This forum hardly is considered social media, considering that it is anonymous and Facebook requires you to use your real name. Because of these reasons, I never placed much thought into the "friend" system here. After all, you are hardly required to commit to anybody here and as long as you don't give a lot of information out about yourself, then it can be made completely separate from your personal life.

I don't understand why people might feel uncomfortable with the "friend" system here because of these reasons, but I guess other people may be different.

P.S For what it's worth, I have met a few very amazing people here. One has my phone number, one my Skype, and a couple others have my online handle for my online gaming accounts. It is entirely my choice to give this information out and who I give it out to and just because somebody is my "friend" on here doesn't mean that I'm required to give them any contact info. It is my choice alone and as long as I'm not forced to give my real information out to people that I have "friended" than I see no reason why I shouldn't accept somebody's friend request if they choose to send one.