal to explain to you guys, but I don't feel up to answering on a public internet forum. Google gives me the heeby-jeebies.

[byu71]

A simian and a bacterium talked me into it.

Cool.

[byu71]

seriously, 71:

no, it's not too personal to explain to you guys, but I don't feel up to answering on a public internet forum. Google gives me the heeby-jeebies.

I totally understand. Even if I don't know the details, for some reason I think it is pretty cool (can't think of a better word) that you are doing it.