Just joined Facebook, OMG The good, the bad, and the ugly

[Koolau]

Uh, well, from the dinosaur who just 2 weeks ago sent his first text message - ever! - you may understand why Facebook and its ilk have never interested me. The mods (and we ourselves) have done a pretty good job of keeping this site politics/religion/etc. free (with the occasional appearance of Porky). I see no reason to subject myself to any such screeds or diatribes (or even to long lost relatives for that matter, heh, heh.) I have nothing against social media and I'm sure they are a blessing and a joy to many. I just am not one of those folks at this time. YMMV

[audreyh1]

Some people do treat FB a as their personal journal. It's a bit embarrassing to us introverted types. Do they realize how many people are reading their personal angst stories?

Of course FB encourages this by asking them to post "what's on their mind".

[48Fire]

Just messaged this morning with a friend from Germany. Exchanged pictures, etc. Not likely happening without FB. But it does get a little much for some "friends" posting crazy things.

[Lucantes]

I think everyone in the world should be on FB, post constantly about anything that you want to, click Like for all things that you like , Share everything that catches your fancy, and click on every ad that appears (Full Disclosure: I own FB stock!).

[easysurfer]

I just hid some things from my FB timeline today.

I learned too to set my privacy setting to limit what shows up on tagged photos. I could set "none" but some photos are okay. Others, now need my approval .

[karen1972]

I'm one of those FB groupies.. I have friends around the world that there is just no better way of staying in touch with... there isn't enough time in the day to write/call all of them, but FB allows me to see how they are doing.

The bad of course is the major influx of religion and politics into FB ..and it has caused me to unfriend people in real life as I just had no idea some of them had such hatred in them.

The great is seeing everyone posting their kids off to school.. to see them grow up even while Im' 1000 miles away.

I'm one of those people that also like the games.. people just need to learn to block items on FB. I've even learned you can turn off notifications to a thread.. ie when your friend tags you in her new business and 180 people congratulate her, you can op out of seeing all that. it takes a little work to set it up, but once you get use to it, you can filter out most of the negative.

[easysurfer]

I have a brother who, his personality and FB is a bad combo. I really don't need to see the plate of food of where we went out to eat at every single night. . Plus, other friends or family think FB is a place to start throwing F-bombs . I've learned for those, putting them as an acquaintance instead of friend make FB more manageable.

[Pbkmaine]

I have friends from all over the political spectrum, and have hidden many political posts. But if the lesbian socialist atheists ever meet the conservative fundamentalist Christians, I am afraid that WW III might result.

[MichaelB]

Both there and here, which is why we avoid these characterizations.

[travelover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48Fire Just messaged this morning with a friend from Germany. Exchanged pictures, etc. Not likely happening without FB. But it does get a little much for some "friends" posting crazy things.

As a lark, I "friended" a person in Germany with my exact (unusual) name. It wasn't funny when he started posting crazy, racist stuff and other people thought it was me.

[Redbugdave]

I joined FB about a year ago after avoiding it for so long. Old dogs do learn new tricks. I was worried about the security, etc. Now, I check in every day or so. I have a lot of outdoor interests and really like the outdoor groups and clubs I belong to. It is the best way to get information of upcoming hikes, etc. I keep up with friends that way, too. Pictures, etc. I have met real people and made real friends through Facebook because of our interests.

I can't believe all the people that have to repost political stuff and trash in general. Kinda like people that blather on their cell phones all day. I either unfriend or unfollow.

