Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Topic started by: rogerzilla on 03 February, 2012, 06:04:57 pm

Title: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 03 February, 2012, 06:04:57 pm
As it's becoming the de facto way to sign into things (I remember MS Passport  ;D), are you in or still resisting?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: numbnuts on 03 February, 2012, 06:06:58 pm
Facebook, do I need it  ???
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Feanor on 03 February, 2012, 06:07:10 pm
No.

Anyone who needs to know where I am or what I'm doing knows already.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Jaded on 03 February, 2012, 06:54:11 pm
I have a false ID on it. Well, TBH it isn't false, it just isn't me, or a human being.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: andyoxon on 03 February, 2012, 07:03:14 pm
As it's becoming the de facto way to sign into things (I remember MS Passport  ;D), are you in or still resisting?

Annoying.  I recently signed up to Netflix free trial, and you had to work quite hard not to sign up with FB, and share the experience with all your facebiends*...

* yup created a new word...  ;)

(Have a semi-neglected FBk accnt.)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 February, 2012, 07:05:08 pm
Dez suggested to me that I might like to find music by signing up to something called "Spotify" but it wouldn't let me create an account without being a facebook person.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 03 February, 2012, 07:20:38 pm
Mrs Z is a fan of FB but it smells far too fishy for me.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mr magnolia on 03 February, 2012, 07:30:30 pm
No. Too complicated, and anyway, why?
Probably succumb as magnoliettes grow, to allow correct fatherly snooping...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 03 February, 2012, 07:58:21 pm
Yes, with enormous reluctance. Purely because a local club uses it as their main web presence - it seems churlish to not participate.

But I hate it. I can't even post from my Linux box, the default Wall display setting is pants, and I don't know how to turn off the endless notification thingies I get. [The list of apparently simple things - that I simply cannot see how to do - is rather long. ]

Fingers crossed, I _THINK_ I've avoided sharing any sensitive info (like my address book!)

Why is there no (sensible) home page for my account?  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: gordon taylor on 03 February, 2012, 08:09:54 pm
I'm one of the global 800,000,000 who have a Facebook profile.

I'm enjoying it ATM.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: MercuryKev on 03 February, 2012, 08:15:14 pm
i wasn't convinced at first but i fine it a good way off keeping in contact with more remote friends plus we now have an Audax Ecosse group which is where the movers and shakers in the world of Scottish long distance cycling get together to discuss the big issues.  If you're not there you are square.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: andyoxon on 03 February, 2012, 08:16:25 pm
In the year the year 2020 a Facebook account became mandatory for all EU citizens in security check-ins for international flights, and for validation of personal identity in financial transactions...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: why1040 on 03 February, 2012, 08:18:40 pm
I use it with pleasure.  My friends and family are all over the world, so it's a handy way of staying in touch.

I have my privacy settings as tight as they allow, double check this regularly and have switched off all the crap I don't need.

It's fun, though you do have to keep on top of the security  :)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: gordon taylor on 03 February, 2012, 08:22:55 pm
BTW, most teenagers I know consider 500 FB "friends" to be pretty normal.

Those of us who are tiptoeing into the FB world are a million miles behind the curve.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: graculus on 03 February, 2012, 08:27:16 pm
Yes, but only so I am able to help admin my workplace's  FB page. I have never posted anything on my own wall and don't intend doing so.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Butterfly on 03 February, 2012, 08:51:22 pm
I am. I have friends and family spread around the world and I like to see how they are doing. I would never have seen my nieces if it weren't for fb. I'm careful what I post - I am aware that there are a lot of nannies on there who are shockingly indiscreet and I don't want to be googled by a future boss. I also am fairly careful not to upset my fundy Christian relatives. I like being able to play scrabble with clarion (and others) when I'm babysitting miles away :).
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 03 February, 2012, 09:07:03 pm
*strokes Stallman beard*

I have so far been able to resist the appeal of online scrabble and being able to see people's photos that are hidden behind a login page.  I occasionally rant/grink at people using facebook canonically in an official organising capacity, as it inherently excludes people with perfectly legitimate privacy concerns.  To their credit, the local cycling campaign seem to have got the point.  But the rot really set in when the LGBT groups started doing it.   :facepalm:

I am, no doubt, losing out socially as a result, but that's nothing new.  Zathrus no mind, Zathrus used to it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 03 February, 2012, 09:15:32 pm
Farmville.  WTF?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Feanor on 03 February, 2012, 09:28:38 pm
*strokes Stallman beard*

I have so far been able to resist the appeal of online scrabble and being able to see people's photos that are hidden behind a login page.  I occasionally rant/grink at people using facebook canonically in an official organising capacity, as it inherently excludes people with perfectly legitimate privacy concerns.  To their credit, the local cycling campaign seem to have got the point.  But the rot really set in when the LGBT groups started doing it.   :facepalm:

I am, no doubt, losing out socially as a result, but that's nothing new.  Zathrus no mind, Zathrus used to it.

