Totally selfish poll: Friends...

I'm a newbie (pre-op) and the "friends" on my page are people that I've found I have something in common with. I can't lie I've also added people to keep up with their progress pics. The progress pics keep me motivated. I do check my profile page to see if any of my friends have updates and I have used the chat feature here also.

 So the people I've friended (like 2) are those who have the same surgeon or fellow therapists.
People who have friended me (and I approve ALL friend requests b/c I'm a friend-ho) are mostly those who have the same surgery date. I've PM'd a few of them just to celebrate how close surgery day is. 
I start on this forum & keep it up on my browser all the time. I occasionally go to my start page and also have a blog on OH (that I'm sure no one reads). I don't do ANY other social networking. Just my opinions.....

I use the "Start" feature to keep up with what my "friends" are saying.  I occasionally send a PM re. a topic, but mostly just post here and on my favorite groups.  

I've been resisting FB and hate the idea of twitter.  I'm an old foggie and I didn't want to be caught in a teenager's forum.  Now it looks like I'm behind the times and need to get my FB in order.  

What is the "start" feature? How do you do it and what is it used for? I would like to do better about keeping up with my friends, and what they are doing. I have about 20-25. Thats more than I have on FB, i think. Most of them are from people with close surgery dates as mine, and from people who have liked some of my posts. I've friended some people for the same reasons. But, when somebody sends me a message and I read their profile, and feel a familiarity I tend to message them a long description of my story ot what I'm going through and ask them about things that they have going on...and then....I never hear from them again. I dont get it. I guess it's just people who want to see how many friends they can get. So I stopped unless they contact me first. Tired of feeling like an idiot for writing and not getting an answer!!

There's a Friend feature on this site??? What is it and what does it do???  LOL

I sometimes visit other boards but usually cruise right into the RNY board and that's pretty much where I stay. Perhaps that's due to the fact that I'm not much of a social butterfly...I don't even have a FB account! Pathetic no? He he  

I use it to easily follow some folks, message or mail easily.  Others on my list are those who have requested to add me.

I am new, and requested to be "friends" with a few people, hoping that after I have my surgery I will have some like minded people to chat with, but this whole thing is just too new to me!  Lately I have just been keeping up with this board... noticed you are on here a ton!  Thanks for your posts... you always have great info!  Liked you Facebook page as well... I LOVE Facebook!  Don't know what I would do without it!  ****ep in touch with many family members and friends!)