With the advent of the internet, I now have new relationships with folks — relationships that weren’t around pre-internet.
This a very good thing.
I like more, better people.
But for all the words put on the internet, there’s a lack of a working lexicon for and about these relationships.
I’ve started my suggestions for new internet interaction terminology below.
(And I encourage you to add yours in the comments.)
Superfond
Use: Oh! I’m superfond of her.
The kind of almost love that comes after reading someone’s journal for years and knowing you’re safe around them because they understand where you’re coming from. Not quite love, but darn near close. (Better yet? I don’t have to send them a birthday card in the mail.)
South by Soulmate
Use: Of course I sent them a gift for baby number 2, he’s my South by Soulmate.
The kind of friend I met at a conference (any conference, BlogHer, EVO, etc.) once, maybe, in, like, 2006, and haven’t really ever seen again, but thanks to digital media, kept up with their lives, celebrating major life events and even if I never see them again, I would travel to their funeral.
Every day I’m grateful that the most folks I know on the internet I’m both superfond of and they’re my South by Soulmates.
Feedfree
Use: He’s totally a nice guy, but I’ve had to keep him feedfree because of his constant political rants.
The constant complainer/ranter/energysucker that you care for, and you want good things to happen to, but just can’t have in your feed. This can be in Twitter, Facebook or any number of places where their information is pushed in your face. I can love someone and have to keep them feedfree at the same time.
Misinterpridgnation
Use: I’m taking myself out for breakfast and not taking my phone, I will sort out this misinterpridgnation when I get back.
When an audience misunderstands what you were trying to say by focusing on something that you didn’t mean and it doesn’t matter if you defend yourself by this time because they’re only comprehending what they wanted to comprehend.
Also: The most infuriating feeling from this internet.
Comment Gardener
Use: I’m going to ask Lou about this, she’s a comment gardner from 2007 that’s been Vegan for years.
A Comment Gardner comments consistently and positively on your site so that that you are now pals. It’s kind of like it took until they were in line with you at the grocery store, complimenting your hair for several days on end until you saw how interesting they were.
This speaks more to the me me me nature of the internet than anything else. Grin.
(Says the biggest fan of comment gardeners).
Kind of friend (?)
Use: I’m happy to reach out for you, he’s a Kind of Friend, but I think he’s cool.
Usually delivered with a question mark at the end, this person I recognize by their blog name, and the story behind it, maybe, but certainly don’t know their real name and boom! they’re my kind of friend (/uptalk).
If they become famous, they will graduate to being my “friend” real quick.
Because I’m deep like that.
Heather-tether
Use: You don’t know what to write on Clarence’s Facebook wall for his birthday today because he’s a Heather-tether from 1995.
A Heather-tether is a person from high school you should remember but don’t and don’t want to unfriend because that call out how mean you are on the inside. Naturally I would never have any Heather-tethers in my friend list, I cherish each and every relationship with everyone from high school ever. I’m just writing this down for a friend. Of course.
What new words do you have for the evolving relationships we have with people from the internet?