<shing!> Here, have a katana.   You're going to need it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: AndyH on 03 February, 2012, 09:30:21 pm
Tried once, privacy was not sufficient, gave up.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hatler on 03 February, 2012, 10:50:17 pm
Simply CBA.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ivo on 04 February, 2012, 04:36:19 am
I'm on Facebook and use it quite a lot. I became convinced when I found back a lot my fellow peace activists of the Balkan war (served in a peace project there in '94). I use it for friends, photography and for organising cycling stuff.
I'm also on the Russian version, vkontakte. Two years ago I participated in a 1200 which was entirely organised via this medium.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Rapples on 04 February, 2012, 09:45:30 am
Yep, did it to keep an eye on Miss Rapples.

We now use it for Cycling Club communication via a group, it seems to work quite well.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Biggsy on 04 February, 2012, 10:00:19 am
I hate Facebook, but friends and family like it, so I want to check out what they've been saying  ...when I CBA.  So far I'm just in the "Yes, but I never log in or anything" camp.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Polar Bear on 04 February, 2012, 10:01:43 am
I have friends and family spread around with whom I like to keep in touch with, so, yes.   

I never play the games - don't really understand the point of them.   I have had my account 'hacked' once which must have been a huge disappointment to the hacker(s).

I remain concerned about the online security but I don't give away much, certainly never any banking info anywhere - cyber criminals are far too devious.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: AndyK on 04 February, 2012, 10:52:36 am
Tried once, privacy was not sufficient, gave up.
Considering it is up to users as to what personal information they write on their Facebook profiles, I have never understood the poor privacy argument. If you don't put the information on Facebook, then privacy is not an issue.
Keep everything locked down to 'Only friends', don't use ANY games or Apps, and it's pretty much just another chat forum.

I like being able to play scrabble with clarion (and others) when I'm babysitting miles away :).

Words With Friends is much better and you can play it on your smart phone with no need to use Facebook.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 04 February, 2012, 01:40:42 pm
At least half of my relationship with the wonderful bobb is playing facebook Scrabble while we skype!  ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 04 February, 2012, 02:04:36 pm
Why is this thread stickied, by the way. Is it really that important?  ???
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: nicknack on 04 February, 2012, 02:11:48 pm
I'm one of the "have an account but CBA to go there". I regard it a bit like I regard phones - really don't like them much. I still prefer to have face-to-face conversations or not at all. Emails are good.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 04 February, 2012, 02:13:36 pm
Fairly standard with polls, to get the maximum responses.  At least for a while.  As well as being personally interested in the march of the pseudo-monopoly that is FB, there is some relevance to the forum.  For instance, a FB group may be a better place than Twitter for notifying people that 1and1 have poured hot German Kaffee into the server again.

It's currently 2:1 users vs non-users, which is higher than I thought.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Feline on 04 February, 2012, 02:19:06 pm
Looking at my Facebook timeline I started on there in August 2007.

I have been on eBay even longer: Member since: 31-Oct-00
My ID on there has a character in it that anyone registering in the last decade cannot use :)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ray 6701 on 04 February, 2012, 03:51:39 pm
I'm on fb & use it quite a bit, never had any issues with security though.
I have a fair few people from yacf on my friends list too  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Feline on 04 February, 2012, 03:56:09 pm
I'm on fb & use it quite a bit, never had any issues with security though.
I have a fair few people from yacf on my friends list too  :thumbsup:

I have to admit, for identity theft and banking reasons I have always had a fake birthday on my Facebook profile! This year even my own sister said happy birthday to me on the wrong day! (it is only a couple of days different).
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 04 February, 2012, 04:03:40 pm
Fairly standard with polls, to get the maximum responses.  At least for a while.  As well as being personally interested in the march of the pseudo-monopoly that is FB, there is some relevance to the forum.  For instance, a FB group may be a better place than Twitter for notifying people that 1and1 have poured hot German Kaffee into the server again.

