Do we need Facebook in ER?

[Bestwifeever]

DH joined FB for a class he's taking. I can't believe how many people have poured out of the woodwork to contact him there and on LinkedIn--just last night someone from 30 years ago. He's always been a really, really nice guy to everyone and these people obviously remember that about him. He hasn't told me if anyone asks if he's still married to that witch, though....

 

[travelover]

I joined Facebook to keep up with younger relatives. I did make contact with an old acquaintance / cow*rker for some catching up, but in general it is a waste of time. I've had to hide a few people that seem to find it yet another opportunity to push their religious and/or political values.

 

[rescueme]

He hasn't told me if anyone asks if he's still married to that witch, though....

Do you mean his first wife (before he got smart and married you? )...

 

[DeborahB]

If you're getting friend requests from naked women, you probably don't have your privacy controls set to where only your friends can see your info.

Gee, maybe I should try getting same from naked men...?

I'm going to quote this little gem so you can't go back and delete it once you [-]sober up[/-] have second thoughts...

Glad to provide amusement...

 

[Martha]

When I'm done with vicariously enjoying my daughter's life and no longer marketing things on Facebook, then I'll probably stop using the account.

Then there will be grandchildren pictures and their lives to follow.

 

[FUEGO]

Just experienced another example of why facebook is valuable to me.

I am starting a new job Monday. I posted on facebook to announce this fact. So now my friends and those associates/colleagues I would otherwise rarely come into contact with know what is up. Just emailed a guy from my contact list at work who I get together with a few times a year. I let him know I was leaving and what my personal email is. He replied back and said "I already saw your post on facebook". He already got the news. Most likely the other folks that I forget to specifically contact got the news too, and if not, they can look me up on facebook when I don't return their emails directed to my old work address.

 

[DeborahB]

Just experienced another example of why facebook is valuable to me.

I am starting a new job Monday. I posted on facebook to announce this fact. So now my friends and those associates/colleagues I would otherwise rarely come into contact with know what is up. Just emailed a guy from my contact list at work who I get together with a few times a year. I let him know I was leaving and what my personal email is. He replied back and said "I already saw your post on facebook". He already got the news. Most likely the other folks that I forget to specifically contact got the news too, and if not, they can look me up on facebook when I don't return their emails directed to my old work address.

That's great. but... the problem with that is your privacy settings aren't locked down. I have a separate email address I only use for fb so it would be difficult for them to find me... intentionally.

This was especially valuable when people on fb knew I was retiring but my employer did not...

 

[RonBoyd]

Shouldn't a Thread with a Subject that asks a question be required to have a Poll attached? ( Yeah, I see the irony in that question.)

 

[FUEGO]

That's great. but... the problem with that is your privacy settings aren't locked down. I have a separate email address I only use for fb so it would be difficult for them to find me... intentionally.

This was especially valuable when people on fb knew I was retiring but my employer did not...

I'm not sure I follow your first paragraph exactly?

I control who sees my posts on FB. How is that not "locked down"?

And I clearly wouldn't post something like "I'm switching jobs in 2 months" on facebook. Even though this has been common knowledge among a small handful of friends for 2 months (and the forum), but kept more or less a secret from my employer for 2 months (they knew I interviewed but not was offered anything or had accepted).

It does require vigilance though. I can't go blabbing news to casual acquaintances and then expect them to respect my privacy on facebook by refraining from posting "Congrats on the new job" type posts 2 months early. But that is "real life" privacy control, not FB related (although FB can exacerbate leaky secret syndrome).

Last night I also chatted for a few minutes with a former work colleague/friend on FB. Turns out she will be working with me at the new job (her as consultant, me supervising consultants). And I have already identified probably a quarter of the staff at the new job who I already have contact with as friends of friends (and talked to some) - some but not all relationships identified through facebook. I think networking is key to success in promoting myself - selling my brand .

Edit to add: these are examples of why FB is useful to those working. In the spirit of the thread topic (is FB useful in ER?), I think the same idea applies to those not working. Again, it is useless if virtually none of your friends or prospective friends use FB. But if your network of friends/family are on FB, it can easily enhance your real life interaction with these people in a meaningful way. It is an easy interface to meet friends of friends and nurture those relationships (that you are interested in). As one who hopes to be ER in my 30's, I think FB will be a great way to keep in touch with lots of folks I find interesting and want to maintain relationships with (even if just casual relationships).

 

[Nords]

That's great. but... the problem with that is your privacy settings aren't locked down. I have a separate email address I only use for fb so it would be difficult for them to find me... intentionally.

That's your second comment about privacy settings, but our point is that there are people on Facebook who want to be public, not private. I wouldn't necessarily refer to a lack of privacy settings as a "problem".

 

[donheff]

That's your second comment about privacy settings, but our point is that there are people on Facebook who want to be public, not private. I wouldn't necessarily refer to a lack of privacy settings as a "problem".

