In an on-line Facebook world, sometimes friendships are as thin as cyberspace.

Westchester resident Nancy Shenker learned this the hard way.

Her story is in Sunday's New York Times.

But this is what she wants Loop readers to know:

'Face(book) the Facts:  Am I anti-social or just an old fashioned girl?  I am, like many of my middle-aged colleagues and friends, creating new rules and new uses for social media (Facebook in particular).  I was an early adopter of Facebook and use it to network, share pictures with people I know and like, learn about new things, and chat with friends (because, as an entrepreneur and mother living in the suburbs, my “real” social life is somewhat pathetic.)

A journalist contacted me recently about an article she was writing for the Sunday Times about “social media etiquette,” especially as it relates to politics.  My view is just one woman’s opinion of course, but I strongly believe that “my friends are not automatically your friends” in real life and in the social media world.  Good manners transcend technological advances, and just because you CAN contact everyone who has their profile posted doesn’t mean that you should.  If you use every social opportunity to aggressively sell your products or service, you will wind up with few friends (just like in the real world).

Perhaps I’ll never have more than 200 “friends” on Facebook, but I’d like to believe that the ones I do have actually know a little bit about me, care about my life and my business, and share a common interest or sense of humor.  Some of my online friends (like the editrix) are people I’ve never actually met in real life, but I like what they do, enjoy reading what they write, and have other friends in common.

As we navigate this brave and confusing new social media world together, we should all just remember to be polite, never post anything we wouldn’t want your clients, colleagues or mothers to see, and if we do want to sell, solicit, or fundraise among friends, be sincere and subtle.  And I really do welcome new “friends.”  I’m sure some of the 150 million people now on Facebook are really great folks!'

--Nancy Shenker is a marketing professional and facebook addict in Chappaqua. Check out her facebook page.  

editrix:  and there's always the Loop group on Facebook .

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