It's currently 2:1 users vs non-users, which is higher than I thought.
Is there a yacf twitterer then?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 04 February, 2012, 04:12:19 pm
Rog:
I would have thought members could check for tweets without registering anywhere.

FB would be harder. (and a bit shit)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Biggsy on 04 February, 2012, 04:35:16 pm
Is there a yacf twitterer then?

Not exactly.  @rogerzilla, @deniswalker and @Iceblinker occasionally make #YACF announcements.

I would have thought members could check for tweets without registering anywhere.

Yes, anyone can check for recent ones via https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23yacf - until the Yucky Arse Clapping Faction hijack the hashtag.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Blade on 04 February, 2012, 04:44:18 pm
I'm on Facebook and find it quite useful.

Lets me keep in touch with my cousin in Panama and exchange photos with various friends. Also quite good for arranging get togethers with groups of friends.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: fuaran on 04 February, 2012, 05:12:45 pm
Fairly standard with polls, to get the maximum responses.  At least for a while.  As well as being personally interested in the march of the pseudo-monopoly that is FB, there is some relevance to the forum.  For instance, a FB group may be a better place than Twitter for notifying people that 1and1 have poured hot German Kaffee into the server again.
There are a number of ways of posting messages on both Facebook and Twitter at the same time.
Also if you create a Facebook page, I think everything posted to that is public by default, so visible without registering.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Pedaldog. on 05 February, 2012, 01:33:13 am
I hardly ever use it cos I iz thick and can't figure out the what and how, never mind the Why of it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: fred the great on 05 February, 2012, 03:07:03 am
OMG FB? :sick:

No thanks. E-mail serves my needs when required :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: L CC on 05 February, 2012, 08:25:31 am
Facebook is no more private than here, but is easier to share pictures and ignore people.
When your family live in other continents you get to maintain a much more casual relationship with them. If I wrote an email it would be a whole letter. With facebook it's more like a conversation. I don't do skype (i hate web-cams) and it takes too long on the phone to re-establish an easy rapport.
I like facebook. My friends are mostly, actually, my friends.
And obviously, there's the whole keeping track of teenage offspring.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: jane on 05 February, 2012, 08:33:46 am
I use it to keep in touch with friends and family across the world.  It's handy like that.  It has also kept me entertained this weekend when I have been a bit too ill to go out cycling (chest infection) or even concentrate on reading a book, but not ill enough to do nothing but sleep.  I have fended off the frustration and boredom by making an album of my summer trip and having subsequent chats with some of my friends and family.  Trivial, but a mildly amusing and harmless way of wasting time.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: jane on 05 February, 2012, 08:34:38 am
My

And obviously, there's the whole keeping track of teenage offspring.

My offspring refuse to have me on their friends list- should I be worried?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: L CC on 05 February, 2012, 08:48:26 am
Your offspring aren't teenage any more, is she?
It's a rule in this house that as long as I'm paying for your internet and your computer/phone, you're not allowed to block me. Doesn't take much ingenuity to post things I can't see though, so it's a bit token.
They don't seem to mind being my friend though, and they're all 'friends' with their grandad too, so maybe they're not doing anything interesting. We have a private family group for sharing the embarrassing stuff.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Pancho on 05 February, 2012, 09:08:39 am
I'm on it. Only because I have an international background and it became the easiest route for people to stay in touch. However, I rarely log in and even more rarely post anything.

My children use it - as they're away at school I don't get any say in the matter - but I'm not sure I'd want to be fb "friends" with them. It would seem a bit intrusive.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 05 February, 2012, 10:08:44 am
I don't use FB much but was delighted when my 98-year-old great uncle accepted my FB friend request...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: LEE on 05 February, 2012, 10:21:02 am
I like Facebook.  I'm not a big user of it, and think they could change "Friends" to "Acquaintances" to be more realistic in most cases, but it must be great for kids to grow up and never lose touch with people they meet.

My age/era means that many people I'd rather like to catch up with are lost forever. 

Many people spend their entire lives moving from place to place, country to country, I like the way FB allows you to maintain a virtual village of acquaintances.  You can interact or not, it's your choice.

