Would you "Facebook Friend" a Professor?

[MHaffer]

I have recently noticed that some of my classmates have added professors as their friend on facebook. Now, I do really like my professors, but I can't decide if this is a GOOD idea or not... I don't have anything I would hide on my facebook page, but still... I'm also thinking that most of my professors are way too busy to be spending their evenings browsing their students facebook pages!

So the question is, would YOU do it? Why/why not?

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

not a good idea. At some point you will reveal more than you wanted.

[serenity1]

My instructor invited our class to join facebook. It's a cool way to keep up with other classmates.

[Atheos]

I have professional contacts on my Facebook.

If there is something you don't want them seeing then set 'Permissions.'

I left my drinking game pictures back on MySpace...

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

I have professional contacts on my Facebook.

If there is something you don't want them seeing then set 'Permissions.'

I left my drinking game pictures back on MySpace...

Hey Stanley! I didn't know about the "permissions" thing. I'll have to check it out! Thanks -

Anne, RNC

[Feathers]

yep, you can add groups. Group A can see all posts, pics, make posts etc... group B cannot. You can post a note to your knitting club (I don't knit, just an example) & your schoolmates won't even know it's there. There's a neat permissions blog on FB, I think it's called 10 things you should know about FB. I'll try & find the link again if I can... and old grade school friend shared it with us all. You can even block your friends from tagging you in a photo that everyone can see.

To answer the question, I personally would not. I would keep an email address handy to ask for references in the future, but not on a social networking site, even after I graduated.

[Kitty_Kat]

This is pretty funny because just yesterday I accidentally found an old professor of mine on facebook - and I ran quickly in the opposite direction. I probably wouldn't even do it after graduation, but my professors aren't known for being particularly friendly.

[RockinLadySN]

No, I wouldn't. For one, we're not friends. I hate getting friend requests from people I went to high school with and we never even talked or hung out back then. Or we never got along. I hit the 'decline' button for them. lol

It'd be different if I knew an instructor for years. Otherwise, I think it crosses that professional boundary. Not to mention, while I don't have anything to hide on my profile, I do enjoy having fun with my friends on the weekends (well, not so much anymore.. I don't have time! lol). I don't want my instructors to see some of the goofy pictures, and some pictures do have alcohol in them (yes, I'm legal). I keep everything visable to only my friends. Nothing to be ashamed of, but it's something that my instructors really shouldn't be seeing.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

NO, if I really liked that professor and wanted to keep in touch AFTER then maybe. I only add people I know and talk to whether in real life on from message boards and I keep my profile private. To many stories of bias being formed from teachers and bosses checking out peoples myspace and facebook.

Shoot when I interview people for an add i might have on craigslist (maybe looking for a nanny or house cleaner or something) I always google their email on Face Book and Myspace and have not returned many inquires for some of the appalling stuff I found. I mean at least have a separate email account for business releated stuff. Although I am glad they didn't or I might not have found what I did.

My facvorite was a girl wanting to babysit, a very young attractive college student. Her occupation on her myspace was (Homewrecker) NEXT!!

[quiet_one]

I would add a professor as a friend on facebook...although I really don't post any personal info I wouldn't want anyone to see, it is still the internet! The school I go to is small and really laid back and the professors already know pretty much what is going on in your life, that being said I haven't even searched for any of them on facebook...I wonder how many actually have a facebook?

[lainith]

One of my previous clinical instructors has a Facebook page and although she is around my age and someone I would hang out with or talk to outside of school, she is not allowed to add anyone from our class to her friends and vice versa until we graduate. A student tried to add her and she told them that it wasn't professional.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Who have time for facebook ? I 've decided to have either myspace,facebook, or allnurses. I don't have time for facebook, wish I did.

[Atheos]

Who have time for facebook ? I 've decided to have either myspace,facebook, or allnurses. I don't have time for facebook, wish I did.

Multitasking...

Allnurses & Facebook are both on my Blackberry. All the time in the world to get the pseudo-social networking in between real human contact.