[Sonntag]

Hi,

for some years now I've been thinking if I should register on Facebook.

Most people you can find there now, and I think it's a practical way keeping in touch. Maybe more practical for many people than writing emails or using Skype. To that, I think there could be interesting discussion groups to join.

What I dislike of Facebook is the definition of a friend and the social pressure that you might face: People who expect you to be there on a regulary basis. The general competion to have at least xxx friends. Etc.
Last I am not sure if it is good to let everyone know certain things that you might share there. Sharing something of you and at least using your real name are somehow even more (social) expectations and I think that's the meaning of Facebook.

What do you think of Facebook? What are the pros and the cons?

[mrhat]

Well someone has to make smartass comments on their friend's statuses
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[repartee]

I have had Facebook for a few years now and I have deleted my account 3 times. Facebook hold onto your account for 14 days before permanently deleting and each time I have gone back before the 14 days are up.

Why? I hear you cry! Simply because it is useful for keeping in contact with people who live far away from me. I don't need it, email and Skype will suffice but it is very convenient.

That being said 99% of the time, it is a waste of time, I find myself checking it daily with no real reason and in actual fact it is quite rare that I need to speak to someone that I can't get hold of through regular means.

I had about 450 people on my friends list and have recently chopped 250 of those using the rule of, if you haven't messaged me or I haven't messaged you for 12 months, I will delete you.

I would love to get rid of it but on the rare occasion it can be quite useful and for the rest of the time is it useless.

I am considering deleting my account again... a good compromise might be to delete all those I really don't care about what is going on in their lives and have no reason to talk to them. But then you end up with the awkward situation when you bump into them in the street.

[zibber]

Eh. It's nice to see little updates from friends, and I'm subscribed to some rad & informative feeds. I also have a shitton of acquaintances I see very little of, which is by choice, but I enjoy having some idea of what they're up to, and the FB interaction actually keeps the rapport warm, if you know what I mean. Actually, this is the same with some people I do see somewhat frequently - FB interaction makes it easier to maintain the friendships even when I am going through extra introverted periods.

[Linwenilid]

I only friend people I know in person there, which helps keeping the Friendlist small and relevant. I only "Like" thinks I really, really like, which helps keeping things interesting. And if an acquaintance or ten start giving me hourly updates on how much they love their spouse/dog/football team/new car, I unsuscribe from them, simple as that. There's no way they find out, and we're both at peace.

And yes, as a very introverted person, I prefer any kind of human contact other than physical, so Facebook is a good option down that road.

[Megalomania]

Pros: women
Cons: everything else

[koakuma]

	Originally Posted by Sonntag To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	What do you think of Facebook? What are the pros and the cons?

Facebook is not that bad. Just don't post b-s.
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I like that's it's easy to make groups and become member of groups. For example, instead of posting something on the wall for everyone to see, me and some fellow colleagues post our comments, videos, whatever, in a secret group we created. People also in general share quite a lot of music and links to cool websites. I like it.

Cons? Well, a colleague once called me in the morning, all pissed, asking where I were. She had posted on fb the same morning that we were going to have a meeting in the morning. I asked her why she didn't sms or call instead...

[Canopus]

I could not see the point of Facebook, but earlier this year I decided to make an account in order to look around, gain some first hand experience and see if it matched my expectations (that is has no value for me).

Made my account, and yup, it has no value for me. I've done friend searches about 10 times in 3 months - identified about 4 people I recognized from high school 38 years ago. Cannot think of a reason to contact them. No one has contacted me - so no "friends". I have some pictures up, some information that is not critical to my privacy but contains reasonable information in my humble opinion, so it is not like it is an empty site.

Believe an ex-girlfriend from decades ago has already blocked me, sigh, problably within three nanoseconds of my name appearing in her potential friend search list.

I'll leave the site up - just because it doesn't matter, so no real point to leaving it or deleting it.

[Linwenilid]

I haven't been around here for a while, is there a thread where forum-goers leave their details to have fellow INTJs as friends on Facebook? I'm in dire need of similar-minded friends over there.

[Subgenius]

There are many pros to being on FB:
Keeping in touch
Keeping in touch from long distances
Maintaining relationships(sexual, friendly, business, familial, etc...)
Keeping up with with various organizations, bands, businesses, etc...
Online picture dump
There are probably a lot of other positive and more nefarious reasons that would count as pros too, but I am just not thinking of them at the moment.

