Let's talk facebook...

[adz]

I always promised myself that I'd never sign up with facebook (or any other mainstream social networking site) but given that I am surrounded by this god awful thing; missus, kids, cat, dog etc. it's all starting to have an affect on me. So I thought I'd throw it out to Amiga land in the form of a poll!

[GadgetMaster]

I just don't get the hype surrounding this abomination. :crazy:

Nope. No Facebook or Friendface for me. (Check out the video on the Friendface site. Says it all really. :lol:) (Video originally appeared on the Channel 4 comedy show "IT Crowd")

[taunusand]

I visit amiga.org and amiga more often than facebook ;-)
It's nice to "catch up" with some old frinds you have not seen in years, but i prefer to meet people face to face.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Naah, just, naah

[arnljot]

Facebook is evil. It three steps beyond google. Which I have fallen for in terms of using google mail.

My worst fear is that google will buy face book and then the internet will own all of my soul.

[quarkx]

First of all do a search/inquiry on who actually funds Facebook. I am not trying to be funny here, but you will actually see that it is all CIA money, so they can Datamine people, friends, etc.
Second, Yes I did have an account, but about a year ago they "changed" the design. There was so much active scripting, I immediately canceled my account as it was choking my computer. You could no longer run a script blocker in FF and actually see anything on the page. Also EVERY application, wanted or needed full control of your computer, account, everything. Again, very good way of putting Trojans on your system. in the end, it was a collossel time waster, so i left it behind. That and twitter. I am much happier now without it.

[quarkx]

Also potential employers, and HR departments are now using Facebook to Check out potential employees. IF you belong to certain groups, have drunken pictures of your self, anything, they are now using that in evaluating positions. Remember, anyone can access it.

[Wayne]

I really, really don't understand the rampant paranoia regarding Facebook.  Yes.  If you do stupid stuff and post about it (bragging), people will see you.

NOTHING wants "control of your computer".  Games and facebook apps simply need access to your FACEBOOK ACCOUNT in order to fill in the blanks of their own data, such as your birthdate, etc.

Use it wisely, play the games, and get away from it.  All I can say is that it's been quite helpful in keeping in touch with old friends and schoolmates.

Wouldn't touch MySPACE with your "10 foot pole", and I find others like linkedin useful, but kinda boring.

Guess all you paranoid ninnies are glad I didn't install the "Facebook theme" eh?

Wayne

[mr_a500]

This poll should allow multiple selections. I think Facebook is evil incarnate, but I'm now on Facebook - and I'm starting to get obsessed checking for updates.

For years I boycotted Facebook and hated when people sent me stupid Facebook friend requests. I finally gave in and joined a couple months ago when I saw there were a bunch of old friends there that I hadn't talked to for 25 years - and Facebook was the only way I had of contacting them.

So now people (and agencies) can track me and see my connections, but I make sure don't put too much identifying information on it - no birthdate, education, work, location. I don't ever use the stupid applications (why do they ALL need my personal info??).

One thing that REALLY disturbs me about Facebook is that you can't permanently delete personal messages. You delete them, but they still exist. That seems a bit sinister. Why can't they be deleted?

[quarkx]

I really, really don't understand the rampant paranoia regarding Facebook.  Yes.  If you do stupid stuff and post about it (bragging), people will see you.

NOTHING wants "control of your computer".  Games and facebook apps simply need access to your FACEBOOK ACCOUNT in order to fill in the blanks of their own data, such as your birthdate, etc.

Use it wisely, play the games, and get away from it.  All I can say is that it's been quite helpful in keeping in touch with old friends and schoolmates.

Wouldn't touch MySPACE with your "10 foot pole", and I find others like linkedin useful, but kinda boring.

Guess all you paranoid ninnies are glad I didn't install the "Facebook theme" eh?

Wayne

Wayne,
I am not really all that paranoid, but I can see the potential (and I use the word POTENTIAL) with a site like Facebook. First, you have the worlds biggest Dataminning site. Now, anyone (PR firms to Pedophiles) can use it to track everything you do. Especially for those who "live" on it and are constantly updating their status. Second, if I wanted to write a Virus to take down 90% of the computers in the world, I would just have to hide it in a cool Application.
A month or so ago, Facebook, tried to change their terms of service agreement to read basically anything you did, posted or wrote on facebook became their (facebook's) exclusive property. It wasn't until it hit the national news, that people even knew about it and forced Facebook to change decision back.
Facebook is NOT a good thing, It is a Trojan horse! (in the literal term.). You don't think that Homeland Security in the US is keeping a very close eye on people through Facebook? This is only the beginning of what is going to come from Facebook (and other social networking sites). I would love to hear your thought 5 years from now.

[steve30]

I registered on faceb00k under a false identity exclusively to have anosey round other people's accounts.

So far, none of my so called friends have actually used it to contact me, and all the people I was at school with were idots so I don't want to contact them.

I joined an amiga group but due to the sites uselessness and excessive use of javascript I am going to cancel my account soon. Its not like I'll be missing much. All the people I want to talk to online are on forums and/or IRC.

[Methuselas]

Wayne,
You don't think that Homeland Security in the US is keeping a very close eye on people through Facebook?

"Homeland Security"...now there's an oxymoron..... :furious:

You don't think "Homeland Security" in the US is keeping a very close eye on people through *EVERY* site they can get access to?? "Homeland Security" is just a legitimacy for the US Government to spy on whoever, whenever they want. If people start ranting and raving about it, the just drop the bombshell "Hey, you let us pass the Patriot Act. It's in the interests of national security".

[motorollin]

Undoubtedly the most annoying thing about the Facebook craze is the use of the word "Facebook" as a verb. "Do you Facebook?" or "Oh yeah, just Facebook me about it." or "He Facebooks me all the time." The only good thing about this is that it presents the opportunity to inform people that you Facebooked their mum.

[motrucker]

My 11 year old Grand daughter is starting to outgrow facebook - its about at the "who cares" stage now. Many of her friends still use it though. I guess the 11 to 14 year old crowd that uses it say volumes...

[mingle]

Psst... I'll let you in on a little secret...

There are already OTHER ways to keep in contact with old friends!!!

One is called an 'instant messenger', the other an amazing invention called 'email' and the third is a devilishly clever piece of electronic trickery called a 'telephone'!

:-)

Mike.