I have received many requests from what I call "Friend collectors" though, people I've met through other people but have only the slightest recollection of.  I think my friends list is pared down to people I've at least had a pint with.

If you can't remember their last name then delete them.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 05 February, 2012, 10:22:57 am
I had a friend request on Another Social Network once where the only thing I had in common with the guy was that, many years ago, I once slept with his fiancee...and I don't think he actually knows  ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 05 February, 2012, 10:30:03 am
My age/era means that many people I'd rather like to catch up with are lost forever. 

Many people spend their entire lives moving from place to place, country to country, I like the way FB allows you to maintain a virtual village of acquaintances.  You can interact or not, it's your choice.
(This is more about t'Web in general, not FB:)

You're right, but the flipside is that it discourages physical interaction. For every photo emailed to grandfolks in Oz, there is a couple emailing each-other from adjacent rooms.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: L CC on 05 February, 2012, 10:32:40 am
My children use it - as they're away at school I don't get any say in the matter - but I'm not sure I'd want to be fb "friends" with them. It would seem a bit intrusive.
Yeah, but I actually am friends with my children. There isn't a very strong adult/child divide in this house.
Someone reckons they show me no respect. This is fair enough, I haven't really done much to earn that, so there's a much more level relationship between us, and being fb friends doesn't seem inappropriate. They're all fb friends with Mr Smith, too.
You're right, but the flipside is that it discourages physical interaction. For every photo emailed to grandfolks in Oz, there is a couple emailing each-other from adjacent rooms.
Google chat across the table, anyone?
O, just me & No2Son then  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 05 February, 2012, 10:58:33 am
My children use it - as they're away at school I don't get any say in the matter - but I'm not sure I'd want to be fb "friends" with them. It would seem a bit intrusive.
Yeah, but I actually am friends with my children.

Same here. Mine are grown-up (ish) and live their own lives, but we catch up both on FB and by actually meeting for food or drink. Also, I seem to have become part of a company that deals in social media, so I would tend to use it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 05 February, 2012, 11:01:11 am
One of my work colleagues is exasperated by her two geek friends (they both work in IT, sysadmins or something) who go to the pub with their laptops, sit at the same table and (in her words) "Facebook each other" all evening.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Basil on 05 February, 2012, 11:02:13 am
No.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: AndyK on 05 February, 2012, 03:22:46 pm
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/Minitar1/Random/smexplained.jpg)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 05 February, 2012, 04:44:52 pm
The privacy concern with Facebook isn't really about what you put on there, or even what their settings-change-of-the-month exposes.  It's about what people associated with you put on there, and the findability thereof.  There's approximately bugger all you can do to control that.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: ian on 05 February, 2012, 06:41:38 pm
I have an account, which was obtained after a bout of prolonged peer pressure. You have to be on FB, came the plaintive chorus from across the pub table. Presumably so I could tell them that I was in the pub. Yes, I had to be on MySpace too, and look how that worked out.

Never got around to using it. I already hold honours for world's worse email correspondent, most infrequently blog updater, and was voted least likely to deliver a short story on time. Not to mention finishing my novel about sarcastic vampires before I die, which would be useful, otherwise I'll have to come back from the dead too. If I did everything computer-related I was supposed to do, I'd spend more time in front of this screen than a teenage boy who has just discovered what the internet is really for.

Or possibly I'm just a misanthrope.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: SteveC on 05 February, 2012, 08:30:19 pm
I am on FB.  A bit like here, I read a lot more than I post.
MrsC is rather more into it than me.  When she was out of work a few years ago, a friend (a 'real' one, not an FB one) told her about Catbook, which is an FB app for people who are mad about cats.  Out of that we have got to meet some new people with whom we have something in common, even if it's only the cats!  We had a lovely day with a couple in Belgium a year or two back, met another 'friend' in London back in the spring--with said friend coming to see us for a weekend in the summer.  The Belgian couple are over in the UK this weekend for a cat show and we met up and they ended up coming back here to meet our cats.  All good stuff.  Obviously you have to be careful when meeting people to start with--the friend we met in London is a PhD student.  She'd arranged to meet us when her parents were over.  So the 'virtual' can become 'physical'.
MrsC also uses it to keep in touch with her extended family--making contact with some of them for the first time this way.
We also belong to a group which is rather scattered across the country.  They've tried using a private forum, and still do for some things, but the traffic was so low it's proved easier to do most of the communication via FB. 
So lots of uses.
As to privacy, I assume that anything I post on the net is effectively public domain, so I'm a little careful.  I don't mention work (or at least, very very rarely) for example.
I don't expect everybody to use or like it.  What does surprise me is the vehemence with which some people express their anti feelings.

