Any Facebook savvy people on here?

[stratocast]

Firstly, let me say, I don't have a Facebook account, I don't want a Facebook account. I have attempted to erase all knowledge of Facebook's existence from my memory through invasive surgery. I'm a one man crusader attempting, with increasing futility, to protect what's left of my privacy and the mere mention of Facebook causes my tinfoil hat to vibrate and glow alarmingly!

OK, a little exaggeration there (except for the hat, which I find quite fetching).

Anyhow, I received this e-mail (see pic) from a friend who has just set up a Facebook account. Fair enough, he's a good, long-time pal of mine who travels a lot and for him maybe a Facebook account is a good idea.

My problem with this e-mail and the source of my irritation is the listing of "Other people you may know on Facebook". This really got the old hat twirling!

1. There are six names there, all of whom I know. How on earth does Facebook know that I know these people?
2. My friend will know only two of these people and these two will probably know each other as well as my friend. The rest have, with absolute certainty, no connection to or knowledge of the existence of any of the others in what I, perhaps naively, still refer to as the real world.

Is it merely that these twerps have got my e-mail address listed somewhere on Facebook? Is it really that simple?

On the other hand, I don't know whether to be happy or sad that my suspicious and paranoid nature (or as I like to call it gregarious and friendly) has only garnered me six friends. Just call me Billy No-Mates!