Cons for Facebook:
Your privacy is non existent.
Facebook has a long history of changing security and privacy protocols.
Facebook has a long history of changing security and privacy protocols without its users being told.
Facebook has a long history of fuckups that enable your privacy to be taken away whether by accident on your part or from malicious intent.
Facebook can sell any info on you that it gathers from cookies it plants, and says this rather plainly in their terms of service.

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Zuckerberg has a history of unethical behavior, so you kind of have to question what has been done with your personal information, what is being done with your personal information, and what will be done with your personal information.
I have been facebook free for a couple of years now, so I am probably a bit out of touch with the current happenings on facebook . I still do keep abreast of what they are doing though via gizmodo and lifehacker. There are probably more problems, but some of these are ongoing problems, current problems, and past problems. There might be more cons than I can list, and I admit some of these might have been fixed. As I am writing this, however, I think most of these cons are up to date.

Anyways, this long list of cons is enough for me to not use Facebook. I just don't see the Pros holding enough weight against the cons for me to ever use the site again. I really don't see much use in the other social network options either. They all pretty much can be accused of doing the same shit. Christ, you have to resort to
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to delete yourself from myspace.

Hope this offers a good con view.

[illustral]

	Originally Posted by subgenius
	(Long text; see original post.)

So basically
Pro: You can keep in touch with people.
Neutral: It's a photo dump.
Con: No privacy.

[Espadrille]

I've heard that Facebook will be in trouble if they don't add some really cool features (using all the megabucks they will rake in with the IPO) and that it's popularity is waning somewhat. Some people are just waiting for the next new social medium to appear on the web.

Last night I heard that FB's growth is now decelerating.

[IslandHead]

	Originally Posted by repartee To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I have had Facebook for a few years now and I have deleted my account 3 times. Facebook hold onto your account for 14 days before permanently deleting and each time I have gone back before the 14 days are up.

They actually keep your accounts forever!

[SwedenF]

Pros:
- Keep in touch with family and friends, without having to actively contact them. You can keep track of what they are up to, with little effort. (Not to be used as an excuse not to contact at all)
- Can get updates on other things that interest you. I follow the author of a book series I am following, and some series I like.
- No matter how annoying some people are, you can always de-friend them

Cons:
- Facebook constantly ruins itself and tries to force things on you that you may or may not like

[Subgenius]

	Originally Posted by illustral To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	So basically Pro: You can keep in touch with people. Neutral: It's a photo dump. Con: No privacy.

The photo dump isn't really a neutral item. You don't have friends that play the "who can get the most fucked up picture of their friends on facebook" game? It was quite shitty back in the day, and it was rather invasive due to the labeling of people in pictures.

[JTG]

	Originally Posted by Espadrille To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I've heard that Facebook will be in trouble if they don't add some really cool features (using all the megabucks they will rake in with the IPO) and that it's popularity is waning somewhat. Some people are just waiting for the next new social medium to appear on the web.

There are other services which are social alternatives to the facebook format and are different enough that they don't really compete for use. Twitter, flickr, etc.

Google+ is what i wish facebook was. I prefer it to facebook in almost all facets, except not many people i know use it. I guess that's both a pro and a con.

I use facebook for keeping in touch with people.

	Originally Posted by Subgenius To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	The photo dump isn't really a neutral item. You don't have friends that play the "who can get the most fucked up picture of their friends on facebook" game? It was quite shitty back in the day, and it was rather invasive due to the labeling of people in pictures.

It's also a good way to document events and give people easy links to pictures they were present for.

Which paints it in a more positive light.

Neutral fits.

[Subgenius]

Originally Posted by JTG To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

There are other services which are social alternatives to the facebook format and are different enough that they don't really compete for use. Twitter, flickr, etc. Google+ is what i wish facebook was. I prefer it to facebook in almost all facets, except not many people i know use it. I guess that's both a pro and a con. I use facebook for keeping in touch with people. It's also a good way to document events and give people easy links to pictures they were present for. Which paints it in a more positive light. Neutral fits.

Whatever floats your boat.

[squarebox]

I only have facebook so I can keep in contact with the few friends that I have. Other than that facebook is just for egotistic people.

[LifesEcstasy]

There's a reason to be on facebook? What? Where?

