- Image via Wikipedia
It’s always a good idea to listen or in the case of internet networking, watch. You can learn a lot about people if you simply watch behaviors for a while. Facebook is a great place to learn about people, see what interests them and understand what causes them to kick in and respond. There are as many reasons to be on Facebook now as there are people, but there tend to be some dynamics that are typically prevalent.
If you have “friended- a wide variety of folks, then the study gets interesting. Make sure you have some professionals. Mix it up with a set of young college students and if you have a child in high school, friend her but promise never to write on her”wall”! That would be the gravest of mistakes. The high school student may not mind you being there to read her life, maybe, but she definitely does not want you interacting in her conversations with other students!
Once set, get dinner, perhaps a glass of wine or a shot of good whisky, and put on some good music. Stay for the show. It is amazing what people will talk about with the entire world watching.
After you have watched and remained silent for a few days, you can cut in and add to your wall or make comments on other people’s walls. By this time you have noticed what they want to read. In general you will find this: people are mostly on Facebook to chit-chat, talk about political frustrations, ask if the homework assignment is due on Friday or otherwise spout off without much thought before the words enter the keyboard. Some are also there to organize social/political efforts or create artistic bonds.
People will respond to you if you are witty or bring up subjects of social/political controversy. Where will you flop? Philosophy and truths designed to “enlighten”. If you like typing to yourself, type wisdom. If you want interaction, turn off the brain and enter the empty void. People are there to vent, occasionally create, and have fun.
