Facebook is such a great way to keep up with friends. I like being able see what my friends’ opinions are on all sorts of subjects. I can tell political stances, movie/music/book preferences, games people play. I love when people post interest pictures or clever little memes. It’s actually pretty fun getting to know people this way without actually taking off my hermit hat and making an effort to interact with them. Especially if they live far away or if you can tell by their preferences that you wouldn’t get along with certain people in person. I can appreciate a healthy and occasionally overwarm discussion, but if I had to argue with certain people every day in real life, my head would probably explode. And then I wouldn’t be able to decide if I “like” things. Which would make me sad.

I enjoy being able to use Like on just about anything my friends post. I can “like” as many comments, photos, and status updates as I want. But I also understand the power of Like. And its nonpower. I have tried to be consistent in the ways I have liked or not liked certain things on facebook, but the more I use the process, the more I can see the nuances of its influence. Maybe the following doesn’t list nuances as much as my mere whimsy.

• I have read the comment/article/whatever, and I understand it.
• I have read the comment/article/whatever, and I agree with it.
• I have read the comment/article/whatever, and I appreciate the point of view.
• I am acknowledging this post on my newsfeed, but I haven’t read it.
• I don’t want to be too imposing on the conversation that involves the post, especially if the post doesn’t directly include me.
• I do not want to participate in a conversation, but I have read the comments.
• I’m about to unlike the post.
• I don’t really like the post, but I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring you.
• The post is clever, and I will most likely comment and/or share.
• The post is beautiful.
• The post is cerebral or literary or strikes a chord with one of my interests.
• The post acknowledges me in some way.
• The post made me laugh.

• I do not like the post.
• I do not understand the post.
• I’m feeling particularly snobby.
• I have read too many posts, and my clicking finger is tired.
• I missed the post.
• I am ignoring the post and may like it later.
• I do not want to like the post because I don’t want to have to unfollow or unlike the post later.
• I do not want to participate in a conversation, but I have read the comments.
• I disagree with the post.
• I do not like the person who made the post.
• I don’t feel close enough to the person who made the post to like the post.
• The post is not relevant to me.
• The post is not clever.
• The post has something to do with genuinely liking Fifty Shades of Grey or Twilight.
• The post is gross/crass/most likely rednecky.

The Like link has gone expanded from facebook to blogs, news sites, music sites, to just about everything on the internet. It’s a fascinating power to have and exercise, and it’s interesting to observe how people respond to what they like or don’t like. Just know if I Like or choose not to Like a post, it can have any meaning or a number of meanings at the same time. Or no meaning at all.

How do you like that?