Franklin on Social Networking

Benjamin Franklin started one of the first professional networking clubs in America in the fall of 1727. Think of today's Kiwanis Clubs or the Rotary Clubs and you get the idea of his "Leather Apron Club". His club was informally known as "The Junto". To help discussions, he wrote this guide:

1. Have you read anything lately that is remarkable or suited to be communicated to the Junto?*
2. What new story have you lately heard agreeable for telling in conversation?
3. Hath any citizen in your knowledge failed in his business lately, and what have you heard of the cause?
4. Have you lately heard of any citizen’s thriving well, and by what means?
5. Have you lately heard how any present rich man, here or elsewhere, got his estate?
6. Do you know of any fellow citizen who has lately done a worthy action deserving praise and imitation? Or who has committed an error proper for us to be warned against and avoid?
7. What unhappy effects of intemperance have you lately observed or heard? Of imprudence? Of passion? Or of any other vice or folly?
12. Hath any deserving stranger arrived in town since last meeting that you heard of? And what have you heard of his character or merits? And whether you think it lies to the power of the Junto to oblige him or encourage him as he deserves?
14. Have you lately observed any defect in the laws of your country of which it would be proper to move the legislation for amendment?
15. Have you lately observed any encroachments on the just liberties of the people?
16. Has anybody attacked your reputation lately, and what can the Junto do toward securing it?
17. Is there any man whose friendship you want and which the Junto or any of them can procure for you?
20. In what manner can the Junto or any of them assist you in any of your honorable designs?

* reworded by myself – JL

In this internet age, some of these topics could be used for Twitter and Facebook, too, though these topics seem to me to be mostly for local and in-person meetings.

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Pictured: Benjamin Franklin at his regular day job, working in the printing office.

More information: Wikipedia, Franklin's Autobiography