Does Poking on FB really mean...
- Thread starter John O.
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Man, I sure hope not.
*is now even more wary of cooleddie*
*is now even more wary of cooleddie*
It depends on context. It is sometimes done in a flirting context, sometimes in a joke-flirting context, sometimes in an entirely friendly way with no other connotation.
I also was once poked by a friend of mine's brother (who I was not friends with). I'm still trying to figure out the context with that one.
ETA: With Cooleddie, it probably does have an implied sexual connotation
I also was once poked by a friend of mine's brother (who I was not friends with). I'm still trying to figure out the context with that one.
ETA: With Cooleddie, it probably does have an implied sexual connotation
Oh, I'll add that old people have no concept of any sexual connotations for poking. They probably think it's something cute. It's closer to the third option (friendly poking). So, old people, please don't poke your relatives
It depends on context. It is sometimes done in a flirting context, sometimes in a joke-flirting context, sometimes in an entirely friendly way with no other connotation.
I also was once poked by a friend of mine's brother (who I was not friends with). I'm still trying to figure out the context with that one.
ETA: With Cooleddie, it probably does have an implied sexual connotation
What? How can poking by itself have any sexual connotations? Or do you mean when poking is combined with messages?
I consider it to be just a friendly thing. I have a guy friend on FB who pokes me all the time, and when he does, I poke back. But he is very happily married...and I take it simply as just being a friend.
They should just rename it 'Wave Hello'.
Poking on facebook. It has these connotations simply based on background context. While it doesn't have to have sexual connotations (flirting is more accurate than sexual anyway), it usually does among those who are aware of what it generally means.
I know that's a bit circular, but it's still the general case. Once again, this doesn't apply to people who are ignorant of this context or find it better to ignore this context.
Exactly. That is what I take it as when someone does it to me...and that is what I mean to do when I do it back.
This definition never occurred to me. I have never poked anyone though (I am a Trekkie).
It never really occurred to me that it had a sexual context until awhile back this girl I knew joined a group that said "I see you've poked me, I guess that means you're DTF?"
I subsequently had to google the term "DTF" (proceed at your own discretion), which of course made me feel incredibly old. Shortly after, I issued an experimental "poke", which she reciprocated
. Uh boy. Talk about code
I subsequently had to google the term "DTF" (proceed at your own discretion), which of course made me feel incredibly old. Shortly after, I issued an experimental "poke", which she reciprocated
. Uh boy. Talk about code 
I have several poking wars going on, so i certainly hope not. I mean ... it makes me come off as a whore.
Oh wait ...
Oh wait ...
I am old enough to have watched TOS in it's first run, and I assure you that -at least where and when I grew up- the phrase "to poke" someone had both the cute, innocent "nudge" definition for kids and Grandmas (like "Mom, Karen won't keep on her side of the car seat! She won't stop poking me!"), along with the use of the term as sexual slang particularly by teenage guys to imply some penetration.
I think on Facebook, it was originally intended as a "nudge" of a hello. Poke, in general and to me, implies that you are trying to use as little energy as possible to get someone else to do something. Sort of like, "I am really not interested in taking the effort necessary to type anything even slightly meaningful to you, but maybe you'll make the effort to send me something interesting to read so I'll be amused." But maybe not...
I think on Facebook, it was originally intended as a "nudge" of a hello. Poke, in general and to me, implies that you are trying to use as little energy as possible to get someone else to do something. Sort of like, "I am really not interested in taking the effort necessary to type anything even slightly meaningful to you, but maybe you'll make the effort to send me something interesting to read so I'll be amused." But maybe not...
I subsequently had to google the term "DTF" (proceed at your own discretion), which of course made me feel incredibly old. Shortly after, I issued an experimental "poke", which she reciprocated
The beauty of forums like this: can learn something new
I'm the Facebook Gen and that even made me feel old. But prob unusual among peers in that have no FB, myspace, twitter, whatever and no interest in acquiring (other than work-related). But I guess it's perniciousness of social media that even I know what 'poke' signifies... YBF (Young British Fogey)
Myself and my circle of friends just take as meaning "I'm thinking of you, and I wanted you to know, but I didn't have anything specific to say".
At least I hope so, anyway, because my little sister and I "poke" back and forth all the time!
At least I hope so, anyway, because my little sister and I "poke" back and forth all the time!
Poking's context-sensitive, from innocent to flirtatious depending on who's poking who. Just like in real-life.
I would be honored to be your first