+1 It is easy to decide for yourself what you expose on Facebook. A typical user doesn't expose much of anything to the public (a little bit more than the white pages) and only exposes what they post to friends. If that worries you why would you even look at something like FB?

Rob Pegoraro had an article in today's Washington Post that argued that people get all excited about fairly trivial privacy issues. Examples he used were the initial concern that Google tied small adds to message content and grocery store loyalty programs. I agree with him that Google machine scanning text to correlate appropriate ads is no horror show, nor is gathering aggregate data on store customers to evaluate product lines (or even making offers based on previous buying history). I think some of us react as if there were actual people looking though our files and discussing our peccadilloes before choosing what ad to send. It is all done by machine. I am much more worried about what individuals (law enforcement, private investigators, employers, potential creditors) can look at through credit reports, medical records, job histories, etc. I think we should focus our efforts on legal structures limiting personal attention by people rather than custom offerings by machine or tut-tutting about people who want to expose themselves (pun intended) .

Edit: I just noticed that Pegoraro appears to have picked up some of his thoughts from an article in this month's Scientific American. The article argues that privacy concerns are overblown and cites the Gmail controversy which, it points out, quickly faded away once people got accustomed to it.

 

[walkinwood]

I think there is a bigger question to be asked. Should you keep up with technology trends in general? You can obviously live a very fulfilling life without them, but do you risk getting increasingly isolated/marginalized? For example, if more and more people turn to FB (or social networks as a whole) as a communications tool, you will be left out if all you have is e-mail access.

I use facebook a lot to keep in touch with family & friends. We also use it in our neighborhood as a announcement/discussion board. Thanks to BigMoneyJim, I now understand the value of Twitter!

I didn't get GPS thinking that if I mapped out a route before I left home, I wouldnt' need it. Turns out it is really useful. Want a starbucks while traveling? Ask the GPS for the nearest one. Want to avoid traffic - the GPS does it for you. Do you want to know what the speed limit is, the GPS shows it to you. I love it & all for less than $100.

Currently, I'm struggling with whether I should get a smart phone. The cost of the phone isn't the issue, but the $29/mo data plan is. Do I need it? No. But, if I have it, I can participate in communications with my friends who do. It can provide value in daily life too - comparison shopping, looking up information online on the go, having your schedule with you etc., but do I really HAVE to have it? Tough choice for me.

Think of all the people who never learned how to use a computer. How much are they missing out on?

 

[jIMOh]

Last night I also chatted for a few minutes with a former work colleague/friend on FB. Turns out she will be working with me at the new job (her as consultant, me supervising consultants). And I have already identified probably a quarter of the staff at the new job who I already have contact with as friends of friends (and talked to some) - some but not all relationships identified through facebook. I think networking is key to success in promoting myself - selling my brand .

Edit to add: these are examples of why FB is useful to those working. In the spirit of the thread topic (is FB useful in ER?), I think the same idea applies to those not working. Again, it is useless if virtually none of your friends or prospective friends use FB. But if your network of friends/family are on FB, it can easily enhance your real life interaction with these people in a meaningful way. It is an easy interface to meet friends of friends and nurture those relationships (that you are interested in). As one who hopes to be ER in my 30's, I think FB will be a great way to keep in touch with lots of folks I find interesting and want to maintain relationships with (even if just casual relationships).

+1
very good post

I find linked in to be a great tool while working to keep track of comings and goings of people. I displaced myself from where I grew up (400 miles away) and where I went to college (250 miles a different direction) so many of people I went to college with are scattered within a 500 mile radius. Linked in does well to keep track of this, because as a consultant, every once in a while I cross paths with one of them at a company I am consulting with.

Personal interactions with people enrich life. FB is a great way to communicate weekly or monthly with people I would not otherwise interact with.

FB needs a funny joke Thursday newsfeed and it would be complete.

 

[Major Tom]

I think there is a bigger question to be asked. Should you keep up with technology trends in general? You can obviously live a very fulfilling life without them, but do you risk getting increasingly isolated/marginalized? For example, if more and more people turn to FB (or social networks as a whole) as a communications tool, you will be left out if all you have is e-mail access.

Great question, and one that I've thought about quite a bit. Obviously, we don't all need to be on the bandwagon with every new website and application that comes out, but your next example brings it into focus:

Think of all the people who never learned how to use a computer. How much are they missing out on?

15 years ago many people (perhaps even the majority) weren't on the internet and the common wisdom was that it was very unwise to perform financial transactions online. It's not hard to see that a middle-aged person who refuses to adapt could end up making life harder for himself/herself in the long run.

Having said that, I would probably benefit if I spent a little less time online and got out of the house a bit more often

 

[rescueme]

I am starting a new job Monday.

My sympathies

 

[FUEGO]

My sympathies

Hey, I'm 30, it's what we do!

Besides, what else would I do all day?

Seriously, it is something different, and comes with a pay raise, and is in the public sector instead of private sector. And it is a good stepping stone to my next job (with more money) when I go private again (if I don't ER first!).

