ALL SCI-FI

[Brent Gair]

I'm one of those guys who has long avoided Facebook just because I don't feel the need to broadcast my life for everyone and be in contact with everybody. That being said, I've had a Facebook account for a long time simply because a lot of things take place on Facebook...for example, product announcements and asking questions of some companies whose only web presence is on Facebook.

Until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't belong to any Facebook groups and never posted anything. However, I found a group for my old elementary school and I saw the names of some old buddies so I joined the group. I've posted a fair amount.

Here's what bugs me: Facebook is the clumsiest and least intuitive forum that I ever been on. Considering that Facebook is huge, I find this very odd. Seriously, the old Searchlight BBS software from 1991 worked much better than Facebook. It's hard to find comments and replies. The limits for posting pictures varies on whether you are making a new post or commenting on an exisitng post. I try to reply to individuals and it ends up as a general comment to the person who started the thread. I figured I would get the hang of it after a month; afterall, I've using forums for 25 years since the days of 1200 baud external modems. I still can't figure out how Facebook works.

How did a company become so big with such truly awful software. Ultimately, Facebook is a gigantic Bulletin Board...with the worst BB software EVER. Honestly, I don't understand how such incompetence has been so richly rewarded.

[orzel-w]

We think much alike in this arena, Brent. I have a Facebook account, but only for checking out certain postings by others. I never post anything myself, and I haven't disclosed any personal information in my profile aside from what's necessary to have an account.

One aspect I find interesting is the automated e-mails I receive from Facebook itself, asking me if I know certain other Facebook members. I see names of people who are individuals I've known in the past and no longer have any contact with, plus others who are married to those individuals. There are also names I don't recognize at all. I have none of these people in my e-mail address book. But those names I do recognize can't have opted to send me a friending invitation, because I didn't even use my real name when I signed up.

The only thing I can guess at as to what's going on is that Facebook searches through members' e-mail address books and collects addresses, then matches those up with anybody who has addresses of anybody else who connects to anybody with the same addresses in their list. It may be limited to a certain number of levels of linking, but it's certainly more than just two levels of separation.

It's another reason, discovered after the fact, that I don't actively participate in Facebook. It's too intrusive.
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...or not...

WayneO
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[Bud Brewster]

[Pow]

I have enjoyed reading articles,jokes,videos,pictures posted by folks on FB.

Never would dream of posting anything regarding my mundane ol' life though.

Well,I'm going out to rake the leaves now. Will send pix of it later.

Seriously???

[Custer]

Facebook would love access to my full details, to try to get me into groups and find "friends," but yeah, I don't really see the point. I am on FB as Cus Custer, after people from a game we used to play decided they wanted a Facebook group, but I seldom go beyond clicking a few "likes." Or apparently I'll soon have the chance to click "dislike" if I want to, too...

[Robert (Butch) Day]

To paraphrase Alfred Pennyworth:

Most of the time it is a waste of time!
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Common Sense ISN'T Common

[Pye-Rate]

To me the value of facebook is the links to a couple sci-fi writer pages and numerous science pages. On the social side there is the occasional I-M with a friend or relative, that leaves 99% crap.