Facebook

[string1399]

I’ve had issues with Facebook in the past to the point that I wanted to permanently delete my profile. Now I feel I’ve made my peace with it. I think it’s a great tool for keeping up with relatives, especially those with young kids. If someone gets too annoying, I simply stop following them.

 

[kb360]

I’m well under 50 (less than half of 50) and use Facebook like many of my peers, but I don’t understand where all this hatred towards a social media site is coming from.

Facebook is a very useful tool if properly used. It has so many functions that can be really handy, such as connecting with old friends, keeping up with acquaintances that are near or far, sharing photos with friends and family, following groups or organizations that one is involved or interested in, etc (the list goes on). I also used it quite a bit in college to connect with my classmates, and sometimes my professors even used it to post assignments or events pertaining to my classes.

It appears that the reason people are anti-Facebook is because they don’t take advantage of its usefulness. If you have nothing to do on Facebook rather than look at people’s profiles on your news feed and feel bad because their posts show how great their lives are, then fine, get rid of your account, but don’t demean the entire site. If you find pages, or groups, on Facebook that stand for things that you find offensive, then tough. It’s a social network, and people voice opinions, politically correct or otherwise. You can even tailor your profile to block certain pages.

I understand why some people don’t feel the need to use Facebook, but there’s no reason to slander the entire social network. It’s like how older people used to scoff at cellphones (some still do I’m sure) simply because they weren’t used to them or didn’t know how to use them, stating they were unnecessary.

Anyway’s, sorry for the long post. Peace.

 

[tomarin]

I’m well under 50 (less than half of 50) and use Facebook like many of my peers, but I don’t understand where all this hatred towards a social media site is coming from.

Facebook is a very useful tool if properly used. It has so many functions that can be really handy, such as connecting with old friends, keeping up with acquaintances that are near or far, sharing photos with friends and family, following groups or organizations that one is involved or interested in, etc (the list goes on). I also used it quite a bit in college to connect with my classmates, and sometimes my professors even used it to post assignments or events pertaining to my classes.

It appears that the reason people are anti-Facebook is because they don’t take advantage of its usefulness. If you have nothing to do on Facebook rather than look at people’s profiles on your news feed and feel bad because their posts show how great their lives are, then fine, get rid of your account, but don’t demean the entire site. If you find pages, or groups, on Facebook that stand for things that you find offensive, then tough. It’s a social network, and people voice opinions, politically correct or otherwise. You can even tailor your profile to block certain pages.

I understand why some people don’t feel the need to use Facebook, but there’s no reason to slander the entire social network. It’s like how older people used to scoff at cellphones (some still do I’m sure) simply because they weren’t used to them or didn’t know how to use them, stating they were unnecessary.

Anyway’s, sorry for the long post. Peace.

I’m glad you posted your response even if it’s contrary to the sentiments among most of the posters here (including mine). Actually, it’s more accurate to say I’m glad you posted your response because it’s contrary to the majority sentiment.

Speaking for myself, the reason I dislike Facebook is that it encourages people to cultivate (or “curate” if you will) a personal brand which I find sort of dishonest and shallow. No one posts things to Facebook that don’t make them look happy, successful, in the loop and well-adjusted, with beautiful family and things, etc. It’s almost as if there’s a deep-seated need to show off “how great my life is” that people have, and which is to my mind the real reason for Facebook and the real reason behind its phenomenal success, not the alleged purpose of “staying in touch.”

I don’t want to see my friends as “personal brands,” I find it unsettling.

 

[kb360]

I’m glad you posted your response even if it’s contrary to the sentiments among most of the posters here (including mine). Actually, it’s more accurate to say I’m glad you posted your response because it’s contrary to the majority sentiment.

Speaking for myself, the reason I dislike Facebook is that it encourages people to cultivate (or “curate” if you will) a personal brand which I find sort of dishonest and shallow. No one posts things to Facebook that don’t make them look happy, successful, in the loop and well-adjusted, with beautiful family and things, etc. It’s almost as if there’s a deep-seated need to show off “how great my life is” that people have, and which is to my mind the real reason for Facebook and the real reason behind its phenomenal success, not the alleged purpose of “staying in touch.”

