When I was growing up, poking was what I did to my sister when I wanted to annoy her. Therefore, it’s strange to me that the word ‘poke’ would mean anything other than “to bother or annoy.” Yet, today, Facebook has instituted a friendly version of ‘digital poking’ as a way to reach out.
As a little sister (both in life and at heart), it’s hard for me to imagine any kind of poking, digital or physical, that isn’t annoying. On the digital front, poking someone on Facebook seems to be the smallest amount of effort humanly possible to tell someone “hello.” It has been my experience that the people who typically send pokes are either:
- Strangers (because it would be weird if they sent a message)
- Classmates from the second grade (because they don’t really want to reconnect, but they want to let you know they are watching you)
- An insecure crush (because he’s too shy to send a message, text, or call, so he sends a little nudge/poke to test the waters)
Based off the research I have done during long road trips with my sister and the assessment I have taken from the sorts of people who poke me on facebook, I have concluded that people, in general, don’t like to be poked (especially ladies).
Mind your manners,
Deb
I was unaware people still poked. Haven’t we evolved to flirting via wall posts?
It’s very creepy when random guys who you DON’T know “poke” you. Just don’t do it guys if you don’t know the girl. That will pretty much guarantee she’ll NEVER talk to you.