MUSING ... Facebook, why would we?

[Bara]

OK, Apparently, there's another 'Barbara Tuohy'. No? Really??! Yes. But then, she says : 'Thanks for reaching out! I won't forget YOUR name!!'

?

And then - my inbox is full of people I don't know. I'm tempted, I confess, by the guy in pigs' ears who is the friend of a brother of a girl I knew in school.

Seriously, can someone explain the 'Facebook' attraction? I know that many of my intelligent friends are addicted.

Perhaps you haven't had pigs' ears. Or people with your name.

[brooks]

Let's see.....

it's where all my friends are, not just this board or that, which means one post gets them all

you get to meet new people, I was just accepted to a huge Orchid club in Australia, I was invited by another friend from another board who is a member

there all kinds of games to play, it's what I like, I play Farmville and Farmville2 and fish world,

I also keep in touch with my family, most are members and I get to see picture of the kids more often



If your so iffy on Facebook ? how come you have two accounts ? Under BT and BJ

As for the friends request, it's the Facebook program, not the people themselves, who are trying to find you more friends it's the whole point of the website. We all get them, just ignore them if you don't want to be there friend.

[Big Tee©]

I don't get it either - I don't understand WHY every single person/family in this whole community is on facebook and some with multiple accounts.

I have been badgered to join but am still not convinced the thing is above board as to security...I do not want my info sold to the highest bidder.

[Bara]

No, I don't get it ... I wouldn't even know how to access your FB, Brooks.

Do I really have two accounts? Tch. Who did that??

On the BT account, I'm listed as being at the wrong school, still living in London and working for the Rainforest Café ...

Well, I did host an event there, once, many years ago.

So HOW does all this mis-information come about?
I dunno.

[ZenRider]

Tee, I don't get it either. Sadly, so many prefer it to sending individual emails to individuals. I too don't like the lack of security issues of Facebook. How many times do you hear of someone having issues as they thought they had posted something on their 'private' section to find out it went out public? Of course posting something truly private on a social site doesn't sound brilliant in the first place, but if that is an option... Since about everything you order online or use a credit card is sold and being stored in data bases, perhaps it almost doesn't matter anymore? Sheesh, do one simple internet search and look how the ads change as you surf. OK, can be fun if you do a search for something you have no real interest in. Is stupid when you order something, then keep getting ads for it or similar things. Anyway, I digress and should I ever get a Facebook, don't expect a lot of activity from me.

[Big Tee©]

I know all about Mr Google and Ms Bing and their abilities to send stuff to advertisers. I look up loads of stuff and Hey! Presto! there are ads that vaguely are in the same ballpark as the query. Looked up a nuisance phone number this morning...am STILL getting ads telling me where to visit in Manitoba - sorry. fools, I already know the southern portion of that province well enough to find the sights and tourist traps without even hitting paved roads AND they missed one important event, that being the annual turtle derby in Boisevan.

I am terrified to make an online purchase. Perhaps, if the Crooked Onion....er pardon me, Credit Union, ever gets pre-loaded credit cards, I will consider it.

[Bara]

I miss the Forum days!

[ZenRider]

Forum's still here. I still like forums, but I'm old.
I think it's the big brother aspect of Facebook that puts me off. OK, that and I didn't see a big difference between it and MySpace, which I did finally make a page just before everyone bailed for Facebook. Hmmm, wonder what that's looking like these days?

[Bara]

Well, Brooks tells me that FB is the way to go. I dunno. I keep falling over people with MY name. A few old friends are coming to light - but mainly I'm side-tracked onto someone else's life!

I really don't CARE that your friend is opening on Broadway -
That you're making a pilgrimage to Lourdes -
I'm a little jealous that you're abseiling down the Empire State Bldg -

I wish you well, all those other Barbaras.

[brooks]

Hey !!!!!!!!!!!!!! leave me out of this. You asked a question and I answered that's all. You don't want be on FB then close your acct or delete it.

And as for the big brother aspect, it's already out there on all the web site you visit there are called cookies

[Lisa]

I like it because I can "see" good friends, that don't always have time for a visit, and I can talk to them, and do other things at the same time!!! This way I know I am not bothering them when they are busy, because they will respond when they get the chance!!!

[adcooper]

Facebook has has many drawbacks, but the advantages have kept me involved. When I supervised teen library aides, a message like "Can you work Friday from 2 to 6?" was answered much more quickly if I sent it through facebook. Forget email with kids!

I've also connected with friends from long ago, and been delighted and sometimes surprised to discover how their lives have unfolded.

There are several community facebook groups that I like, places where people can post things like, "I have a dozen sturdy boxes I don't need. Anyone want them?" Or "Do you know anyone reliable who can lay sheet vinyl on my kitchen floor?"

I follow professional, political and other organizations' facebook blogs. Also journalists. And of course family.

It happens that a good share of my facebook friends (I don't have hundreds there!) know me as "their" librarian, so my posts often refer to libraries, books, etc. I've used my page to promote programs and literacy initiatives, sometimes.

I accept most friend requests, but ignore those from people I don't know. I assume they have me confused with some other Ann Cooper! And I change the notification setings for people who post too much drama or harrangues about their pet peeves.

But it surely is not a necessary part of anyone's day. I completely understand why people would choose to ignore it.It isn't essential the way horses are!

[ZenRider]

I kind of get it, and I suppose there may come a time I will almost have to join Facebook, but for now I'll keep myself out of trouble by not. Heck, I'm having a hard enough time deciding on a smartphone. Much as I'm not sure I really need one, I find myself with time to kill at work sometimes, so it might not be a bad idea for me to have one.

[Bara]

Oh, well. I'm still in the Dark Ages. Mebbe I'll 'get it'.

[niaru]

I have a FB account but really don't use it that much, I only react when I am tagged or people message me. It's too time consuming to read everybody's page, but I like to check what my daughters are up to