S
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 05 February, 2012, 08:36:40 pm
Lamebook is a selection of indiscreet or ill-informed photos and comments taken from FB, and is worth a read.  The best stuff usually gets lifted from there and posted on happyplace.com, though.

http://www.happyplace.com/13713/the-most-humiliating-accidental-status-updates-ever-posted-on-Facebook
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ariadne on 05 February, 2012, 10:27:10 pm
You're right, but the flipside is that it discourages physical interaction. For every photo emailed to grandfolks in Oz, there is a couple emailing each-other from adjacent rooms.

And? It's hardly the end times, is it? We email one another, put things on facebook to make one another laugh, and then compare notes on other people's funny posts when we get together and talk in 'real life'. It's all communication, whether it's on Basildon Bond, by text, on Facebook, or lying on the couch - it all has its place.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 05 February, 2012, 10:40:40 pm
I don't use FB much but was delighted when my 98-year-old great uncle accepted my FB friend request...
He's uploaded pics of today's walk in the SNO.
What's not to like?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: gordon taylor on 06 February, 2012, 06:03:32 am
I'm a recent convert to Facebook. I have barely a handful of close friends in real life, and am awkward in social situations, yet have quickly accumulated 100+ Facebook friends. That suits me perfectly; I can see what's going on - at a superficial level - with family, distant relatives, real friends and former colleagues.

The flexibility is wonderful - it is easy to switch off feeds or (just) photographs from friends who insist on sharing hundreds of baby photos with the world. I can get feeds from the local Police, our town "What's On" pages, Mark Cavendish... and just switch them off if they become dull, repetitive or patronising.

Two months ago I would at scoffed at the idea of me having a FB profile, now I use it as a primary social and communication tool. Email and fora (such as YACF) seem as archaic as semaphore and megaphones, suddenly.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 06 February, 2012, 07:56:27 am
And? It's hardly the end times, is it?
I don't think anyone said it was. You seem very defensive about this.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ariadne on 06 February, 2012, 08:12:08 am
Ha, not at all - you just seemed to be suggesting Facebook went from pictures of grandchildren to this terrible end point  :)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 06 February, 2012, 08:15:15 am
Ha, not at all - you just seemed to be suggesting Facebook went from pictures of grandchildren to this terrible end point  :)
"went from" - that's an odd interpretation. I'm saying there are two sides. Nothing went anywhere.

"terrible end point"?  Well if you say so.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Pancho on 06 February, 2012, 09:09:23 am
Lamebook is a selection of indiscreet or ill-informed photos and comments taken from FB, and is worth a read.  The best stuff usually gets lifted from there and posted on happyplace.com, though.

http://www.happyplace.com/13713/the-most-humiliating-accidental-status-updates-ever-posted-on-Facebook

I think the contemporary phrase in response to that is "OMFG!!!".
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 06 February, 2012, 08:33:09 pm
The one where the poster thought they were typing a search term into Google Toolbar, but shared it with the world on FB, is both funny and horrific at the same time  ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Feanor on 06 February, 2012, 08:44:43 pm
Fortunately, the worst I've done is type PuTTY console session commands into an IRC window by mistake.   Actually, I've done this several times.  :facepalm:
But only once including a password.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Rhys W on 07 February, 2012, 08:59:47 pm
I love/hate it. I love being in contact with old school friends, university friends, people I've worked with, 2nd cousins who grew up in the USA and New Zealand. It's also useful on a daily basis - last Sunday I woke up and it was borderline icy, and while I sipped my espresso I was reading several posts by my clubmates on how icy it was in other parts of Cardiff and further up in the Rhondda (where we planned to ride). It saved me kitting up, riding to the meeting place and going straight back home.

I despise the advertising and am concerned about privacy issues to an extent - but I'm adept at ignoring adverts and I'm careful who I allow to be my friends. I wouldn't friend any current work colleagues for sure.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Lycra Man on 08 February, 2012, 01:54:49 pm
I'm on Facebook, but mainly because I was co-erced by my wife. She is a teacher, and there is a lot of facebook traffic between her colleagues. One member of staff even got rescued from a locked area of school by using Facebook to communicate. So it has its uses.

