Friends I didn't know I had
So there I was, minding my own business this morning, writing yet another column, when I checked my email and there was one from Nikki Woodroffe asking if I would be her friend on Facebook. Well I'm already her friend so that seemed OK.
Anyway I signed up and all hell broke loose. I'm getting friends, old faces and people I didn't know I knew popping up all over the place. I'm wondering if accidentally I pressed the button which allowed the system to approach all the 700-odd people on my email log to be my Facebook friend. How embarrassing.
The strangest reaction came from my eldest son, John, who didn't think it was at all cool that his dad might be listed as one of his friends. Anyway he's confirmed me.
Weak ties
Some I don't know from Adam but some I do. Most are in the category of "weak ties" described in this column that refers to the work of Mark Granovetter. That's OK. As the column says, weak ties are good. But how many people are real friends?
It's hard to define a real friend. I suppose it's someone who will help you out when times are tough. I've never had it tough so it's hard to know who my real friends are. But I think I know who they are. My best friend above all others is my wife, Gill. I know that might sound a bit corny but it's true.
Alan Friedman
But there are many more good friends - the sort you enjoy sharing time with. I like friends who tell interesting stories or who surprise me with the things they say or do. I shouldn't admit this, but I quite like outrageous people and some who are really not nice people but who are amusing and have a certain edginess. Alan Friedman, if you ever read this, you know who I'm talking about.
I've lost touch with Friedman. He was outrageous in many respects and, like many such people, would neglect his friends. But he was marvellous company. He introduced me to the wild side of New York that I would have never seen otherwise.
Star Ship Enterprise
He was gay of course, but a bloke's bloke all the same. We called on him in Paris a few years back. In the hallway each wall was painted with a different prime colour with bright green on the fourth wall. There were leopard skin chairs in front of the fire. The telephones were shaped like the Star Ship Enterprise and, above the dining table where there is usually a light, there hung a glass bowl with a goldfish swimming inside. It was all very decadent. But that was Friedman.
We worked together a lot on the Arms to Iraq story in the early days where we found a conspiracy around every corner. I lost touch with him but saw he was doing a business slot on Italian TV. Friedman - one of the great characters of the FT. Not every one's cup of tea. but I liked him.
I notice his Wikipedia entry has aroused suspicion. I'm not surprised. I can see one or two dodgy claims. He almost certainly wrote it himself. I notice also that it's all "was" stuff. I wonder what he's up to now?
Anyway I signed up and all hell broke loose. I'm getting friends, old faces and people I didn't know I knew popping up all over the place. I'm wondering if accidentally I pressed the button which allowed the system to approach all the 700-odd people on my email log to be my Facebook friend. How embarrassing.
The strangest reaction came from my eldest son, John, who didn't think it was at all cool that his dad might be listed as one of his friends. Anyway he's confirmed me.
Weak ties
Some I don't know from Adam but some I do. Most are in the category of "weak ties" described in this column that refers to the work of Mark Granovetter. That's OK. As the column says, weak ties are good. But how many people are real friends?
It's hard to define a real friend. I suppose it's someone who will help you out when times are tough. I've never had it tough so it's hard to know who my real friends are. But I think I know who they are. My best friend above all others is my wife, Gill. I know that might sound a bit corny but it's true.
Alan Friedman
But there are many more good friends - the sort you enjoy sharing time with. I like friends who tell interesting stories or who surprise me with the things they say or do. I shouldn't admit this, but I quite like outrageous people and some who are really not nice people but who are amusing and have a certain edginess. Alan Friedman, if you ever read this, you know who I'm talking about.
I've lost touch with Friedman. He was outrageous in many respects and, like many such people, would neglect his friends. But he was marvellous company. He introduced me to the wild side of New York that I would have never seen otherwise.
Star Ship Enterprise
He was gay of course, but a bloke's bloke all the same. We called on him in Paris a few years back. In the hallway each wall was painted with a different prime colour with bright green on the fourth wall. There were leopard skin chairs in front of the fire. The telephones were shaped like the Star Ship Enterprise and, above the dining table where there is usually a light, there hung a glass bowl with a goldfish swimming inside. It was all very decadent. But that was Friedman.
We worked together a lot on the Arms to Iraq story in the early days where we found a conspiracy around every corner. I lost touch with him but saw he was doing a business slot on Italian TV. Friedman - one of the great characters of the FT. Not every one's cup of tea. but I liked him.
I notice his Wikipedia entry has aroused suspicion. I'm not surprised. I can see one or two dodgy claims. He almost certainly wrote it himself. I notice also that it's all "was" stuff. I wonder what he's up to now?
Labels: Alan Friedman, arms to Iraq, Facebook, FT, goldfish, Italian TV, Mark Granovetter, New York, Paris, Star Ship Enterprise
posted by Richard Donkin at
8:34 PM
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