Can Someone Explain Facebook/Twitter?

[papaver]

I just wrote someone a letter last week. And I send postcards often.

I often send postcards. I love it. Even when we're visiting a small city nearby, it happens that i send a postcard to my mom or a friend. It's kinda goofing around and being nice at the same time.

[blackhillsbiker]

Somebody has probably already posted this. If so, my apologies, but I don't have time to read through the thread this morning. A friend gave me a helpful tip. If you look to the left in your "Facebook home" you'll see the list with Newsfeed, Notes, Photos, etc. Drag the item "Status Updates" to the top of the list (above Newsfeed). That becomes your default view and you don't have to see when friends take quizzes, play Farmville or Diner, or Mafia Wars... this has made Facebook much better for me. I just like to keep track of far-flung friends (and some relatives).

Deb

[AnnieBikes]

I have skimmed through this thread and really enjoyed all the different views. I resisted FB for a year after I first joined (at the request of my oldest son). I thought it was a college fad and would never suit a 50-something! I just could NOT see the point...until my first grandchild was born. It has been the most wonderful thing since for my DH and me. We could see pics, videos, and notes about what she was doing. When I made one of my three long bicycle rides, I could keep up with family, close friends, and some other friends. It did not take the place of my blog when I was on the road, but allowed quick updates. I USUALLY do not kill tons of time on the computer ...haha..just spent 45 min. reading this thread!

*I "hide" all people whose posts are only mafia wars, farmville, etc.
*I don't participate in "what shoe am I" or any other stupid "quizzes".
*I ONLY accept friend requests from those who I really CARE about hearing about. That does not include my brother's former girlfriends, ex family members, etc.
*I block those people I "friended" at the beginning of my FB use, when I did not know any better, and now don't care to hear about.

The death of a very dear aunt of mine has brought me in much closer touch with my cousins who live a long way away. It has been wonderful, I must say.

You can use FB for whatever you need and block the rest.

PS My DH just joined a few days ago...got tired of hearing me laugh at a video of our granddaughter and wanted to get a page of his own!!! Now THAT is progress!

PPS, I love TE for things like this!!!!

[MomOnBike]

Regarding watching what you say (type):

My (way, way pre-computer) grandfather had a rule about that. "Never write anything you do not want to see printed on the front page of your local newspaper, above the fold."

That was good advice in the last century, and remains so today. The more things change. . . .

MomOnBike
(who is appalled at some of the things some people post online - and not just Facebook)

[Pax]

Regarding watching what you say (type):

My (way, way pre-computer) grandfather had a rule about that. "Never write anything you do not want to see printed on the front page of your local newspaper, above the fold."

That was good advice in the last century, and remains so today. The more things change. . . .

MomOnBike
(who is appalled at some of the things some people post online - and not just Facebook)

Your grandfather was a wise man.

I'm following a thread on another forum where people are talking about the lies they post on FB, one young man and his girlfriend have a running "gag" where they've convinced their families (who live in other States) that they eloped because she was pregnant...and just yesterday posted that she aborted because they weren't ready yet. They think it's hilarious how "freaked out" the families are.

[solobiker]

Regarding watching what you say (type):

My (way, way pre-computer) grandfather had a rule about that. "Never write anything you do not want to see printed on the front page of your local newspaper, above the fold."

That was good advice in the last century, and remains so today. The more things change. . . .

MomOnBike
(who is appalled at some of the things some people post online - and not just Facebook)

I like that rule. I will start to use it as it is so very true.

[deeaimond]

I am from the generation they term tech natives (as opposed to tech migrant). Even I didn't have facebook at first because i thought it was some silly rubbish like myspace (terribly hard to navigate) or friendster (lots of random people trying to be yr 'friend')

I joined FB a few years ago when they finally opened it to institutions outside the US. before all the applications started appearing. The Apps drive me nuts. I love FB because I get to keep track of what friends are doing. I have more than 500 friends on FB (how did that happen?), but these are all people i actually know. I have a rule that I only add people that I have actually met. So friends from various schools, old church friends, some colleagues, some relations etc.

With 500+ plus friends, you don't check all of them out all the time, but sometimes, i think of someone, i might not be able to make a random call, but I can at least check out their photos, maybe leave a comment on a photo or say hello in a call. Its a good way to keep aquaintances because you never really know when you might need a connection or two.