For me, I hate the idea of others seeing my private family communications, so I think I've got it set to friends only, but I'm not sure, and I'm thinking of closing the account.

Is it like Hotel California - you can check in but you can never leave?

Lycra Man
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Pancho on 08 February, 2012, 02:18:55 pm
I'm on it. Only because I have an international background and it became the easiest route for people to stay in touch. However, I rarely log in and even more rarely post anything.

My children use it - as they're away at school I don't get any say in the matter - but I'm not sure I'd want to be fb "friends" with them. It would seem a bit intrusive.

It appears that I am "friends" with my children. It's just that I log on so rarely that I'd forgotten.

As a side note - it's worth logging off. If you don't, it tracks where you go and lets other people know. I once forgot to log off and, reading an article on the Indy, was surprised to see a box telling me that Friends X and Y had also read the article. That sort of sharing is not something I'm entirely (or, rather, at all) happy with. Good job it wasn't something embarrassing such as the Daily Mail. A bit like bumping into a pal in the queue for a brothel.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: fuaran on 08 February, 2012, 02:32:43 pm
As a side note - it's worth logging off. If you don't, it tracks where you go and lets other people know. I once forgot to log off and, reading an article on the Indy, was surprised to see a box telling me that Friends X and Y had also read the article. That sort of sharing is not something I'm entirely (or, rather, at all) happy with. Good job it wasn't something embarrassing such as the Daily Mail. A bit like bumping into a pal in the queue for a brothel.
It only does that if you have added The Independent app to Facebook. Which will post to your wall whever you read an article. I think you can set the privacy settings to stop others from seeing what you are reading.
The Guardian has a similar sort of Facebook app.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hulver on 08 February, 2012, 02:33:48 pm
It appears that I am "friends" with my children. It's just that I log on so rarely that I'd forgotten.

As a side note - it's worth logging off. If you don't, it tracks where you go and lets other people know. I once forgot to log off and, reading an article on the Indy, was surprised to see a box telling me that Friends X and Y had also read the article. That sort of sharing is not something I'm entirely (or, rather, at all) happy with. Good job it wasn't something embarrassing such as the Daily Mail. A bit like bumping into a pal in the queue for a brothel.

I use an extension for Chrome which stops any access to any Facebook URLs unless you're actually browsing facebook. It stops all that nonsense. Very handy.

The only thing it also blocks is Facebook pictures on other web site, which makes browsing some photo threads a little frustrating. But I gladly live with the hassle of that rather than have facebook tracking everywhere I go.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Pancho on 08 February, 2012, 03:20:32 pm
As a side note - it's worth logging off. If you don't, it tracks where you go and lets other people know. I once forgot to log off and, reading an article on the Indy, was surprised to see a box telling me that Friends X and Y had also read the article. That sort of sharing is not something I'm entirely (or, rather, at all) happy with. Good job it wasn't something embarrassing such as the Daily Mail. A bit like bumping into a pal in the queue for a brothel.
It only does that if you have added The Independent app to Facebook. Which will post to your wall whever you read an article. I think you can set the privacy settings to stop others from seeing what you are reading.
The Guardian has a similar sort of Facebook app.

I have no Facebook apps. Just a bog standard account with privacy, I thought, dialled to zero.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: tom_e on 08 February, 2012, 03:28:56 pm
Check Privacy Settings -> Apps and websites Edit Settings
A whole bunch more settings.
In the first section, ignore "Edit Settings" and go to Turn off all apps in the text instead.

Of course, they will invent some new settings every few months and default them to zero-privacy* every time.  So this is an ongoing losing battle rather than a one-off fix.


* - in the opposite sense to what you used, I think.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 08 February, 2012, 07:16:58 pm
It appears that I am "friends" with my children. It's just that I log on so rarely that I'd forgotten.
http://www.happyplace.com/3511/the7-best-examples-of-horrific-and-embarrassing-parenting-on-facebook/page/1
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 08 February, 2012, 07:44:34 pm
"That's rich coming from you Mum - you're always talking about pig-wanking! "

<runs>
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Phil on 10 February, 2012, 12:05:41 pm
I work for a social network so a facebook profile is de rigeur, but I'd have one anyway. 

