Social Networking

[Pious the chosen]

I'm surprised this hasn't come up already, probably has but I only scan the first page of most topics alas I digress.

Social networking, which by and large came to worldwide hysterical fanaticism via the Book of Faces, has oddly asserted itself into modern [western] culture. Whether you personally believe this a sign of good or ill it’s virtually impossible to have had no knowledge or exposure to it at some level.
I was asked the join The Book in 2007, back then much like my brush with the Lego games and Fallout 3 I tinkered with for sometime as with all novelty. This faded over time as it does and now near four years on although I am still I member I rarely give it more than a cursory 3-6 month look.
It has had several facelifts (no pun intended) over said time and I have watched with a sense of high irony as social networking has adopted an air of 1984 to it, given the numbers who have to interact with it on a hourly/daily basis also how all the choices and options once available to you have devolved into the single word 'Like' ala Newspeak. Thoughts, comments?

[Bilge Rat]

I really don't give a shit what other people are doing all day. Is that wrong?

I do have a Facebook account but I rarely check it and never post anything. I don't see the point. 'Friend A has written on Friend B's wall', 'Friend B has posted holiday photos', 'Friend C fingered Friend D's bird behind the chip shop.' Why am I supposed to care about this stuff?

[DifferentClass]

I joined Facebook a few years a go and soon cancelled it, it was just trash at the time but I signed back up again just a few months back. My friend was having a stag do and the one arranging everything wanted easy access to us all, Facebook was the route he took. That also tied with me getting a smart phone with a Facebook app so it was always easy to dick about with while out and about, make an amusing observation or flirt with the lady type friends on there. That's all I use it for.

I'm on Twitter, too. But I've found I use it mostly to follow comedians and such, sometimes they tell jokes and they make me lol. The potential of modern technology!

[-Jay-]

I like FaceBook. It has put me in touch with some friends from the past and it enables me to contact a bunch of people very quickly. I can put pics up of my kids for my scattered family to see without the hassle of emailing a bunch of pics.

I don't care what somebody had for breakfast, mind. And for that reason, I don't use Twitter.

[Triggerhappytel]

I really don't give a shit what other people are doing all day. Is that wrong?

This is exactly why I don't understand the point of Twitter. I mean, I can just about get that people would want to 'follow' Eddie Izzard or Stephen Fry as they're witty and a lot more interesting that yer average Joe, but I used to work with a guy who was really into the social networks and everything, and he literally used to post updates with stuff like 'Having pasta for dinner tonight - yay!' and shit like that. Who give a toss?!

Anyway, I'm not on Facebook although was thinking of joining as the missus and I are getting married this year and I was thinking of just letting my friends know on there rather than sending them proper invites and all that jazz. Plus, sometimes I would like to follow forthcoming games or developers to see what they have in store.

[EternalCymru]

I use facebook and twitter.

Facebook is... different, generally I do it as it helps arrange events among people who don't run into each other on a daily basis (When I play 5-a-side on a Monday or my mates recent stag doo for example). There are allot of post from people clearly desiring attention and there are post from people generally just talking absolute bollocks. But I generally don't really pay attention to them and it's possible to filter it down to stuff you want to read. I generally don't post much.

Don't get me started on all the pointless apps and games though. For gods sake people.

Twitter I am a fan of I'll be honest (@andrewdrisc anyone?) I do follow celebs etc as some post useful stuff, some funny stuff, some just stuff I'm interested in. I generally try to be witty/informative when I post, but I doubt everyone who reads them would agree.

I also use twitter and occasionally facebook to plug my blog when I post and I do get a limited amount of readers this way, but lets be honest I get a limited amount of readers full stop.

I heard a quote once saying, "Facebook is for the people you went to school with, Twitter is for the people you wish you did." That's not 100% true for me, but the idea is there.

[Snaggletooth]

I had an FB account years ago which got out of hand I ended up closing my account for about a year or so, the only problem I never knew when my freinds were doing things, Invites never found their way to me so forth, It like people cant organise an event or let you know whats going on with out it, pretty sad. I ended up caving in last year, but this time have restricted my freinds to my actual freinds, any other requessts just get deleted, and sure enough I start getting invites out again. (oh how I miss communicating by email).

However I have now caved and post updates, but only generally offensive phrases and quotes, to see If I can rattle the Religious ones in my family, they havent bitten yet, guess they know i'm fishing, not pulled out the the really offensive stuff yet though.

[Pious the chosen]

See I initially thought of it as a way to get in touch with old school/work friends as you tend to lose touch with such people over time, however now some of my neices(16,15,14yo respectively) and other such kids are now on Facebook, which I don't understand. why do they allow kids on it in one breath then hark about online grooming and paedophilia in another.