I don’t want to see my friends as “personal brands,” I find it unsettling.

I do agree with you that Facebook allows one to appear more fake (if that’s the right word) by depicting a happier, more fruitful lifestyle. While it may not be the truest illustration of your friends’ realities, shouldn’t you be happy for them? Even if their life is actually miserable, at least them posting the wonderful things happening in their day-to-day shows a positive outlook; one could even say it shows that they know what they should be thankful for.

As for personal branding, you can blame people like me for joining in that trend. I’m sorry, and I know its gotten out of hand, with everyone and anyone creating pages on themselves and twitter feeds, the lot. However, certain people need the social media outlet in order to survive due to the nature of their profession. I am an actor, (and many of my peers are actors, models, DJ’s, and freelance journalists) and for our lines of work, we are our own brands. In order for us to succeed we have to sell ourselves, both our image and our work. We don’t only promote ourselves but we promote the events we take part in, the studios and theatres we work for, and each other. So I understand how this personal branding is annoying and has gotten out of hand, but, despite appearing to be narcissistic, is very necessary for some in order to earn the daily bread and butter.

 

[InNomineDomini]

It’s almost as if there’s a deep-seated need to show off “how great my life is” that people have, and which is to my mind the real reason for Facebook and the real reason behind its phenomenal success, not the alleged purpose of “staying in touch.”

I can sympathize with this perspective, and I have certainly encountered, in various ways, the precise things that you mention.

On the other hand, the format of Facebook can be used for many other things besides promoting one’s self or one’s life. As a quick source of news, of articles, of perspectives and commentary, Facebook is of great use. It can also be a hoot, in terms of the sorts of things people share and their respective comedic value.

The trick is knowing who to follow, which pages to like, and what sort of purposes you have in mind for the tool. Facebook is utterly customizable, and a bit of creativity can turn the situation you describe into one which, frankly, I would submit has decent intellectual, emotional, and even spiritual benefits.

Having said that, Facebook can also be an occasion of sin in sundry ways. But like the rage of the newly commercial internet of some 20 years ago, the fact that there is access to filth does not imply that it is useless in terms of access to things which are not filth.

 

[EMFrost]

I know some people do demean facebook in general and some even go so far as to belittle the people who do use it, but that’s not true of everyone. In fact most of the posts here haven’t been “hateful” towards anybody or anything. You can dislike and disagree with something without hating it.

The OP was looking for verification that she’s not the only one who chooses not to have a facebook, and those of us who share her sentiments spoke up.

From our side I guess there’s frustration in how people try to pressure you into a facebook, personal frustration with the time someone may or not have already wasted themselves on the site, and how strange people sometimes see you if you don’t have one.

 

[tomarin]

I know some people do demean facebook in general and some even go so far as to belittle the people who do use it, but that’s not true of everyone. In fact most of the posts here haven’t been “hateful” towards anybody or anything. You can dislike and disagree with something without hating it.

The OP was looking for verification that she’s not the only one who chooses not to have a facebook, and those of us who share her sentiments spoke up.

From our side I guess there’s frustration in how people try to pressure you into a facebook, personal frustration with the time someone may or not have already wasted themselves on the site, and how strange people sometimes see you if you don’t have one.

It’s not only that - there’s also this strange celebration of everything facebook in society at large that I can’t help but view as either a depressing farce and/or a dispiriting comment on our times. That’s why I said earlier I’m looking forward to it being superceded by something else, which is certainly what will happen, sooner rather than later.

 

[tomarin]

I do agree with you that Facebook allows one to appear more fake (if that’s the right word) by depicting a happier, more fruitful lifestyle. While it may not be the truest illustration of your friends’ realities, shouldn’t you be happy for them? Even if their life is actually miserable, at least them posting the wonderful things happening in their day-to-day shows a positive outlook; one could even say it shows that they know what they should be thankful for.