I could get by without the casual gossipy bit of facebook, but I'd be lost without the events functions and the ability to stay in touch with friends who don't live locally. 
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: drossall on 10 February, 2012, 09:23:31 pm
I joined for work also, with some falsified details (DoB in particular). Now the cycling club and church both have pages, so it's difficult not to get sucked in. Otherwise, I pretty much ignore it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 11 February, 2012, 11:29:44 pm
As a side note - it's worth logging off. If you don't, it tracks where you go and lets other people know. I once forgot to log off and, reading an article on the Indy, was surprised to see a box telling me that Friends X and Y had also read the article.

I was shocked to see that Facebook tells me which articles other people have read: on the web, not elsewhere on Facebook. That's their affair, not mine. Thanks for tip about logging off.

The latest wheeze is the "sponsored story", which is FB-speak for adverts.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/9071553/Facebooks-sponsored-stories-have-gone-too-far.html

Given that FB is going public, the resulting commercial implications suggest that it's downhill from here...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 February, 2012, 04:16:01 pm
My ten-year-old nephew has just looked at the forum over my shoulder and said "What is that? It looks like Facebook gone wrong!"
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 13 February, 2012, 05:40:14 pm
Brilliant.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 13 February, 2012, 06:42:50 pm
I am pleased to see my great uncle has been to the British Museum today.
I also don't give a fig about what my friends have read.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 13 February, 2012, 06:43:01 pm
I don't need to know what 2 YACFers and my niece were looking at.

(http://www.opakovanie.sk/naviac/lester/yacf/facebook-tracking.jpg)

And that is precisely why I'm only ever logged in to FB when I'm actually intending to go on there.

Anybody who stays permanently logged-in deserves all the auto-dobbing-in that they get from FB-affiliated websites. :demon:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 13 February, 2012, 07:08:50 pm
That's nothing to do with being logged in or not. That person has accessed those pages via facebook and allowed facebook to post that they have done so. If they had accessed those pages by going direct to them in their browser rather than via facebook, even if they were still logged into facebook, facebook wouldn't know they had read them and would not post about it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: simonp on 13 February, 2012, 07:17:03 pm
I don't need to know what 2 YACFers and my niece were looking at.

(http://www.opakovanie.sk/naviac/lester/yacf/facebook-tracking.jpg)

And that is precisely why I'm only ever logged in to FB when I'm actually intending to go on there.

Anybody who stays permanently logged-in deserves all the auto-dobbing-in that they get from FB-affiliated websites. :demon:

These are updates from the Guardian app:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6871148267_4226469dc3_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/27424426@N00/6871148267/)
Guardian (http://www.flickr.com/photos/27424426@N00/6871148267/) by SimonP2006 (http://www.flickr.com/people/27424426@N00/), on Flickr

See what I did there? Or, read the articles outside Facebook…

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 13 February, 2012, 07:34:32 pm
OK, point taken...  ::-)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: sas on 13 February, 2012, 11:25:18 pm
That's nothing to do with being logged in or not. That person has accessed those pages via facebook and allowed facebook to post that they have done so. If they had accessed those pages by going direct to them in their browser rather than via facebook, even if they were still logged into facebook, facebook wouldn't know they had read them and would not post about it.

Getting slightly pedantic, but if you're logged onto Facebook/Twitter/Google (so there's a cookie saved on your browser) and you visit another site that's linked to e.g. Facebook, for instance by embedding a tracking image/script, then Facebook may know that you've visited that site even if they keep quiet about it.

Given the ubiquity of Facebook/Google it's possible they'll track you even if you don't have an account with them, simply by setting a cookie, though I vaguely remember an article which suggested they may have stopped doing this.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: simonp on 14 February, 2012, 12:54:39 am
I can sell you a tinfoil hat if you want.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: sas on 14 February, 2012, 11:01:09 am
I'll take a mu-metal hat if you've got one  :)

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/senate-to-hold-hearing-on-facebook-tracking-cookies/5436

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: AndyK on 14 February, 2012, 11:54:32 pm
The best use of facebook ever?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/Minitar1/Random/bestever2.jpg)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 15 February, 2012, 10:48:34 am
The best use of facebook ever?

I quite liked the synchronised posting by Whitney and Britney.

(Is there a "quite liked" button? )
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 15 February, 2012, 06:35:19 pm
What's HJ?  Or am I reading it wrong?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Pancho on 15 February, 2012, 06:47:24 pm
What's HJ?  Or am I reading it wrong?