 

[Lsbcal]

...(snip)...
15 years ago many people (perhaps even the majority) weren't on the internet and the common wisdom was that it was very unwise to perform financial transactions online. It's not hard to see that a middle-aged person who refuses to adapt could end up making life harder for himself/herself in the long run.

Having said that, I would probably benefit if I spent a little less time online and got out of the house a bit more often

Sounds like a good 2011 resolution. One of my resolutions this year is to get some walking done on days between running days. Another resolution is to study some tech phenomena like smart phones and Facebook without actually doing the stuff yet.

I love technology but try to keep a balance. All things in moderation except moderation.

 

[rescueme]

Hey, I'm 30, it's what we do!

Besides, what else would I do all day?

Just razzing you ... At that age, I did the same. My last job jump was at the age of 31, and I stayed there till my retirement at age 59.

Good luck to you...

 

[FUEGO]

Just razzing you ... At that age, I did the same. My last job jump was at the age of 31, and I stayed there till my retirement at age 59.

Good luck to you...

It is sort of weird going to state employment where I'll be pension eligible. Full pension at 55 after 25 years of working. People (mostly people who are closer to traditional retirement age) keep telling me how awesome it would be to be able to retire at 55 and get the pension. I just say "I don't think I'll be around at the State that long but it does sound awesome". Or working anywhere for 25 more years heh heh heh...

 

[Lsbcal]

Interesting article about how Goldman employees recently got a Facebook tutorial:

...employees learned how to explain Facebook to their older clients, or to understand it themselves, according to the person who listened in.

Goldman Employees Blocked From Facebook Said to Get Tutorial - Bloomberg.com

 

[FUEGO]

Interesting article about how Goldman employees recently got a Facebook tutorial:

Goldman Employees Blocked From Facebook Said to Get Tutorial - Bloomberg.com

"They got a lesson yesterday from David Ebersman, Facebook’s chief financial officer.... Ebersman didn’t immediately return two e-mail messages."

Maybe they should message Ebersman on FB. Just sayin'...

 

[Bestwifeever]

Walkinwood, your post says exactly what I've been thinking (although I don't think I'll do an active FB page--that's what DH is in charge of and he'll look forward to getting friend requests from naked ladies like Nords gets), down to the smart phone issue. Not only might it be hard to get back on the technology horse once we fall off, keeping up on gadgetry surely is good for the brain circuitry too.

I think there is a bigger question to be asked. Should you keep up with technology trends in general? You can obviously live a very fulfilling life without them, but do you risk getting increasingly isolated/marginalized? For example, if more and more people turn to FB (or social networks as a whole) as a communications tool, you will be left out if all you have is e-mail access.

I use facebook a lot to keep in touch with family & friends. We also use it in our neighborhood as a announcement/discussion board. Thanks to BigMoneyJim, I now understand the value of Twitter!

I didn't get GPS thinking that if I mapped out a route before I left home, I wouldnt' need it. Turns out it is really useful. Want a starbucks while traveling? Ask the GPS for the nearest one. Want to avoid traffic - the GPS does it for you. Do you want to know what the speed limit is, the GPS shows it to you. I love it & all for less than $100.

Currently, I'm struggling with whether I should get a smart phone. The cost of the phone isn't the issue, but the $29/mo data plan is. Do I need it? No. But, if I have it, I can participate in communications with my friends who do. It can provide value in daily life too - comparison shopping, looking up information online on the go, having your schedule with you etc., but do I really HAVE to have it? Tough choice for me.

Think of all the people who never learned how to use a computer. How much are they missing out on?

 

[Bestwifeever]

It is sort of weird going to state employment where I'll be pension eligible. Full pension at 55 after 25 years of working. People (mostly people who are closer to traditional retirement age) keep telling me how awesome it would be to be able to retire at 55 and get the pension. I just say "I don't think I'll be around at the State that long but it does sound awesome". Or working anywhere for 25 more years heh heh heh...

Congrats, Fuego, and we look forward to your new viewpoint on the pensions: pro or con threads starting Monday!

 

[FUEGO]

Congrats, Fuego, and we look forward to your new viewpoint on the pensions: pro or con threads starting Monday!

I would prefer a DC plan instead of DB. For the portability mostly. Take my 9% that the employer kicks into the DB plan and give it to me as a 401k match. Of course that would make the pension plan no longer work because they depend on people like me forfeiting our 9% a year to fund the pensions of career employees. Lemme go and complain about this on facebook!

 

[clifp]

It is sort of weird going to state employment where I'll be pension eligible. Full pension at 55 after 25 years of working. People (mostly people who are closer to traditional retirement age) keep telling me how awesome it would be to be able to retire at 55 and get the pension. I just say "I don't think I'll be around at the State that long but it does sound awesome". Or working anywhere for 25 more years heh heh heh...

You tell me how the market will do and what your salary will be in the next 25 years and I'll tell you if your pension is a good deal. Just curious after 25 years what percentage of your salary do you get?