The Facebook Conundrum

Let me first say this, I really dislike Facebook. I don't like how I use it, I don't like how I use it, I don't like how others use it. And it disgusts me that I have the desire to check it so often. I want nothing more than to just delete it and be done with it for good.

But I feel trapped! Too many people use it! I get a lot of info from Facebook things such as bands or events that I can't help but feel i'd miss out on. I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone without a Facebook say, "where was my invite?" and get a response along the lines of, "oh, well it was on facebook."

I think we can all agree that people post the dumbest most pointless posts that nobody cares about. And i'm at the point where i have about 330 "friends" but i know about 300 i have hidden because i don't want to see what they post. so now i'm thinking, what's the point???

i just hate staring around a room and seeing everyone looking down staring at their phones. i know i'm guilty of it, too. i think i'm just gonna delete it... anyone have any opinions on the matter?

/rant

 

You do that I'll continue to share what movies I watch with my friends, Family and fans. I'll continue to use it to communicate with people I otherwise would have to rack up a large phone bill to talk to.

You hate it fine delete it whatever. The Rest of us with self control will continue to use it and tell others the mundane details of our lives.

 

Frankly, I see both sides of this. Facebook is a valuable communication tool, but it has really become a way for many people to avoid real communication (i.e., the people staring at their phones, etc.) . It's indicative of an overall sociological problem. Facebook isn't really the cause, because, if Facebook went down tomorrow, people would find another way to do the same thing.

If I may be so bold, I think Graciano is simply struggling with his awareness that he (and those around him) need more actual contact. He's frustrated. I can totally understand that.

I also completely understand the "Don't like it? Don't use it," argument.

Basically, I'm saying that these are both extremely valid points.

 

It's simple: use Facebook the way YOU want to use it and avoid the rest.

 

Exactly, like most things in life FACEBOOK is what YOU make of it. I have a Classic gaming and Computing (and several other) Facebook groups, as for my profile I use Facebook for keeping in touch, yes despite many peoples arguments that such sites actually alienate and keep people from "real" communication I will say from the moment I joined I reconnected and increased communication with many friends and relatives I had not communicated with in years. Now, common sense as always helps, if you get a "friend" request but are not sure who the person is you CAN ask and if not satisfied you can ignore the request, I hate people who bitch and moan about all the people that ignore them, stalk them etc, when THEY are the ones that chose to connect with such people.

Anyway, to the point, I use FB to stay in touch, share pictures, post comments and links and share things, I DO NOT play facebook games, allow all kinds of "apps" access to my account, I customize my security settings (check them monthly as Facebook WILL change defaults!) basically I use Facebook for MY means and purposes, I lock it down, secure it and use common sense! Don't want something possibly found or shared on FB? THEN DON'T PUT IT THERE! Hell I even customize the look and functions using Social Fixer which adds many features to the user experience while removing all the things many find annoying.

 

eh, i deleted it. well, actually facebook won't delete til after 14 days. i'm gonna try life without it for a while.

 

http://jezebel.com/5932465/if-youre-not-on-facebook-youre-probably-a-sociopath

Have fun being judged. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

 

good lord... what have we become??

this is an interesting idea.

 

Got two account:
1 for personal stuff (which I toned down on a lot actually) + some professional sharing.
1 other for professional sharing only (motorcycle club & racing matters): this way only people interested in said matters contact me/are contacted.

Besides posting the following on my website, forum and elswhere, I just love the free medium for organising events like meetings, races and expositions.

You just gotta find out yourself what purpose FB can fulfill for you.

 

I gave in when I started university. I found it extremely beneficial to keep in contact with the new people I got to know and to organize things. It's the same with me, I unsubscribed from around 80% of my "friends", but at least I know almost all of them from at least one encounter in real life. I don't have any celebrities in my friend list, I think that only has some purpose for people with self-esteem issues

I check it fairly often but wouldn't say I'm addicted. It's just one of those things that have gotten into our lives and while it means some extra "work", at least it's not as bland as Twitter. If you use it right and not too excessively, it helps keeping up with everyone else's lives and taking more interest in what they do.

 

Quite frankly, I hate Facebook and am not giving in. Even though I see everyone addicted to it like caffeine, I just like the feeling that I'm free from it. Now skype is another story...

 

COULD NOT AGREE MORE!!!!!!! I HATE FACEBOOK!!!! YOU ARE NOT FACEBOOK'S CUSTOMER...YOU ARE THEIR PRODUCT!!!!! I could continue ranting but I got lots to do! lol

 

I actually really like this one. Have one for just EVERYONE, and then one for only friends that I talk to on a regular basis.

 

^ 100% this.

 

As everyone said, use it as you want to use it.

Got friends who just post retarded stuff? Quietly unsubscribe from their posts. They won't know.

Just like Twitter, you can customize it so you see the content YOU want. Block games if you like. Set it so it only e-mails you when you get a DM or an event invite.

 

I block so much crap on facebook. But at least when I see something on my news feed - I am actually likely to be interested in what it says.

 

Did you pay Facebook any money in order to use it? No? Well, then of course you're not their customer.

 

I personally don't use it. However, if someone provides a "product or service" for you in exchange for anything, then you are in fact a customer. Also if you look at their Initial Public Offering filing documents they use the terms "users" and "customers" interchangeably. By getting this "product" most unknowingly sell their information to them which is how they make money by offering it to acquired third parties, third parties, and the government (which is how they get along well, unlike other sites...). There was an article in the WSJ today talking about how their stock is not only tanking (only worth half its original value) in addition to Zynga's and other "social junk" but they are also in trouble for double counting accounts in essence making them up.

By the way, I can't show the WSJ article to non-WSJ online members, so I found it in a few other places too:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-08-03/cnbc-facebook-fake-accounts/56759964/1
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/08/03/83-million-facebook-accounts-may-be-fakes/
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-02/...accounts-facebook-profiles-facebook-estimates
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_...-says-83-million-accounts-may-be-fake-double/

Pretty soon you will be able to find Facebook right next to MySpace...in the $1 bin at the store...