Sunday, October 18, 2009

Oh goodie - I'm not alone!

A couple of years ago, a friend got a book published. Being a good publicist, she immediately launched all sorts of publicity stuff including a MySpace and a Facebook page.

I couldn't see her Facebook page without joining Facebook myself, but I went to her MySpace page and was appalled. It was full of stuff that had a great deal of sexual suggestiveness, mostly from her "friends." An author, I'm told, can't necessarily refuse "friends" on a social networking site because hey, you might be missing out on potential readers or something.

It was such a turn-off for me that I decided never to get a MySpace or Facebook page.

My husband, who is on Facebook but limits his "friends" to actual friends, continually urges me to change my mind. Nope, won't do it.

Besides, I don't have the time to mess around with social networking sites. It's all I can do to keep up a writing schedule along with our woodworking business, livestock chores, general farm work, school work with the kids, and oh yeah, being a wife and mom.

And don't even get me started on Twitter, whatever the hell that is.

Bottom line, I'm not interested, and so far no one's been able to convince me I'm missing much.

Now I find I'm not alone. Whooo-hoo! While I'm a bit older than the demographic they mention in this article, the sentiment is the same. Over the past couple years, I've been contacted by friends and strangers alike, inviting me to join Facebook. The strangers I ignore - how can I know what kind of people they are? - and the friends I answer with a "No thanks" and explain why.

Besides, with all the stuff you hear about employers or whatever scouring the internet for incriminating stuff for new prospective new employees, I figure I don't need the temptation to load any old photos of me doing something questionable.

Here's another article justifying my aversion to social networking sites.

So there.

5 comments:

  1. not even mentioning the fact that the goverment has a contract with facebook to share all your info freely.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oooooooh, hadn't even thought of that...

    - Patrice

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so far behind the times I don't have a cell phone or even understand about twitter,etc. I have email and a land line phone. Not interested in facebook or any other type of thing. I keep in touch with friend by phone or email or in person. I like the simple uncomplicated things in life. Except for my machine embroidery that is!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good for you. You were nice and politely refused. I just ignored the invites. Anyone who knows me knows that I am stretching it to get my blog posted, email checked, and banking done. And this is only in the wee hours of the morning, before any farm work can be done. Where does everyone else get all of this time.

    Laurie in NC

    PS I'm envious of your pictures in Random Pics.

    ReplyDelete
  5. you want us to know you? but you don't want to know us?

    ReplyDelete