Facebook and other social networking sites have drastically changed the way we communicate, make friends, share and even love. There have been instances of boyfriend/girlfriend or even spouses finding out about the end of their relationship via Facebook. There are those who have located long lost friends of course, but some even managed to find parents and siblings via Facebook.
In one strange story a woman named Kelly Hildebrandt went looking for another person by the same name, met a man who had the same name, fell in love and got married… to the other Kelly Hildebrandt! Another strange story was that of Rodney Bradford whose “Facebook alibi” absolved him of assault charges. And then there was one case of a depressed woman losing her monthly medical benefits because she “looked too happy” in her Facebook photos! There was even one Facebook addicted burglar who logged into to computer while “on a job” and then forgot to log out – say what??
Recently some more amazing Facebook stories emerged from India as well –
Man and wife hook up and find they are already married – to each other
One Bareilly couple had separated because they were incompatible, fought constantly and simply could not stay together. Both decided to look for a fresh start in a new relationship so they (both) assumed fake names and (both) decided to “look for someone better”. Then (both) found “someone interesting” and stayed in touch for three months before deciding to meet in person.
They (both) apparently had the same favourite restaurant in Bareilly and were (both) horrified to see each other and to discover what their undercover shenanigans had led to. Predictably the couple started to fight here as well and the police had to be called to intervene. Sigh! Apparently stupidity is not a crime so the police couldn’t book them under any section. The couple was free to go and to fight another day.
American “Mom” attended Gorakhpur wedding
An unusual and remarkable friendship had sprung up between Deb Miller of the USA and Krishna Mohan of Gorakhpur India via a common friend. Miller is childless and she asked Krishna if he would be her son in name.
Krishna, who had lost his mother when he was in his teens was happy to go along with this and over four years, the mother-son bond deepened. Krishna’s wedding was fixed for 29 January, and Miller decided to attend. She traveled to his village in Gorakhpur’s Pipraich armed with traditional gifts of jewellery for her ‘bahu’. She carries back 24 sarees as ‘return gifts’ and vows to return to India to see the Taj Mahal soon, “with her son”.
So where on the one hand Facebook offers up undeniable evidence of human stupidity, on the other it tells us heartwarming stories of decency, humanity and of joyous relationships that know no nationality, creed, age or colour.
