Poached eggs, poached friends

Having too much time on my hands is not good for me, but it is beneficial for you, dear reader[s].

I'm going to make a confession: I am a friend poacher. Okay, it's not like I'm a serial killer, and it's not even a secret, but I had to let it out. New York Magazine has a nice piece about the issues, but I prefer The Seattle Times's write-up better:

Couples poach other couples at dinner parties. A friend can poach a book club. Adults make friends with people they meet through close friends, neighbors and co-workers. Now, online social networks like MySpace and Facebook make it even easier to circumvent the friend who connected you in the first place and contact someone new on your own.

Poaching can be driven by competitiveness, a need to expand a social network, busy lives that make it hard to meet people and, of course, a real connection with a new person, Smith said.

Good friends already have vetted their network, and it is easy to go through someone you trust. And some people take it too far, relying completely on friends to establish networks. Smith calls them "serial" poachers.

Though it does make sense. You're friends with your friends, and they obviously have quality taste in companions, and you use it to your advantage. What better way to broaden your social circle? Most of the work has been done for you! It's just like that practically-defunct website Friendster; the principle is the same and is way sensible.

The friends aren't really poached honestly. Sharing is caring!