Here is a good link to helping on the settings:
http://www.komando.com/tips/269130/5...change-now/all

[easysurfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbugdave I joined FB about a year ago after avoiding it for so long. Old dogs do learn new tricks. I was worried about the security, etc. Now, I check in every day or so. I have a lot of outdoor interests and really like the outdoor groups and clubs I belong to. It is the best way to get information of upcoming hikes, etc. I keep up with friends that way, too. Pictures, etc. I have met real people and made real friends through Facebook because of our interests. I can't believe all the people that have to repost political stuff and trash in general. Kinda like people that blather on their cell phones all day. I either unfriend or unfollow. Here is a good link to helping on the settings: 5 Facebook settings to change now | One Page | Komando.com

Thanks for the link on the settings. I did the first one to stop autoplay of videos, then gave up on the rest . That author did a good job summarizing the settings but trying to do them flipping back and forth on screens was just too cumbersome. That's why I chose Facebook as the worst company in regards to privacy in the Poll posted on this site .

[Redbugdave]

And don't forget...
https://www.facebook.com/EarlyRetirementCommunity

[Elbata]

I say too bad people don't join FB because of some preconceived ideas.

I use FB mainly to get posts of topics I find interesting: Groups like Center for Inquiry, Science and Critical Thinking, Bill Gates, Science Daily, you get the idea.

After reading a book, I'll sometimes write the author via her FB page. In a few instances we've become "friends".

Before Jordan Spieth, the golfer, starting doing all his winning, I posted on his FB page and he wrote back.

So it bothers my wife that I don't "follow" her on FB, but I'm just not that interested in what she's having for lunch. But to be able to have conversations with (what I think are) brilliant people, or people I greatly respect, now that is fun.

But it's still exciting to write to someone I've completely forgotten about from over 50 years ago.

[Pbkmaine]

Follow your wife! It will make her happy and cost you nothing. That's why I follow my husband. Besides, I learn stuff that way.

[simple girl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbugdave Here is a good link to helping on the settings: 5 Facebook settings to change now | One Page | Komando.com

Thanks for that link. The one about the ads was especially helpful. I subsequently found the following link from my facebook settings which allowed me to opt out of allowing websites I have visited to display relevant ads on my facebook. I opted out of over 100 of these things...geez.

Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies (BETA)

[CaliforniaMan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbugdave I joined FB about a year ago after avoiding it for so long. Old dogs do learn new tricks. I was worried about the security, etc. Now, I check in every day or so. I have a lot of outdoor interests and really like the outdoor groups and clubs I belong to. It is the best way to get information of upcoming hikes, etc. I keep up with friends that way, too. Pictures, etc. I have met real people and made real friends through Facebook because of our interests. I can't believe all the people that have to repost political stuff and trash in general. Kinda like people that blather on their cell phones all day. I either unfriend or unfollow. Here is a good link to helping on the settings: 5 Facebook settings to change now | One Page | Komando.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by simple girl Thanks for that link. The one about the ads was especially helpful. I subsequently found the following link from my facebook settings which allowed me to opt out of allowing websites I have visited to display relevant ads on my facebook. I opted out of over 100 of these things...geez. Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies (BETA)

Thanks for the links. Just finished modifying my settings. Today just exchanged messages from a family member I have not seen for a long time, they will be in town next week and we will get together. Would not have happened had I not been on FB.

I have come to realize that FB is how people communicate nowadays. So I guess I will just have to live with it and get over my original aversion to it. Now I just hope I don't myself become a FB junkie!

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaMan I have come to realize that FB is how people communicate nowadays. So I guess I will just have to live with it and get over my original aversion to it. Now I just hope I don't myself become a FB junkie!

We found it very useful as we joined several FB groups for various local nature fans, plus follow pages maintained by numerous local nature parks.

That's what basically forced our hand, and it is very useful for tracking local happenings of interest. If someone finds a rare bird or butterfly it's usually posted within a couple of hours and someone checking their feed has a chance to go see it. They used to use phone hotlines for this type of thing. FB is much more efficient and includes photos!

[Redbugdave]

Thank you Simple Girl for that link.

Audreyh1...If you were living in my area, I know we would know each other. Same interests and groups...

[Major Tom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbugdave And don't forget... https://www.facebook.com/EarlyRetirementCommunity

Hmmm....it looks like somebody did indeed forget about it. The last update to that page was in 2012, though visitors have posted to it since then.