The increasing popularity of 'social networking' programs has led me to develop a set of rules for befriending people over the internet.
Virtual friendship over the internet is a constantly evolving thing, for which the rules are still developing. Joel Stein's acerbic response is one reaction, which you can read at this link. http://tinyurl.com/ysdy5h.

Generally my family comes before friends. That's just my lifestyle preference.
If you would like to add me to your online friends, you are welcome to fill out my irreverent online application form.

If I have met you in person, there may be reasons to add you as an online 'friend'. I am not obligated to add you as a friend simply because we have met in person. A fair number of my friends live quite happily 'offline'.

If I don't add you it might be because:
• I have just briefly met you.
• I am overwhelmed with 'friend' requests.
• I'd prefer to interact with you offline.
• I don't log in to every account every day.
• I'm busy trying to have a life in the real world outside the internet.
• Your profile does not appeal to my taste.
• You have over 1000 friends on the internet, and I'm not good with crowds.
• You are using a pseudonym and I don't know who you really are.
• You appear to be an email program designed to invite people to join social networks.
• You are affiliated with a social network I am not interested in joining.
• You have demonstrated childish or inappropriate behavior on the internet.
• You are affiliated with individuals, organizations, political parties, or businesses that I don't prefer to be associated with. That doesn't mean I don't like you.
• I don't like you.
• I don't like you, and I don't like the individuals, organizations, political parties, or businesses that you are affiliated with.
• I have never met you, and see no mutual interest in our being internet friends. That doesn't rule out being internet friends in the future.