[Bilge Rat]

Are you suggesting that all kids should be banned from facebook on the off-chance that a paedophile will use it to talk to them?

I think you'll find that winning that argument is harder than Gary Glitter at an under 12s' swim meet.

[RYAN WHITELAW]

I didnt real the topic in full, because , well, i cant be arsed.

But anybody, and i mean anybody...that has a friend on these social sites that isnt actually a friend on a week to week to factor. Is a fucking arsehole.

Anybvody that just adds peple just to up thierr number is a fucking imbecile with low self esteem, rather than pity them, just call them a fucking idiot. The way i grew up i earned friends through humour and respect not by clicking on a fucking button just because they live near me or work with me. CUNTS.

I dont see the point in having 500 odd friends when they are not actually your friends. All you internet generation seem to have forgot what the definition of 'friend' actually fucking means.

Oh and people that walk around with ipads on show, add them to the cunt list, along with anybody that buys a massive coffee, wears a tight working shirt, has a final fantasy haircut.

Yes, im back.... not for long...but remember.









I LOVE YOU SON.
an

[DifferentClass]

See I initially thought of it as a way to get in touch with old school/work friends as you tend to lose touch with such people over time, however now some of my neices(16,15,14yo respectively) and other such kids are now on Facebook, which I don't understand. why do they allow kids on it in one breath then hark about online grooming and paedophilia in another.

Christ. I know you relish in your ignorance to the modern world but just think about if you were young now, wouldn't you be doing it too? Or if you weren't, acknowledge that you'd be an outsider for not doing so.

Oh, and Ryan. I never earned my friends through humour and respect, they were earned through putting up with me, I'm not even sure my friends like me.

I don't think Facebook friends are the same as actual friends, the name is the same but it's not the same. It's just nice to add them out of some kind of online etiquette, and you never know, some silly FB craic may lead into a meet up in a pub and a proper mate (That's what happened to me when I caught up with an old school mate). To me, FB is an accessory to life, not a replacement, just add them and if feck all comes of it then you lose nowt. It's that simple. That's how I think of it. *shrugs*

[RYAN WHITELAW]

See I initially thought of it as a way to get in touch with old school/work friends as you tend to lose touch with such people over time, however now some of my neices(16,15,14yo respectively) and other such kids are now on Facebook, which I don't understand. why do they allow kids on it in one breath then hark about online grooming and paedophilia in another.

Christ. I know you relish in your ignorance to the modern world but just think about if you were young now, wouldn't you be doing it too? Or if you weren't, acknowledge that you'd be an outsider for not doing so.

Oh, and Ryan. I never earned my friends through humour and respect, they were earned through putting up with me, I'm not even sure my friends like me.

I don't think Facebook friends are the same as actual friends, the name is the same but it's not the same. It's just nice to add them out of some kind of online etiquette, and you never know, some silly FB craic may lead into a meet up in a pub and a proper mate (That's what happened to me when I caught up with an old school mate). To me, FB is an accessory to life, not a replacement, just add them and if feck all comes of it then you lose nowt. It's that simple. That's how I think of it. *shrugs*

oh and different class i never singled you out, that was a generilisation. I dont know why you said that. But of you have over 100 facebook friends then you are a cunt. te he

[The+Deleted]

I had an FB account years ago which got out of hand I ended up closing my account for about a year or so, the only problem I never knew when my freinds were doing things, Invites never found their way to me so forth, It like people cant organise an event or let you know whats going on with out it, pretty sad. I ended up caving in last year, but this time have restricted my freinds to my actual freinds, any other requessts just get deleted, and sure enough I start getting invites out again. (oh how I miss communicating by email).

Similar kind of thing happened to me while I was offline. Didn't hear from any fecker while away and had no idea what was going on. So no one texts any more? Conversely, I know wonder if I can be arsed with them. There's a bit more to it than just FB, to be fair. But I won't bore you with the details.

[DifferentClass]

oh and different class i never singled you out, that was a generilisation. I dont know why you said that. But of you have over 100 facebook friends then you are a cunt. te he

I don't know either, that's what social networking does to you, you end up talking shit more.

[Pious the chosen]

Christ. I know you relish in your ignorance to the modern world but just think about if you were young now, wouldn't you be doing it too? Or if you weren't, acknowledge that you'd be an outsider for not doing so.

No, no, no I mentioned this as initially kids were not allowed on FB, there was in fact a sensible age limit... which has now dissolved. I was the typical "strange" kid in my school days, so its 50-50 if I'd have gotten into FB, as i've never really been a follower/sheep.