Facebook & Poking

I planned to write this much earlier, but Jeff Pulver happened to inspire me before I could myself. Thanks Jeff!

It is not necessarily a generational gap that define the perception and conception of the poke. I have found it more of a social thing like you say.

The spring of 2004 is when I opened my facebook account because La Salle was not an influencer in this future bandwaggon. When you looked at everyones profile there was always this poke option, which obviously for the college demographic was a way to FLIRT or JOKE with your friends & associates, especially since at that time you could only look at people in your own network.

I felt like this was the prequel to an internet conversation that you were too embarrassed to engage, thus allowing the 'pokee' to qualify you as 'whatever' would engage them to you.

After I graduated and Facebook opened up to the WORLD, then this poking feature seemed to make much more sense. I was opened to engage with people without even having to say a word.

Unfortunately, we do live in a very homophobic society, so poking males in my personal opinion would not work because there is a perception to this tactic. On the other hand, poking a professional woman could come off as inappropriate like you are trying to hit on this educated woman, instantaneously tarnishing the potential relationship.

Anyhow, I feel version 1.0 of poking will step up. Twitter has the nudge, though I have not heard much about it or even used it. I will still continue to grow my poking skills this 09'. GOod luck!