There is a 95 percent chance (note: this number has absolutely no scientific merit) that your busy boss will simply forget he ever tried to friend you and you can continue to live your online life boss-free. Whoopee!
Be warned: there is a chance, however slight, that your boss may return back (from the dead) and confirm that he did in fact "sent" to the right person. At this point, he may probably send you a message alerting you again. In that case, you are to suddenly "find" the friend request and prayerfully accept it. I’m sorry, my netizen befriender, but your online life being so unlucky this time and is like "game over".
You must now go through the debilitating process of sterilizing your online identity, shoving all your PG materials you downloaded secretly. Sayonara all foul-mouthed netizen comments and hunk/chick pics. The only info you should keep on your boss-appropriate social networking profile are:
Proper Earthling Name (minus the salutation "Werewolf/Vampire")
Your Current Hybrid Location (not that haunted house)
Age (OMG, unless you’ve been lying about this)
Occupation (Lol, state your current job and not the one with u-know-what)
Your uploaded profile photo should be real cool or meek enough to proudly show to your aging Ah Kong and not your lover. Consider your profile now muzzled. (Click!)
If you’re on Facebook, there is an X way out (am I kidding?)
On Facebook, users can configure their privacy settings to control what people are allowed to see about them. (The manipulating creators have Facebook obviously had nosy bosses) You can set it so that only certain networks (those you have funky time in Poly, ITE, Uni with) are allowed to view photos, leave comments on your barbed wire wall, view your status updates, have access to your posted items, etc. You may give networks access to as much or as little information about your boring self as you pleased. Feel to hide private info, screen name info, applications, or anything strictly forbidden in your profile. Once again, I recommend you set it so that your boss is only able to see the info available on your NPB library card or driving license (if you have one).
You can also set up what is called a "exclusive limited profile" that allows you to determine which fields your boss or Not Friends are allowed to see and not indulge in fantasies. The only problem here is that you only have one limited profile. You can’t create separate profiles for separate groups. I can’t give if he's my little brother access to one portion and then try and restrict the rest of my limited profile from seeing it. That’s what the privacy settings are for, so make sure you’re using everything correctly.
The internet can be a real funky market when you’re forced to invite your boss into your online home. If your boss comes a’knockin’ saying "hi there!", don't drop dead yet...do your best to make it look like you’re off-line helping your mama washing dishes. However, remember to never, ever reject a boss’s request to be your pal. This will eliminate your prospective career advancement opportunities TREMENDOUSLY. Instead, invite him in as a good citizen, friendly and kind and make him feel welcome. He doesn't have to know he is being confined to one very zzz boring room you have created.
I hope you enjoy reading this. Good luck and happy working in your job!
(The contributor is an experienced psychologist and an editorial staff writer)