As a comparitive newcomer in the field of online communication I find myself somewhat bemused by the concept of 'networking'. I am quite familiar with the term 'network of spies' but as there are very few men in dark glasses and homburg hats in evidence nowadays, I assume that an interest in invisible ink is not essential. However, to my surprise it would appear that simply by joining Virb, I am indeed part of a network. It seems to be something can be done to you or that one can indeed do to others but sadly I don't think I'm terribly good at it. Frankly it all boils down to the concept of 'friends' and what this means in the electronic world. I rather like the definition that a friend is a man who knows all about you and yet still likes you, and here on Virb there is of course an element of disclosure. People can reveal as much or as little about themselves as they choose, be it their taste in music, literature, art etc and if one is lucky, a glimmer of personality will shine through their words and pictures. For my own part I like to think that people would be horrified to see how similar I am in the flesh. I find myself inevitably drawn towards wit and creativity. I like to think that in choosing me my dear wife felt the same but it was probably a morbid interest in the eccentric...

My own selction of friends is admittedly somewhat small - perhaps this is due to my inability to 'play the game' but nevertheless they are exclusive by default. My problem is an ability to 'befriend' those who are incapable of responding to or making comments of their own. A request for friendship from someone who has said/commented nothing about you is most curious. One almost feels distraught at their lack of selectivity. If non-communication was an essential element in the process one might as well befriend the nearest lampost. Indeed, I have had a close personal relationship with a local hedge for many years now. Perhaps one could enliven the process by having an Enemies list? Better still, a league table so that one could suffer demotion from 'Stalwart Chum' to 'Loathsome Blaggard'! To my great surprise I rather like this truncated quotation from Virgina Woolf...

'I have lost good friends, some by death...others by the sheer inability to cross the street'.

Quite.