Can Someone Explain Facebook/Twitter?

[Shara]

When I first moved here I used facebook to join several moms groups so I could meet new people and socialize myself as well as my daughter.

Today, through Facebook, I found out that one of my friend's daughter died because of H1N1. I would not have found out about this through any other means. I do not get together with her (or the group) very often because I'm in school full time and she's been dealing with a very sick child. But today I was able to find out within ours of her darling daughter passing. I was able to (like, literally, hundreds of others) share my sorrow and my sympathy with her and let her know that she was not alone and her daughter was loved. I would not have known her or her duaghter if it wasn't for facebook.

I use facebook to play scrabble with my mom every day even though she lives in a different province.

I find my school friends online so that I can ask them when an assignment is due or if they want to swap essays for review.

I find out how my sister is doing in her classes and how my niece is.

I find friends that I knew in Japan or Chile but either lost their email or never had it.

Through other friends I find out about other mutual friends.

I have reunited with people I knew in elementary and secondary school.

I find out about promotions, heartbreak, losses, random thoughts and more.

And I love it. I don't think it's egocentric to care about what is happening in other people's lives or to want to share about your life through an electronic means.

What is the difference if I come here and post a thread entitled "my dog is sick and needs to go to the vet" or if I post it on facebook? The only difference is here I chat with strangers, there I chat with friends. I'll get pretty much the same responses.

People use it in different ways. It doesn't mean that all people are the same. Some people spam on it just like on forums.

Bottom line... it's a networking site.

Twitter I don't really use that much. i have a few 'followers' for my etsy business but that's about it.

ETA: Facebook is not about eliminating oral or face-to-face contact. It's about networking in general. I have joined local biking groups on it (haven't gone yet but will...) I have met people through my mom's group and we go out for coffee when we can. We also exchange ideas about events/festivals/movies/etc. that we can take our kids to. We talk about sales and more. And then we go out and do it.

[Crankin]

It's sort of interesting that there are so many opinions about this.
I have made some conclusions, mostly about myself.
I have pared down my "friends" over the years. I mean real friends, not FB ones. I guess I don't feel the need to stay in contact with a lot of people from my past. I moved a lot in the past and at each stage, I let those people go.
I have a very small family, most of whom are not particularly computer literate. My brother doesn't even have a computer, although my 85 year old dad does. He can barely use the mouse, so I stopped emailing him. I call.
I stopped talking to my family that lives near me, mostly because of their offensive (to me) racism and political views...
I don't share photos, articles, political stuff, jokes on line, in any form. I don't know how to download photos from the camera, to my computer. In fact, I barely know how to use the camera. The only place I've posted photos is here on TE, and that's only after my DH has sent them to me, or put them on my laptop. The whole thing is a mystery to me.

So, I guess my world is pretty small, compared to most. I have 4-5 good friends here and lots of acquaintances. One kid and my dad, and brother are in California. My other kid is here. Other than one or two friends in AZ and my former exchange student, who is now in Colorado, that's it.

[lunacycles]

Tulip says:

I recently received a LETTER from an old friend who lives far away. It was so nice! I have yet to write her back, but I certainly will. I like letters.

Dude. Woah. Seriously? I haven't received a letter since, like, Camp Lake Hubert.

[Zen]

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

[ASammy1]

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

We used postcards as Save the Dates for our wedding and also as Thank you cards. Since everyone was travelling to us, we thought it was appropriate

[SheFly]

The anonymity of the internet has managed to offer people the opportunity to behave abominably with limited repercussions. You can be anyone you want to be on the internet, you can say anything and have little fear of it coming back to bite you. For example, I imagine this entire thread would have gone very differently if we were having this discussion in real life.

While this may be true, it is also true that EVERYONE needs to be aware of what they are posting, and where. Employers WILL do a Google/FB search on you before hiring. Saying "anything" thinking you are anonymous on the internet is just foolish - I don't do it here (where I am "slightly" anonymous), nor on my blog, nor on FB.

Unlike some, I have every "fear of it coming back to bite" me. That doesn't mean I don't use the technology, just that I am careful in my use.

SheFly

[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.

[Geonz]

Ok, then I had the right impression...it's an egocentric crowd that is using it. That's what I thought. What is this generation coming to...

Lisa

And... it's not egocentric to do exactly the same thing on this board? (which, unlike FB, **is** open to the whole world, except perhaps part of China )

[Irulan]

I found a new use for FB this week.

My mother is very ill. I don't keep much in touch with her cousins and good friend, but I know who they are.

I figured folks would want to know about her condition. I was able to message one of the cousins, and the daughter of a very good friend of hers easily through my mom's friend list, and get the word out that way. This saved me having to dig out my address book. Some of these people I don't even have contacts for. Folks were very appreciative that I took the time out to contact them, and FB made it very easy to do.

[SadieKate]

Interestingly, a highschool boyfriend just tracked me down via LinkedIn, a professional networking site.

The internet can make it such a small world.

Irulan, hoping the best for you and your mother.

[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.