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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 1, 2009 19:01:14 GMT
I don't really get it. I opened a Facebook account because someone wanted to show me photos on his Facebook account. Then my son became enthusiastic about it. Going to his page is the only thing that gives me an inkling of why Facebook is so popular. He's reconnecting with people he knew as a kid, and there's lots of posting of old pictures and cross-referencing with each other. But still, I have no idea how to "dress" my page, how to access lots of things on it -- only recently discovered that I had an inbox! -- how private or not it might be, etc.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 1, 2009 19:04:13 GMT
I used to have a Facebook account but I've since deleted it. I just can't be bothered. I don't have the time for more than 2 forum-type websites.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2009 19:10:50 GMT
I opened a Facebook account when requested to do so. Then I deleted it. Then I reopened it, but I have never used it. It repels me, but I feel that some time in the future it will be obligatory, like having a telephone.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 1, 2009 19:13:42 GMT
Yes, what you say is true. But would you register with your real name? There are pros and cons with this...obvious I'm sure.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2009 19:16:09 GMT
I registered as Kerouac, but I feel that it is ridiculous. I am, after all, in the normal telephone directory and anybody who knows me can find me.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 1, 2009 19:19:19 GMT
I've considered registering an anonymous username but that would defeat the purpose..and how would my 'friends' from the past find me? As if I care...
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 1, 2009 19:24:18 GMT
I'm trying to be open-minded about it -- scrutinizing my son's page & that of other people in his age group for clues. I guess the appeal is that it allows you to feature yourself and your activities without appearing too egotistical, plus other people's input shows up on your page, thus creating a network.
Am I close?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2009 19:27:50 GMT
Who knows? The whole point of my life so far has been to remain in the background rather than broadcasting my activities. I always let other people take the credit for what I have done. They like it that way, and so do I.
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Post by tillystar on Mar 1, 2009 19:29:54 GMT
I use it like you say Bix. I stay in contact with loads of friends and family this way.
Its great for organising events without making phonecalls to 10 people you can all talk and make a plan. Then you can share photos afterwards. I use it prety much like an e-mail account and only check in once a day or so. Your inbox is private and you ca set your privacy levels to suit you. I don't use it at all to talk to random strangers or meet new people, only people I want to see my page can.
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Post by gyro on Mar 1, 2009 20:01:25 GMT
Facebook is no different to using a forum like this, in principal. People get awfully and ridiculously snobby about it though. Naturally, there are some sad types on there, but there also that sort of person on any forum.
Like Tilly said, you can set privacy settings and the like to suit you, and it's not COMPULSORY to update everybody with intimate details of your life. Honestly, I don't know why some people get so snooty and repulsed by it; it's ridiculous.
In the future, there will be something else; FB won't be the B all and end all. And you mustn't forget that many people express similarly over the top thoughts on people that use forums ...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2009 20:14:27 GMT
What I can't stand about Facebook is all of the activity messages "so-and-so wrote something on his wall, whozit joined a yoga group, fuckface added 3 friends" etc.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 1, 2009 20:16:16 GMT
Well, what would I do to make my Facebook page interesting? Also, the one I currently have is under Bixa Orellana, which is not the name my parents gave me. It has a photo of me, but not of my face. It's not as though I'm a celebrity or someone who needs to hide from the press, but I still feel weird about putting a photo of myself out so publicly.
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Post by gyro on Mar 1, 2009 20:27:02 GMT
True, but you could be just as cynical and cutting about some of the threads/posts on any forum.
Like both instances, it's not exactly hard to ignore them.
Bix; making your page interesting is only something YOU can do. But if you don't feel right about posting a pic of your lovely self, then don't do it. People also get far more sensitive about having 'information' about themselves on the net. More overreacting, to me.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 1, 2009 20:53:36 GMT
My physician recently told me about people like you, K, who are gifted but stay in the background, providing the wherewithal for companies to make big money and letting the front men (mostly bullshitters) take the credit. He was explaining the nature of 'stress' to me...
if this is too personal pls delete it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2009 21:01:02 GMT
No, that pretty well describes it.
