Why do complete strangers want to be "friends" on Facebook?

[milestogo]

I finally started a facebook account recently and am "friends" with a small group of people who I know in person.

Some of their "friends" have invited me to be "friends", and some people who I've never heard of have invited me to be "friends". I just don't get it.

Is the whole idea here to have as many "friends" as possible?

[PJMcK]

1. Facebook is evil and dangerous

Use it sparingly.

Just sayin'.

[MaryMagdaline]

2. I have added friends who are only friends on Facebook

I have no intention of meeting them, but they are like-minded people, much like DUers, whose posts I enjoy.

There are two in particular, friends of my real friends, who have helped keep me sane during the last 2 years.

I have a restricted group on Facebook, just for politics, and there are several people I don’t know even in my own restricted group.

I don’t think there’s much difference between talking to strangers on FB and in meeting strangers at a friend’s house and having a decent conversation.

[left-of-center2012]

3. It's all about the numbers

Some people, maybe many, want to see how many 'friends' they can accumulate.

I think 5,000 is the max.