I wish happiness for everyone of course; I’m just making the point that the world as presented by facebook is a shallow and one-sided one, and I think that’s primarily what bugs me about it (well that and the narcissism of it). And I do think something about the format promotes that glossy one-dimensionality. I imagine somewhere there are people (professional philosophers or theologians in my mind’s eye) discussing weighty matters on facebook, but that’s a far cry from my experience of it – and most people’s to judge by the notes I’ve compared with others.

As for personal branding, you can blame people like me for joining in that trend. I’m sorry, and I know its gotten out of hand, with everyone and anyone creating pages on themselves and twitter feeds, the lot. However, certain people need the social media outlet in order to survive due to the nature of their profession. I am an actor, (and many of my peers are actors, models, DJ’s, and freelance journalists) and for our lines of work, we are our own brands. In order for us to succeed we have to sell ourselves, both our image and our work. We don’t only promote ourselves but we promote the events we take part in, the studios and theatres we work for, and each other. So I understand how this personal branding is annoying and has gotten out of hand, but, despite appearing to be narcissistic, is very necessary for some in order to earn the daily bread and butter.

“All the world’s a stage” eh?

 

[tomarin]

I can sympathize with this perspective, and I have certainly encountered, in various ways, the precise things that you mention.

On the other hand, the format of Facebook can be used for many other things besides promoting one’s self or one’s life. As a quick source of news, of articles, of perspectives and commentary, Facebook is of great use. It can also be a hoot, in terms of the sorts of things people share and their respective comedic value.

The trick is knowing who to follow, which pages to like, and what sort of purposes you have in mind for the tool. Facebook is utterly customizable, and a bit of creativity can turn the situation you describe into one which, frankly, I would submit has decent intellectual, emotional, and even spiritual benefits.

Having said that, Facebook can also be an occasion of sin in sundry ways. But like the rage of the newly commercial internet of some 20 years ago, the fact that there is access to filth does not imply that it is useless in terms of access to things which are not filth.

I know people who use it to promote some very narrow agenda, but I’m not sure if that’s not more depressing than the run-of-the-mill use of it.

 

[redbetta]

I am well under 50 at age 17 and I have never used Facebook. CAF is my first and only Internet presence for the time being. More of my peers actually use Instagram instead of Facebook. Beginning of junior year, we had a creative essay in English assigned in which we had to predict what the world will become if all social media were to suddenly disappear. Me and about 4-6 other students in our class were struggling on what to put down other than, “Well, at least I know that I will survive,” because we were not using any social media.

It does not necessarily make us our generation’s face-to-face social experts. Socializing in general is my weak point.

 

[Obsidion]

I am 20 years old and have never had a Facebook, and I’m planning on keeping it that way too. To me, Facebook is a representation of everything wrong with our society today. The narcissism, the attention-seeking ideals that scream “Me, me, me!” really don’t resonate well with me. Seeing the barrage of girls’ photos in which they’re pouting the duck face in sleazy outfits, guys guzzling down beer shots at frat parties and posts that are filled with whining, cussing and putting down other people go against all that I believe in with the virtue of humility. I’m not trying to lump all Facebook users into this category, but especially being in college and seeing how all my fellow classmates behave with it, I really can’t join in knowing that all this junk is going on. I feel that the reason why so many teens and young adults have an attitude problem today can be traced to an inflated idea of self-importance that they get from Facebook. They post what they want, when they want, and can do it however they please- to me, that creates a big heart problem in the area of humility.
Another revelation that God has placed in my heart recently about Facebook is that it’s become another empty substitution many people try to use to fill the voids in their heart that only God himself can fill. So many of these young teens and adults I know are desperate for attention and love that they aren’t receiving from their families, friends, or churches, so they turn to posting about themselves online, hoping to get any sort of affirmation that they are worth something, even from online strangers. It really bothers me to see that rather than finding their self-worth in knowing that the creator of the Universe sent his only beloved son to come down and die for us because he loves us, people nowadays seek approval from others for all the wrong reasons (not all of the time, I know, but you get what I mean). Facebook is the biggest social media culprit in all of this, and for those reasons, I have no desire to get my own page.
On another note, I also am scared off by the idea that what you post can later be used against you by employers or the law. I don’t think I’d ever post anything inappropriate, but I don’t want to leave any room for error. So many people think they’re being funny when they post bad pictures or writings, and little do they realize that those same postings can come back to bite them in big ways. That’s just another practical explanation for my non-usage of Facebook.

