I came across the site Tweepme.com today and  I saw strange similarities between the basic model of the website and the operating model of the College Fraternity:

Similarities:

-Pay money to join (dues vs sign up fee)

-Paying money gives you instant friends that you become associated with

-You become associated or “friends” with people that you had few prior similar interests

I know many fraternity members who do have fun, but end up having no genuine social bonds with other fraternity members.  This happens because they have artificially created and synthesized a friendship through pledging, initiating and partying instead of seeking out friends in a more natural and organic way.  This isn’t to say that some people can’t develop meaningful relationships this way, it’s just in my experience the longest lasting friendships are ones that are formed more naturally.  More on the intricacies of the fraternity system in a later post.

Bottom line: Paying for friends and contacts to increase your social stature does not guaratee any genuine social interaction or happiness.