Facebook?

[Daddles]

What's the deal with facebook?

What do real people use it for?

Why should I waste my time with it?

I must confess that I've avoided the thing for some time now, but I've a neice in South America who is apparently posting stuff, and another group who apparently have a page and ... you get the idea.

One of the triggers was a 'friendship' request from some bloke I'd never heard off, but thinking it might have been someone I know on the internet, I wound up setting up an account to see who he was ... and could only get a photo of some bloke I've never seen (which would fit in with the internet thing).

Then I tried to find my neice ... without success.

I had a look around but couldn't find anyone by searching on names I know, even for people I know have accounts.

So I've deactivated the account ... and if I do it again, will want to do it 'properly'.

Questions ... apart from the ones above.
Do you use your real name or use a psuedonym (like many do on here)?
Why would you use your real date of birth? (rather pointless asking for a dob seeing it was happy to accept that I'm about 106 )
How on earth do you find anyone?

Probably lots more. I don't want you to try to convert an old grouch, I just want to know why I'd inflict this upon myself and the safest way of doing it.

Richard

[Pat]

Richard I use it for two reasons. Catch up with mates spread around the country - some woodies, mainly from surfing/surf club or work. Otherwise I muck around with a few games. I only allow my "real" friends to see personal details and do limit "gaming" friends access. I have my real name, but have a pic of one of my dogs.

[Wongdai]

Same as what Pat said. I use it to keep in touch with family and friends on a regular basis, see what they are up to, share photos, that sort of thing.

[arose62]

I mainly use it when I want that last little extra bit of frustration in my life - I'll log on after not having Facebooked for a while, and find that they have:
* changed the main page
* moved the links to settings around
* altered the way to view what my friends are doing
* removed the one thing that I thought was a good part of their design
* informed me that several thousand people have grown sheep in Farmville, or run over drug dealers in MyMafia, or slain dragons, or sent me a Pinky Winky Heart Throb wish, ...

General opinion is that Facebook is where all the Toyota engineers are heading at the moment.

For a while it was useful to track what friends and family are up to, but most people live stupendously boring lives, and some actively advertise that fact. The next most common posters are the ones who are continuously negative about everything. (A bit like this post, I guess )

Hope it works for you - just be aware that time spent on Facebook is time you are NOT in the shed!

Cheers,
Andrew

[RedShirtGuy]

I use it mostly to see what my "don't call me, I'll call you" friends (which is all of them ) are doing so I can crack the sads when I know they've been in the area and didn't at least tell me because it's not summer and they don't want to come and use the pool. Otherwise it's nice to know what else they've been up to.

When I change my status, it's usually to some purile or disgusting comment about something current just to get a few laughs.

I don't use a proper picture but do use my real name, which when written isn't how I've spelled it for a good 17 years, just incase some really old friends that I give a toss about look for me. Generally I keep it pretty private and low key.



Failbooking is a good site to see the stupid things other people use Facebook to say. (Warning: Can be adult material sometimes)

[Rattrap]

Same as what has already been said. I use it to keep contact with family & friends around the country. I have used my real name & age as it makes it easier for other old friends to find me in the future. I've used a photo of myself on the site but i also keep it locked to friends only & i am very selective of who i let in.

[Master Splinter]

To me, Facebook/Myspace are like downloadable mobile phone ring tones - I have no idea why people would use them or what motivates them to.

On one side - the 'let people catch up with you' idea sounds ok on the surface; on the other, it is setting you up to have your privacy invaded by anyone who can google.

For example, Sarah Palin's email account was hacked by the simple process of someone guessing her password recovery 'answer' by checking her details on her Facebook entry.

Although we don't have the identity theft concerns that the USA seems to have, to me, Facebook requires too much personal information to be useful - and withholding that info makes it useless for its intended purpose.

[funkychicken]

I'm with Master Splinter, yep I'm a 17 year who couldn't give a rats ugly bits about Fakebook

I have 5 close friends, if I want to keep in touch with them I'll call them or go and see them rather than tweeting them or throwing sheep at them. "Chatting" to 400 "friends" and sending them all "xoxo" etc. is no substitute for a face to face conversation or a real hug or kiss. It's just not the same.

That and the whole privacy thing. I see no reason to tell 6 billion people about my mundane life. It seems that everyone's shut out the real people in their life (neighbours, other commuters etc.) and replaced them with people on the other side of a computer

Ramble off

[AlexS]

Such wisdom from one so young.
Agree with every sentiment there FC.

[funkychicken]

I've been taught well, Master

[Gingermick]

face to face conversations can be difficult when your friends live in different towns or overseas.
And, through some people who spend inordinate amounts of time on FB, you can find people you went to primary school with, which is kinda neat.

[funkychicken]

True, but that's why we have phones, I can't see my mate in Melbourne but calling him is much better than twattering him (or whatever it's called)

Most people from school, I'd rather forget (That's just me though)

[corbs]

I have been in the Navy for 16 years and have accumulated friends all over Australia and the world. FB is great for putting up a post saying I went to AC/DC last night without having to call them all. Its a social networking tool... if you don't like it, don't use it. My wife plays the games and I really can't see the interest in them but at the end of the day... when she's playing them I can get left alone in the shed. I love FB as a quick cheap and easy way of staying in touch. Have to go now... have a friend in Canada saying hi

[Daddles]

Thanks for the feedback lads.

Actually, I thought I'd replied in this thread already but either I had a senior moment or it's been 'd (I couldn't have been that incendiary could I ).

But thanks.

Will I rejoin?
Dunno, it's up there with 'will I sand the next project properly or go with another bodge effort'

Richard

[RETIRED]

Thanks for the feedback lads.

Actually, I thought I'd replied in this thread already but either I had a senior moment or it's been 'd (I couldn't have been that incendiary could I ).

But thanks.

Will I rejoin?
Dunno, it's up there with 'will I sand the next project properly or go with another bodge effort'

Richard

Senior moment Richard.