Frannie Boyle

It’s definitely not an age-old question, but it comes up enough: Would it be awkward if I friended him on Facebook?

If you want the short answer, here it is: If you have to ask that question, then you probably shouldn’t friend request the guy. But sometimes, it’s even more awkward if you don’t. So let’s break it down:

1) If you are in a class with him …
If you don’t really talk, then that’s definitely not a friending excuse. That would be weird. There are two cases in which it might be appropriate:
Case 1: If you sit next to each other and chat it up from time to time … maybe. If you guys walk out of class and blatantly head in different directions even though you’re going toward the same place (especially Rand), then I would hold off for a bit.
Case 2: Group project partner? Alright, I’ll give you that one. Sometimes those mass messages come in handy. Also, it might be helpful to creep a bit and see whether your partner truly can’t meet this Saturday because of family troubles or if he is actually headed off to Gatlinburg for mountain weekend.

2) Random, one-time, late night activity …
No, definitely not.

3) Fraternity social chair …
Yes, because even if you never plan to step foot in that frat this year, you’ll still be the girl that always knows what’s going on.

4) If you see them out from time to time …
Ehhh, I don’t see why not. If you occasionally see them at parties or at Wild Beaver and always make it a point to chat it up with them, go ahead. Make sure conversation has been somewhat stimulating, though. If it’s one of those guys you met through a person in your VUcept group freshman year and your conversation usually consists of: “Hey! How are you?” “Good! How are you?” then a little smiling, nodding, then a “Well, my friend is sick,” as you walk away, I don’t think a solidified Facebook friendship is completely necessary.
Sidenote: If you obviously forgot their name the last time you saw them out but all of a sudden you remember it or find out from someone else, you should definitely friend them as soon as possible in order to patch things up.

5) If they are one of those big-named campus leaders (like the ones with the ASB profile pictures right now)…
Friend away! First of all, they are usually pretty nice. Second, it’s hard for them to keep track of everyone they know anyway, and they LOVE having more people to send their (sometimes annoying) updates and group invites to.

6) Consistently “seeing” someone, but not in a relationship …
Stinks about your situation, but yeah, I think you can probably go for that one. If you’re still holding out for things to work in the long run, I would hold off on the emo status updates, joining weird groups, or putting up psycho wall posts/pictures. Those may not work out in your favor.

7) The guy that consistently sends the “hey u up?” texts at 3 a.m. …
Friend at your own risk. They might turn from 3 a.m. texts to 7 p.m. Facebook chats.

—Frannie Boyle is a junior in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at mary.f.boyle@vanderbilt.edu.

Submitted by BluePhoenix on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 18:51.

You really don't have

You really don't have anything better to do than pick a petty fight with someone based on their political beliefs and demand that they debate you in the comment section of a college paper website? Sad.

And why are you trolling this on a non-political opinion anyway? Are people who write about important things not allowed to have fun? Get over your self-importance.

Submitted by Miransky on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 12:37.

Why bother?

She has always seemed to me to be a somewhat smug rightwinger who has never thought deeply about her beliefs, nor has ever had them challenged by difficult circumstances. But Vanderbilt has always had lots of such people, and God bless them and their right to publish their political thoughts. It's harmless so long as there are comparably ineffectual liberal voices published. Now our McGill fellow--he seems very self-absorbed and not yet to have learned that he won't change anyone's mind by his shouting. And this Boyle column, at least to me, did not seem to be of a political nature. Those who agree with him (like me) do, and those who don't won't and probably never will unless circumstances challenge their world view in later life.

Submitted by saitjordan on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 06:23.

It almost physically hurt me

It almost physically hurt me when you wrote "...after you vote that's pretty much all you can say about what's going on." Participating in political dialogue (emphasis on the dialogue Frannie) is probably the single most important thing that you could do as a student. Assuming that you cannot make a difference in any way is why politics is the way it is, and is why apathy, not terrorism, is America's biggest enemy. I'll give you an example: you don't consider yourself to be politically engaged (like too many Vandy kids) and you don't feel you can make a difference. Well one thing you can do for example is be mindful of the food you eat; does that steak come from a large industrial meat processing facility that stuns the animals with stun guns before they start to chop it up while it's still alive because the farm lobbies in this country have the USDA by the balls? If everybody demanded that they’re meat came from humanely treated animals, as opposed to thinking that they can't do anything, things like that could change. I'm also really sad, and frankly a little surprised that you think that not much has changed between the last administration and this one. If you'll recall, a pair of multi-trillion dollar unnecessary wars were started where over four thousand American lives have been lost, virtually all productive diplomatic relations ended or were severely strained, and the economy nearly collapsed. So perhaps you might understand why I end up in a lather when people like Frannie Boyle slap their gums promoting shameless self-absorbed right wing vitriol just so she can belong to something. You assume that I engage in armchair politics. Well I did my undergraduate studies at McGill University in Canada, and I was part of a group called the Global Aids Coalition consistent of about 25 students. In 2003 we started a campaign against a proposed Government bill that was set to prohibit the production of all generic anti-retroviral drugs which could have gone to save thousands of lives in countries that couldn’t afford them. For a full year we campaigned along with other groups in the country to have this bill struck down, and at the end of the day, it worked and we won. It was like a movie, and this experience taught me so much about what students as a political entity can achieve. So whoever you are, know that you are the cream of the crop, and that it is up to people like you and I with an education to change the status quo. I do not engage in armchair politics, and neither should you. Know that regardless of what profession you end up in, it is your responsibility to know the issues that affect us all, and understand the implications and true costs of all of our actions. Hopefully you might serve to be inspiration to Frannie one day.

