Are You A Social Networking Slut?

Are you a social networking slut? Do you scour the “Activity Partners” and “Groups” sections of Craig’s List in the hopes of reviving your near dead social life? Are you a member of at least five MeetUp groups? Have you started your own dining group, hiking group or movie group? Have you joined a book group, come to the meetings and not read the book, because you were busy attending other groups?

YOU, my friend, are a social networking slut. I should know. I’m a recovering slut.

People join social networking groups for various reasons:

1) They just moved to the area and are looking to meet new people. These folks are usually pretty normal and open to trying new things.

2) They just got divorced and are looking to meet new people. Needless to say, these folks have emotional baggage. They’re OK. They just need three years of therapy.

3) They’re socially awkward and are looking to meet new people. These aren’t bad folks. They’re just dorks and embarrassing to hang out with, that’s all.

4) They’re single and looking to “meet” new people. If you’re looking to hook up with a gorgeous babe or a tall, confident gentleman, then you will be sorely disappointed (see points 2 and 3).

Nobody starts out joining every social networking group on the Internet. Everybody starts out with one group, attends one of the outings, like a dinner or a concert. Some people have fun and attend some more events, and others are just fuddy-duddies and you never see them again.

Social networking sluts, however, have that addictive gene. They feel alive meeting new people and doing new things. To them, social groups are like potato chips or pussy cats: you just can’t have one.

Next thing you know, you’re always referring to your calendar, you’ve got a hundred phone numbers on your cell phone, and you’re constantly checking your email inbox to see what your next event is going to be.

The funny thing is that as a social networking slut, you’ll run into other sluts. “Hey, didn’t I see you at the Scrabble club?” That’s when you know you’ve explored the entire group circuit in your area.

Next comes: BURNOUT. After a while, you realize that you had a life before joining these groups. You had hobbies, interests and ambitions. You had friends (well, at least I do), and you try to reconnect with them.

Looking back as a social networking slut, I would say it’s been a great series of experiences. I’ve met a lot of interesting people and done a lot of cool activities. I still attend some events, and I still check my email for the next big thing (a word of advice to recovering Yahoo group and MeetUp sluts: unsubscribe yourself from the email notifications). But my life doesn’t revolve around these events anymore.

People join social networking groups not just to connect with others but to also connect with themselves. If you’re looking to meet new and interesting people, then give social groups a try. Just don’t go overboard.