Facebook: Fan or Foe?
Posted by Dory @ Lucky Dorito on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
Let’s face it, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past few years, you’re bound to have heard of facebook – an increasingly popular social networking site. It’s everywhere nowadays – news shows have one, professional groups have one, movies stars and musicians have one…. you can’t go through the day without hearing someone say “Check us out on facebook”. Right?
I resisted it at first, not wanting to commit to yet another social networking site. Finally, I gave in. When I opened one, I spent the first several weeks complaining over how much I disliked it (ask Shannon – she had to listen to me). I have spent countless HOURS customizing the look of my blog – I hated that every facebook page looks identical. Absolutely identical. Right down to the colors and the layout. What the heck is that all about???
But I kept at it… finding old friends I’d lost track of, former classmates from high school, and even two of my sisters and my oldest daughter are now my *facebook friends*. I am beginning to see the attraction of it, just by finding and keeping in touch with long lost friends, if nothing else. (I still hate that you can’t customize it though. lol)
So my questions to you are this:
Do you have a facebook account and do you love it? Love finding friends? Love updating your status? Love looking through your friends’ photos? Love taking facebook quizzes? Or do you have one but rarely even do anything with it, except maybe play games. (They do have some good games!)
One of my coworkers said that she NEVER updates her status because she feels like that is almost like “sharing your thoughts with everyone…. they don’t need to know what I’m thinking!” …. actually – that is exactly what it’s like!! Isn’t that the purpose of it?? So, do you update? Do you enjoy when your friends update regularly or do you often think “ok, ok, just SHUT UP already???”
Do tell. Inquiring minds want to know.
Filed in Randomness | 10 dorito bits so far
The Gaelic Wifeon 14 Jul 2009 at 7:27 am 1I resisted getting a FB account, even though my cousins kept asking me to. It was after my teenagers got an account that I got mine to keep tabs on what they’re doing/saying. I like finding old friends. I just ignore things like “I’m bored” or “Heading to bed now”.
Jenon 14 Jul 2009 at 8:36 am 2I like facebook. I like being able to find old friends and reconnect. It is also a handy way to keep in touch with out of state relatives.
I don’t like all the egg hatching requests, the farmville stuff, the heart collections, etc – so i just ignore that. I hope I haven’t hurt anyone’s feelings by not accepting their eggs, farm animals, or hearts.
I don’t play any games on facebook – I spend too much time on the computer as it is!
I think some of the quizzes are fun but usually have numerous misspellings, so I don’t ever take the results seriously.
The ONE thing that truly disturbs me about my personal facebook experience is the comments from a childhood friend of mine who is now an atheist. I am cool with her atheism, if that is her choice – but she is so anti-Christian that it hurts me to read to her constant, generalized, stereotyped ramblings about self-righteous Bible thumpers. They are never directed squarely at me, but she knows I am a Christian… so yeah, they kinda are. I have to wonder if she is doing this to start some kind of dialogue with me. I ignore her posts for the most part because I don’t want to get into an argument.
I don’t hide my Christianity but I’ve never tried to shove it down anyone’s throat either. Her posts are a definite attempt to convince me (or other Christian friends of hers,) to question their faith.
Sorry for the long comment, Dory.
But thanks for listening!
Stacyon 14 Jul 2009 at 9:14 am 3I wasn’t too sure of the FB thing at first either, but then I met up with a bunch of people I haven’t heard from in forever. I love being able to see what someone is up to 20 years later.
One downside that I have found is after I have caught up with them, now there are a few I wish I hadn’t friended. Then I don’t want to unfriend them (I don’t even know how to) because I will hurt someones feelings, etc.
Another downside is on my blog I can share just about anything. On FB I sometimes have to watch what I say for fear of upsetting certain people. If that makes sense.
Katon 14 Jul 2009 at 12:45 pm 4Well hmmm… in the beginning it was great fun and I was connected with mostly family and just a few friends. Then those friends started getting friends and so on and so on and so on and then all these people, that I would prefer had not found me, found me and well, hmmm… I keep my friend list very small and personal and I don’t let just anyone in but I also wouldn’t share one-tenth of what I share on my blog on facebook…
Stacyon 14 Jul 2009 at 2:39 pm 5@ Kat – That is exactly what I was trying to say, but you said it so much more gracefully.
Beccaon 14 Jul 2009 at 3:51 pm 6I am on it, but it isn’t all the comfortable for me. I am not into the games, or all the I give you stuff. I check for updates and go back to Twitter or my blog. I don’t know if I am too far into middle age or what, but I will leave it up, but I am very selective about who I friend.
Shannonon 14 Jul 2009 at 4:52 pm 7Of course you know how I feel about FB- I love it. I love it not only because it has allowed me to catch up with old friends but also because it has allowed me to keep closer tabs on friends here in town that I don’t see often as well as family in other states. I can chat with my cousin in Thailand anytime and find out what is going on in his life and I love that! I also have become friends with people through FB- people that are friends of friends that I may have seen before but never actually chatted with before and I love that! I love that it’s a way to be able to be involved in the daily life of friends and family- know how to help them or pray for them when they are in need. I don’t love every part of FB (the Farm Town and gift requests and pokes are a bit much sometimes) but I have learned to use the HIDE and ignore buttons often.
thotladyon 14 Jul 2009 at 8:59 pm 8I have been resisting, resisting, resisting. I am so busy, I can barely post on my blog. Now I have to twitter and facebook.
I have to draw the line…then again, never say never.
I don’t know if I want to know every little aspect of people’s lives. I am a very private person, so I also don’t feel comfortable sharing every little aspect of my life either. Plus, my life is very borrring.
Tracieon 15 Jul 2009 at 10:30 am 9I do have FB, I think I first got on to keep an eye on my daughter, but now the obsession is all mine. I think that’s why I haven’t blogged as much. I do like seeing (most) people’s status updates & pics and and finding old classmates & friends. Don’t love the games, send a drink hug candy whatever, mafia wars, farm town, – don’t see the purpose and I generally ignore them.
BBBon 15 Jul 2009 at 7:46 pm 10I do have a facebook also. I like it pretty much, having connected with friends from high school and college. If you send me an e-mail, I’ll tell you where to find me!! My actual obsession these days is with online Mahjong solitaire. I am addicted!
Hugs to you!