Submitted by Amwidkle on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 20:08.

Politics as an armchair sport

Politics as an armchair sport only succeeds in creating unnecessary divisions among us common folk. The media love it when you buy into their hype (generating higher ratings), the pundits love it when you buy their books, and the politicians love it when you contribute, but the rest of us only stand to lose by wasting time thinking about things that are outside our control. Unless you're going into politics or the bureaucracy, or are sitting on top of a fortune, after you vote that's pretty much all you can say about what's going on. I see you're in grad school. If any of these arguments are of actual relevance to your line of work, more power to you. There is room enough in our society for both the selfish and the selfless - in fact, when we are doing our jobs, there is no distinction between the two. I assume you consider yourself a liberal. This past election was one of the most hyped in history. Apart from the good national and international vibe that comes from having a black president, ask yourself: what has honestly changed since the Bush administration? Sure, some things have changed, but totally out of proportion to what partisans on both sides claim. Our place in the world is still, and for the foreseeable future will continue to be, that of America. Our national interests and goals are the same as they were two years ago and will be two years from now. If America's macropolicy actually changed significantly from election to election then we would probably be viewed as neurotic and unreliable. If there's one thing the international system favors, it's stability. And, as America is the steward of this international order, it behooves us to keep a steady hand on the tiller. Sure, just for you I'll give Frannie a high five next time I see her, but you seem to be in greater need of reassurance. If you're looking for "vindication"... look elsewhere, look inward. Your life is one of the few things in this world over which you have control, or at least the illusion of control.

Submitted by saitjordan on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 16:34.

Okay whoever you are, you

Okay whoever you are, you don't know me and clearly you think I'm crazy and that's okay. But your friend is an incredibly selfish right wing nut with whom I'm trying and failing to engage in a simple debate on issues bigger than us because she's brought them up. I think what she does is irresponsible and inhumane, and I know we'll never agree on my 'insane' world view, but if she wanted to shut me up and vindicate her views, she would respond to me. But she can't because it's all a facade. Anyway this is officially a waste of my time from here on out - give frannie a high five for me.

Submitted by Amwidkle on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:12.

Another thing

I forgot to mention. One great thing about having friends is that they stick up for you without being asked. Get out there and make a few more. Then we can have a lovely chat, or as you might prefer, a fair fight.

Submitted by Amwidkle on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 09:59.

Indeed

Indeed that is your right. But if you continue to "crap all over" anyone who doesn't fit your insane worldview, the world will continue to perceive you as an "ass" - a fact you yourself, interestingly, acknowledge. Well, identifying the problem is the first step to recovery... next, I challenge you to recognize your attitude as a problem, and cultivate a positive outlook on life. Once you screw in all the loose bolts knocking around upstairs, maybe then Frannie will "add you on Facebook." Though at this point I really doubt it. No worries, there are other fish in the sea.

Submitted by saitjordan on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 03:49.

Coward

Really? Sending your friends to tell the meanie off? Thankfully I do get my news from sources other than the Hustler. But if Frannie continues to write bullshit on these pages, I will continue to crap all over em. Maybe Frannie should add me on facebook so the next time she wants to write some bollocks without backing it up you'll be reminded of my crazy ass. And by the way nationally important issues are relevant to Vanderbilt and general college life. You cannot discuss it only when it is convenient to you.

Submitted by Amwidkle on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 15:43.

Leave Frannie alone

Leave Frannie alone. What she chooses to write, or not write about is none of your business. If you want to read serious analysis on nationally important issues by experts, I suggest you look into The Economist, Foreign Affairs, etc. and outside the pages of The Hustler, whose mission is to provide a forum to discuss issues important to Vanderbilt and college life in general.

Submitted by saitjordan on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 08:19.

How do you go from writing

How do you go from writing about nationally important issues to writing about this stuff. Why don't you respond to responses on your articles? I've been challenging you for over a year now and still nothing. Is this a sign of the depth of your analysis?

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