Facebook: Pros and Cons

[GardeningGal]

For all the Facebook users, tell me what you like and what you don't like. I signed up a long time ago and haven't really used it so now I'm wondering if it would be worth it for me to start using it more.

Thoughts?

[Richardo]

1. Very little privacy. Or, too much crap to do to ensure privacy.

But I guess if you're into privacy you're not going to FB or myspace or twitter anyway :shrug:

For example: If you have incompatible sets of friends/relatives it's a problem when their FB quotes, walls, statuses, whatever the fuck they ares show up on YOUR wall and the incompatible set reads and reacts.

Or unless you make 1,000 privacy adjustments for every app, everyone can see what you're doing whether you want them to or not.

I gave it two tries and I'm off it for good.

[trof]

3. I'm a 21st century Luddite. I don't Face, Space, or Twit.

E-mail has become a big enough pain in the ass all by itself.

[Richardo]

5. I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.

:pals:

[trof]

6. Thanks.

[Haole Girl]

4. That's what I thought

Thanks. I think I've had enough internet exposure to last a person a lifetime! lol

[CraftyGal]

2. I love Facebook...

I use it to stay in contact with Family and friends. I am also a knit and crochet designer so I am able to stay in contact with other designers as well. I also use it to keep track of all the causes that I am involved as well.

The big thing that is frustrating is all the quizzes and sometimes I feel compelled to participate in them all...lol.

CraftyGal

[jumptheshadow]

7. Down side and up side

The bad: Kiss goodbye to the concept of privacy. This is a smart application that stalks you.

The good: I am seeing very different sides of my nieces and nephews and some of my colleagues. It's good for my business, which has a lot of 18- to 25-year-old customers. We get very down-to-earth feedback about our company right away. We also can do some thoughtful things for customers simply by getting to know them as people.

It's also a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. My extended family is on Facebook and we share videos, photos and stories.

[Lex]

8. The privacy settings are easy to use.

Most people don't take the time to understand them.

I don't participate in the silly quizzes. They are like junk mail and are entirely optional. I just click the "hide" button.

Facebook's a great way to interact daily with people you don't see much but enjoy staying in touch with regularly.

[GardeningGal]

9. Good to know.

The privacy issue is the one that has kept me from getting more involved. I think I'll look more at the settings and then friend only a couple family members and go from there.

[KamaAina]

10. Cool people, both new and old

A couple of people who I met at a conference out here a couple of months ago. A coworker from over a decade ago who tracked me down! Even a complete stranger whose comment turned up in my inbox thanks, it turned out, to something called "NetworkedBlogs". (Alas, after I befriended her, she turned out to be engaged. EPIC FAIL. :( )

edit: it can get a tad bit lonely out here in the most isolated urban center on Earth. FB helps.

[bluedigger]

11. Getting (and staying) in touch with old friends is great!

Having them ask you for meaningless shit - "I need a whosit for whatnot!" is tiresome.

Having it suggest you "friend" your bosses boss? Awkward, 'cause you know they are getting the same message...

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

12. You have to be careful...

I have several younger friends on Facebook (I'm 48) who have photo's posted of themselves there are not particularly flattering -- nothing obscene mind you, just the sort of photo's that occur at a keg party at 11:30 and somebody whipped out their camera. Your co-workers, your boss, and even prospective employers, can potentially see this stuff. And it doesn't help that some of your friends (your real friends) might be posting these pictures of you on THEIR Facebook accounts.

Edit: That being said, during the past year I've been in contact with high school friends from across the country who I have heard from in thirty years. I can also keep in closer touch with my college friends and my family, who are spread literally coast-to-coast.

[bluedigger]

15. That's pretty much my point.

I'm 49, and I'm not worried about what I post, but some of my younger friends are, shall we say, indiscreet. Which leaves one with the dilemma of deleting their comment, and probably offending them, or leaving the comment out there for everyone to see. Life is full of dilemmas. We'll survive. (And be careful who you friend. My rule is only people I know in RL. OK, one was referred...)

[LynzM]

13. I enjoy that it brings my diverse friend groups together, a lot.

I have high school friends, college friends, camp friends, study abroad friends, work friends, music friends, mom friends, and random friends... this gives me a way to keep in touch with all of them in one place. Plus I talk to people I otherwise wouldn't talk to as frequently, and I get to see friends who otherwise wouldn't meet having fun discussions! :)

Learn about hiding people/applications and privacy settings, plus be selective about when it emails you, and you'll probably enjoy it just fine.

[amerikat]

14. You don't do farm town? With a name like that you should.

It's addictive though.

[T_i_B]

16. Facebook: Pros and Cons

Pros: Great for keeping in touch with people, getting back in touch with people you've lost contact with etc.

Oh, and the DU Facebook group is of course a major pro. :-)

http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?id=545583372#/group.php?gid=2426871461

Cons: Pointless applications people keep sending you, and I don't like the layout at present. I prefered it as it was quite frankly.

[ccharles000]

17. I use facebook for the game farmtown and not much else

[armyowalgreens]

18. I spend too much time on it during lectures...

That is the con.

The pros are nearly endless.

Talking to distant friends
Networking
Finding events (political or other): I've found multiple protests on facebook

just to name a few.


But I'm also a college student. I'm sure the dynamics change if you are an older or younger person.

[meow2u3]

19. Facebook pros and cons

Pros: I found the family I lost touch with 6 years ago.

Cons: You have to be careful what you post. Everything is public and can be used against you by cyberstalkers and/or cyberbullies.

Suggestion: stick to safe subjects, such as pets, sports, and the like.

[Deja Q]

20. Someone made a hidden dig at me... inaccurately too so I may have been paranoid...

Then again, how many Christians* listen to 80s new wave, for some of it has messages that are contradictory?


* those who act like Christ and give; it's more than just belonging to the franchise and using His name.


Still, that was posted by a friend of a friend and just because that person is my friend's friend doesn't make me a friend... in theory...

Met a couple of old friends...

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

21. It's good for connecting with family

and long lost friends. Sometimes a giant pain becuase its slow to load and they wnat you to keep using applications like taking tests and such...

[Dr. Strange]

22. Con:

Finding out that your recently added friend, Jose Coffee, is in fact NOT MrCoffee. Now I really feel bad about sending out those pictures.

[AggieGal]

23. I call it Good

Pro: A coworker due to have her baby at any moment. Her husband kept their Facebook friends updated. Such as, they were headed to the hospital, the baby was born and later pics of the baby and happy family. This was a great way for him to notify a group of people very quickly.