It annoys some of my colleagues, however, who are incensed to watch others receive "glory" for my work.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 1, 2009 21:14:19 GMT
He told me that its brilliant people like you who really run the economies for their countries.
I remember why he mentioned this: Because people like you (and me) are born worriers...we tend to be perfectionists and just have to get everything right, putting in extra hours and beevering away.
My son, who works in the City, was listening to all this and was fascinated. The physician gave us what turned out to be a mini-lecture that lasted an hour...all on the nature of stress and how it affects the body (mine in this instance) and the mind. And there's little we can do about it to change.
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Post by gyro on Mar 1, 2009 21:18:57 GMT
Oh sweet lord ......
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Post by palesa on Mar 2, 2009 4:58:24 GMT
I use facebook to
reconnect with friends who I have lost contact with and would like to reconnect with.
to keep in touch with family far away, share photos and to keep up to date with their goings on
to play scrabble!!!!
Bix, you can set your privacy settings that only your friends, or even only selected people can see anything about you, photos, info etc., so you could add photos and decide who can or cannot see them.
I resisted facebook for a long time, but am glad that I have an account, we have a lot of friends and family far away and it is much easier to post photos there than e-mail to everyone, with my niece being abroad now, she used her status up date to let all know how she is doing, they currently only get 5 min internet time a day, so it is easier to update her status than to send everyone an e-mail etc. etc.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 2, 2009 5:19:43 GMT
Scrabble? *pricks up ears*
Okay. I am going to think hard about having facebook in my real name. Really, because of having access to my son's, I can sort of see the point, and reading what you all have written makes me think others would appreciate having access to info about me.
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Post by tillystar on Mar 2, 2009 9:22:45 GMT
**backs away slowly looking scared** It took me alooong time to wean myself off the scrabble on there, even you mentioning it brings me out with sweaty palms and I am having to clutch my desk to stop myself going on there. Bixa, you don't have to put a picture - you could put your parkly shoes for ecample, a few of my friends have done that; although you can also put lots of pictures and decide who out of your friends sees them. For example if you wanted to post pics for your son to see but not old school friends you have got in contact with. There is loads you can do if you fiddle with the security. You can also block other people's status updates if you are not interested, or you could just ignore them unless you have a particularly nosey idle moment... I really like looking at other people's photos. Erm, not sure why I am sounding like I am trying to convince you to go on it. Really i don't work for facebook and am just trying to help
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Post by happytraveller on Mar 2, 2009 10:10:54 GMT
I mainly use it to stay in touch with people who don't live in my country. It's a great tool for this. I've also found a lot of old friends again through facebook.
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Post by gyro on Mar 2, 2009 13:24:43 GMT
I got a free mexican meal for the whole family out of it !
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Post by tillystar on Mar 2, 2009 13:56:15 GMT
How the hell did you do that? How the hell do I do that? You can't beat Free Food.
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Post by gyro on Mar 2, 2009 19:01:33 GMT
Well, to be fair, it was mainly to do with the whole 'catching up with someone I hadn't seen for 20 years' thing. And seeing as how he owns his own company, and can claim ALL the meal back on expenses .....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2009 19:37:06 GMT
Was it at least someone whom you were pleased to see again? Or was the meal the most positive part of the event?
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Post by gyro on Mar 2, 2009 21:00:39 GMT
What do you think ?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2009 3:12:39 GMT
I have absolutely no desire or inclination to put myself out there in cyberspace particularly with the idea of finding people from my past or vice versa. The whole idea turns me off. I stay in touch with those persons I care to and the others well,if they really want to find me,they will, or maybe they won't. I've lived in the same place and had the same phone# for 30 years,my mother is still in the same place where I grew up for 65 years. After Katrina there were a ton of people looking for me and they all found me.
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Post by happytraveller on Mar 3, 2009 6:09:02 GMT
Hey casimira, you just got a star !
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2009 11:51:35 GMT
Yes HT, I do. ;D,you're lagging there lassie. It's only because of being largely housebound from my injury.
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Post by happytraveller on Mar 3, 2009 11:56:33 GMT
I'll get there too... one day...
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