On a personal level, I guess everyone can choose how much information you put out there. My page is restricted to only those I have added as friends. People I don't mind showing my travel photos, or occasional shoutouts to. I don't put pictures of a personal nature, like boyfriend pics or stuff i think is too sexy/ will give the wrong impression of me. Just bear in mind its stuff u won't mind showing yr mother. (my bf is also very paranoid about privacy on fb and i get the occasional call from him to watch certain things i say or post. 'my sister can see this hon and what will she think about you??')

fortunately for me, my parents and most older relations have not jumped on this bandwagon, and most people on my FB are restricted to people in my social circle/peers - I have my sister on, but my brother... no..

I don't use it as much as when i was in college, coz now i'm super busy and i don't really use 3G phone technology so much. But its a good way to catch up with friends.

I guess if you had 5 friends you want to talk to, and you're familiar with their lifestyles and schedules you can just call... but.. 500... I hardly have time for calls. Only call my bf, and occasionally my best friends. But we're not good over the phone. We'll usually just meet up in person and go for dinner pr something. FB allows me to keep contact without making anyone feel slighted I guess...

[shootingstar]

I joined FB a few years ago when they finally opened it to institutions outside the US. before all the applications started appearing. The Apps drive me nuts. I love FB because I get to keep track of what friends are doing. I have more than 500 friends on FB (how did that happen?), but these are all people i actually know. I have a rule that I only add people that I have actually met. So friends from various schools, old church friends, some colleagues, some relations etc.

With 500+ plus friends, you don't check all of them out all the time, but sometimes, i think of someone, i might not be able to make a random call, but I can at least check out their photos, maybe leave a comment on a photo or say hello in a call. Its a good way to keep aquaintances because you never really know when you might need a connection or two.

On a personal level, I guess everyone can choose how much information you put out there. ...............................................................................

fortunately for me, my parents and most older relations have not jumped on this bandwagon, and most people on my FB are restricted to people in my social circle/peers - I have my sister on, but my brother... no..

I'm totally amazed by 500 acquaintances that you've met and got in FB network and actually allow this networking. Just how long (and lucky) will you remain if senior family generation never gets into FB networking?

Ok. If I include my 100+ relatives in North America who can read English, not the ones who are Chinese-language literate only (Forget about relatives in China, I can't read Chinese.), plus friends I still keep in touch, face-to-face cycling acquaintances would be under 250.

If I included work colleagues (heaven forbid), that would amount to 500..over last 10 yrs.

[lph]

I like that rule. I will start to use it as it is so very true.

This is what they say in general about Facebook, whenever inappropriate use comes up in the media: "don't publish anything that you wouldn't want to find pinned to the nearest lamppost for all your neighbours to see".

[Crankin]

Deeaimond, actually the new principal does know me. We were hired at the same time, in 1999, both being quite above the experience and age for new hires in teaching (that's what I loved about my last employer. They hired by need, not by how much they had to pay). He just forgot that I was in grad school, doing something else.
I was in your position once. I got involuntarily transferred from the middle school to an elementary school. Since I was a special ed collaborative teacher, the new principal wisely decided to assign me to work with 4th and 2nd grade. She took one look at me and knew it was best not to put me with first graders. The second grade was a learning curve of about a semester, but it was actually OK.

[shootingstar]

This is what they say in general about Facebook, whenever inappropriate use comes up in the media: "don't publish anything that you wouldn't want to find pinned to the nearest lamppost for all your neighbours to see".

Or if one posts anything on any Internet tool, including twitter, FB, don't lie.

As we may know LinkedIN is used for posting one's work related history, details, etc. I discovered when browsing a colleague's LinkedIN profile, that she lied about the work period dates for a certain employer. She overextended the date period of working in a particular role.

I know she lied, because the person who actually worked in that same extended time period for same firm, ...was ME. She was my predecessor.

Now I'm trying to politely straighten out this crap with her. I had staff reporting directly to me with written performance appraisals, granting of bonuses. So my role was real. I'm not a ghost. Oh well, I also have a full article published on the Internet during my tenure with same employer during same time period.

I spoke with a employment recruiter about this incident. She told me...that some candidates have lied outright about certain firms that they worked for ..when in fact, they had not. She did advise that no matter what, let this colleague fall on her face because it will eventually bite her back later.

So the Internet can reveal things one never dreamt of.