To the unapproved friend candidate with everything set to private
Some years ago, I only relied on Myspace for my voyeuristic impulse. On both venues we bat aside unrecognized eyes for fear of spam. As noted in the title, distinguishing marginal cases becomes particularly hard when the page has zero information due to self-censorship.
Before advertisers mastered this technique, I used to receive comically obvious requests. Their profiles had zero information on it, just empty default boxes. One day, I received a request from a private member whose only feature was the profile picture:
Two people depicted hover on the edge of recognition, but I had grave doubts. So I wrote the message below to praise either the new standard or demand the requester's reassurance that sh/he (forgot to record the profile name or date) had only benign intentions. The absent reply confirmed my suspicions. I saved my query for posterity but (as with anything I note here) it lacks the 'seriousness' to qualify for my blog.
-$-
While flattered by your offer, I do not recognize you in that photo. It would be helpful if you told me either how I know you or how you came to find me (ie a mutual friend). The privacy setting bars legwork I would have done myself. As a myspace user, you certainly have received offers from spam accounts and ought understand my reservation.
If you are a marketer (and sadly will unlikely read this), I applaud your cunning. Surely, this is the next phase of attention exploitation. Normally, the competition's barely developed page (except the single profile sized sexy photo) instantly expose the ploy. I would not have believed it, but a fully private account is more compelling despite offering virtually no information. The message of exlusivity and a subtle rappaport by a similar siege mentality.
Your only failing is that sole scrap of identification: the photo. The people are vaguely familiar and diffuse enough that I might have convinced myself that one of the girls is one of my sister's friends. But, the male subjects give the game away. None of them activate a memory. Further, none are even candidates for site owner and are totally a spurious inclusion. I admit it appears as though the scene fell from a group date. I admit it might disarm those who join that sort of outing. I do not belong to that sort. Thinking further, I realize that it may serve in attracting female 'friends' by establishing social legitimacy.
Well played, sir (or madam). I am half inclined to add you just for the sake of back tracking your identity to make sure you acually know my appreciation. The threat of immediate comment spam is a sufficient medicine against the notion though. I would almost be disappointed if you are a legitimate friend requester. If not, then I hope you enjoyed seeing caution spin into a gushing pinwheel of paranoia.
Good day