Oh. You mean that inane crap people go on with, like this.....

Hey guys got totally wasted last night and slept with that creepy guy I really hate
No way! You were so out of control.
Yeah I know. I've probably got an STD or something

As always. What am I missing?

[paulm]

I like to consider FB a propaganda channel. I post only what I want others to see.

FB allows me to keep an eye on what my friends and family are doing. I find FB posts good conversation starters once I meet those people in person. I've also gotten in touch with a few former classmates.

I've found I can silence most apps and people that post too much, and I can easily keep up with the handful of people in my list. I can't imagine how people with hundreds of friends manage.

I post very little, maybe one or two things a week, knowing that whatever I post is fully public (even though FB gives the impression that there are closed groups, any message can easily be moved outside that group).

I use a separate browser for FB because I'm aware that every site that has that "Like + thumbs up" icon on it will track me. I don't "like" things that are obvious advertising. If I have an opinion about a product I want to share, I'll write it out rather than giving a "like" since it lacks nuance.

[Person056]

	Originally Posted by mrhat To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Well someone has to make smartass comments on their friend's statuses To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

that was the first thought in had i mind before even opening this thread, lol. that and to make subtle snide remarks to my population of "friends" as my statuses. it's so funny when everyone that i'm making fun of likes my status. XD

it's also a good way to quickly communicate with people. there's three or four people there that i talk to regularly, two of which are from INTJf.

[themuzicman]

Originally Posted by Sonntag To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Hi, for some years now I've been thinking if I should register on Facebook. Most people you can find there now, and I think it's a practical way keeping in touch. Maybe more practical for many people than writing emails or using Skype. To that, I think there could be interesting discussion groups to join. What I dislike of Facebook is the definition of a friend and the social pressure that you might face: People who expect you to be there on a regulary basis. The general competion to have at least xxx friends. Etc. Last I am not sure if it is good to let everyone know certain things that you might share there. Sharing something of you and at least using your real name are somehow even more (social) expectations and I think that's the meaning of Facebook. What do you think of Facebook? What are the pros and the cons?

I do it mainly to keep up with my kids on facebook and to see what extended family is up to so I am prepared for the next family reunion.

[otiliaion]

To spy on someone you like
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)

[mieu]

I've been on Facebook since early 2005, and I really can't understand any of the vitriol that gets spewed about it. Yes, there are advertisements and information on your likes and dislikes will be circulated through your network of friends and the apps that they use...I just don't use any apps! I don't share my information with anyone I'm not close to, and I 'mute' or unfriend people I don't want to talk to. So easy!

	What I dislike of Facebook is the definition of a friend and the social pressure that you might face: People who expect you to be there on a regulary basis. The general competion to have at least xxx friends. Etc.

There's absolutely nothing like that, in my experience. It's a website. You visit it, or you don't. It's not a commitment. In 7 years of participation I can tell you that no one 'expects' me to be on Facebook at a certain time to do certain things, that's absurd. You might feel like you're missing out on everyone's latest 'stuff' but it ain't gonna kill you.

Also if you feel like having friends is a competition, you need to grow out of that grade-school mentality. The point is to be friends with...people you're friends with. How many or how few that is means nothing. Shit, if it really makes you self-conscious you can hide your friends list.

	Last I am not sure if it is good to let everyone know certain things that you might share there. Sharing something of you and at least using your real name are somehow even more (social) expectations and I think that's the meaning of Facebook.

Yes, if you want anonymity, go to 4chan. You can set up a 'fake' profile on Facebook, but it may be deleted. If you want to post things that certain people you're 'friends' with might not like, first evaluate your friendship and how important it is that you MUST post the offending thing. Second, organize your friends into groups according to subject matter. For example I have friends that I met through video games in a group, and when I post stuff about video games I set it so that only they can see that kind of post. Same for family, co-workers, etc.

I like Facebook, I use it to keep in touch with far-away friends, and for general internet shenanigans--organizing events, re-posting pictures from George Takei's page, commenting on stuff that they say--with friends who are close by.

Stuff like that is only a burden if you let it be. Life is way too short to sweat over something like Facebook, but then again there are people who get all bent out of shape over stupid things.

[Arnold86]

Pros:
Keep in touch with other people and few friends.
See what others say.

Cons:
You have "friends".