 

[Eruvande]

I have mixed feelings. I use it for family and limited friends who I don’t see in RL. It’s nice for sharing photos of family days with people who I didn’t share those days with. But I do get weary of some of the unpleasant stuff my non-Christian family posts. For that matter, I get weary of some of the unbelieving stuff my Christian friends post. But that’s the nature of internet - happens here too.

 

[maryjk]

I have mixed feelings. I use it for family and limited friends who I don’t see in RL. It’s nice for sharing photos of family days with people who I didn’t share those days with. But I do get weary of some of the unpleasant stuff my non-Christian family posts. For that matter, I get weary of some of the unbelieving stuff my Christian friends post. But that’s the nature of internet - happens here too.

I end up taking those type of posts off of my news feed.

That way I never see what my nephew posts. (His language is in the gutter.) Nor, do I see what a neighbor posts. (She isn’t a Christian, and links to sites I don’t want to see.)

That way I don’t have to see their posts, but I also haven’t “unfriended” them. If they ask if I saw something, I can honestly say no. And they can tell me about it.

 

[mikekle]

Another thing that irks me about FB is companies having pages and trying to wiggle into this area, FB was created to be for PEOPLE, not companies…But Im guessing it was about greed and it was decided to let companies have a presence as well. FB was much better before it became commercial, now its largely advertising and marketing, trying to get people to come to different companies homepage and what not.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I just learned to text 3 years ago and I just got my first smartphone in february! I don’t own a computer anymore and someday I might want a tablet.

I don’t really want a facebook page. I hope someday it might be a thing of the past. I can see how beneficial it might be for families to keep in
touch but I spend enough time on my smartphone texting and checking e-mails and I don’t need a facebook page to consume more time. It just seems fake to me. I don’t know how to twitter.
It makes me mad if the only way you can reach someone is on facebook and not e-mail.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I have Christian facebook friends from all around the world! We encourage one another in faith.

LOVE!

 

[styrgwillidar]

Another thing that irks me about FB is companies having pages and trying to wiggle into this area, FB was created to be for PEOPLE, not companies…But Im guessing it was about greed and it was decided to let companies have a presence as well. FB was much better before it became commercial, now its largely advertising and marketing, trying to get people to come to different companies homepage and what not.

Yep. I don’t want a facebook account and will not do business with a company whose only web presence is on facebook. I’m also annoyed by websites/blogs where the comments are facebook.

Never had an account, but my kids have/do. Good way to monitor them and their friends as well as teach them about the internet and the world. Set up an account for my then 79 year old mother. She loved the way she could keep in touch with her kids spread all over the world, see the latest pictures of grandkids etc. She felt far more connected, amazed by folks in her past who were able to contact her and catch up. My kids now use facebook more for keep track of others as opposed to posting stuff. They’ve moved on to instagram, tumblr etc. My brother recently interviewed for a job and didn’t get it because he had almost no web presence- go figure.

Facebook is a tool that can be very useful to some. I can understand why folks would like it and use it in a way that would benefit their lives quite a bit.

 

[JayLynn]

I recently deactivated my FB account and don’t even miss it! Too much drama, complaining and bragging, drove me nuts.

 

[zab]

Facebook is what you make of it. I limit my facebook friends to family. I get to better keep in touch and see photos with close family and relatives, cousins and nieces and nephews and their children, and in-laws and their extended families, whom I cannot visit every year and would otherwise lose touch with.