Once again, privacy concerns about Facebook is driving some people away from the social networking site. So once again my reluctance to join Facebook is justified.
I cannot begin to count the number of invitations I've received over the last couple years to join Facebook. Most are from friends, urging me to come see the latest photos of their baby / house / dog / vacation / whatever. While I'm eager to see the pictures, I can't unless I join Facebook.
Nope. Won't do it. There's just a leeeetle too much slime factor involved in Facebook and other social networking sites. Frankly they make me nervous - apparently with good reason.
This article details why a financial writer decided to leave Facebook. Okay, fine, no arguments from me. What startled me were some of the comments left below, such as:
"You quit Fb because you're a luser without a single real friend."
and
"Glad you're gone! Now go scream at the neighbors kids to get out of your yard."
I get the impression these posters really need to get out more. Maybe see some honest-to-goodness live people. Perhaps walk their dog. Y'know, that kind of thing.
Meanwhile, we Luddites who refuse to have a Facebook account will continue our merry way, having tea with friends, having potluck dinners with neighbors, volunteering in the community, calling people on that old-fashioned gizmo called a telephone, that kind of thing.
From Save the Canning Jars:
ReplyDeleteYou're not crazy. My two 20-something year old "kids" have computer security degrees and have certifications from the NSA and have NEVER had social networking accounts...in fact, they warn
against it.
I've been on Facebook a couple of years and tweeked the privacy settings 2 or 3 times over that period. I suppose I haven't much to hide and too old to care anyway :)
ReplyDeleteLike a lot of things what you get out of it depends on what you put in. I do 2 or 3 posts or links per day on subjects that interest me and get a pleasant buzz when I get comments from like-minded friends. My FB page is the first thing I look at in the morning and last thing at night but doesn't interfere with normal day-time activities.
Sam Gustin complains about boring posts. Is it possible he is getting the "friends" and posts he deserves?
I had a Facebook account for a few months, but found that I never used it. So I deleted it. I find the whole Facebook subculture a bit creepy, to be honest...
ReplyDeleteI, too, receive "invitations" and they just annoy me. Who has the time? I keep in touch with the people I care about, already.
ReplyDeleteSad, sad that there are people out there who think that if you're not on Facebook you don't have real friends.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to blog. I admire people who can organize their thoughts and get them down on paper.
No way Jose' uhh sorry, is that not politically correct? Anyway, I would never join such a thing! It seems like an assinine activity to me. But what are you to do? I just figure that they know enough about you already without willingly pumping them more flawed and stupid information. I am also old quedula. And I am not amused by the peebrains.
ReplyDeleteI prefer my friends to be real, not virtual. I don't trust ANY of those social networking sites. Not to mention they take more of an investment in time than I feel like dealing with. Pulling weeds is a lot more important.
ReplyDeleteBesides, with a real friend, I can take her a loaf of bread and get goodies from her garden, or trade homemade bread for a small pot of homemade healing salve.
#1 Tell those friends to mail, or even e-mail you a picture of their newly beloveds. If they are friends, why would they not?
ReplyDelete#2 Never put anything in print (especially on a public forum) that you wouldn't want your mother, the FBI, or an axe murderer to see. If it's secret, why would you put it out there where any second rate hacker can get it? If it's really, really secret, why would you even write it in a diary or journal, where any second rate burgler or little sister, or FBI can get it?
#3 Sit face to face with friends and family. Talk, giggle, argue, cry. Interface with people, not an "Image" where they (and you) can lie about anything at all and only God knows.