Even I can guess that one and I'm unsubbed from NSFW.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 15 February, 2012, 06:48:45 pm
What's HJ?  Or am I reading it wrong?

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 16 February, 2012, 05:05:21 pm
Ah.  She seems to do more daring things before HJs, which confused me.  In Swindon I think a mere Bacardi Breezer gets you an HJ behind Wilko's.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: AndyK on 16 February, 2012, 05:36:09 pm
The best use of facebook ever?

I quite liked the synchronised posting by Whitney and Britney.

(Is there a "quite liked" button? )

The comments are the icing on the cake. Sibling rivalry at its peak.  ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Basil on 16 February, 2012, 06:21:56 pm
I wonder if that guy [1] still got a haircut?  Just in case, like?
 
[1]  Can't see pictures on my phone, don't recall the name.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Valiant on 17 February, 2012, 05:47:55 am
I'm on Facebook, easiest way to stay in touch with friends, organise events, share things etc.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 17 February, 2012, 07:03:53 pm
1909: The Machine Stops.

Quote
The clumsy system of public gatherings had been long since abandoned;
neither Vashti nor her audience stirred from their rooms. Seated
in her armchair she spoke, while they in their armchairs heard her, fairly
well, and saw her, fairly well. She opened with a humorous account of
music in the pre Mongolian epoch, and went on to describe the great
outburst of song that followed the Chinese conquest. Remote and
primæval as were the methods of I-San-So and the Brisbane school, she
yet felt (she said) that study of them might repay the musicians of today:
they had freshness; they had, above all, ideas. Her lecture, which lasted
ten minutes, was well received, and at its conclusion she and many of
her audience listened to a lecture on the sea; there were ideas to be got
from the sea; the speaker had donned a respirator and visited it lately.
Then she fed, talked to many friends, had a bath, talked again, and
summoned her bed.

..

By these days it was a demerit to be muscular. Each infant was examined
at birth, and all who promised undue strength were destroyed.
Humanitarians may protest, but it would have been no true kindness to
let an athlete live; he would never have been happy in that state of life to
which the Machine had called him; he would have yearned for trees to
climb, rivers to bathe in, meadows and hills against which he might
measure his body. Man must be adapted to his surroundings, must he
not? In the dawn of the world our weakly must be exposed on Mount
Taygetus, in its twilight our strong will suffer euthanasia, that the
Machine may progress, that the Machine may progress, that the Machine
may progress eternally.


With a bit of luck it won't be like that!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: shyumu on 22 February, 2012, 08:42:46 pm
Yup.  While travelling I like reading the stuff friends are posting; it's a short blog/photo/coffee shop online that's easy to access.  I also enjoy reading yacf from my phone while I travel - feels like I'm still in touch with my friends.  I like to post random stuff that makes me chuckle and I know I can be ignored if it bores people.  I only ignore game updates; not as interesting as typed thoughts.

The Toy Town Cycling Club organises group rides via fb too... so actually useful for planning stuff.  Better than loads of emails or text messages.  Plus it's always up to date.

I s'pose it's the feeling connected while traveling that is the real reason though.  Just like the hours I spend reading yacf posts and enjoying the dynamic evolution of audax rules.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: shyumu on 22 February, 2012, 08:44:33 pm
And more often that not (in our household), it gets referred to as friendface.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Hot Flatus on 22 February, 2012, 08:52:45 pm
This thread has just reminded me to get on and delete my account. I don't care if other people use it as long as they don't talk to me about it. I find it sinister.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: MattGS on 23 February, 2012, 01:33:17 pm
Facebook just has too many kids on it, You can keep in contact with your true friends by many otherways instead!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: AndyK on 23 February, 2012, 05:00:15 pm
Facebook just has too many kids on it,

Not if you don't add them to your friend list.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 23 February, 2012, 10:18:09 pm
This thread has just reminded me to get on and delete my account. I don't care if other people use it as long as they don't talk to me about it. I find it sinister.

Your pupils been stalking you?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Jaded on 23 February, 2012, 10:26:36 pm
It certainly has the potential to be far more sinister than Rupert Murdoch.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 24 February, 2012, 05:35:07 pm
This thread has just reminded me to get on and delete my account. I don't care if other people use it as long as they don't talk to me about it. I find it sinister.
Is it creepy too?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Dibdib on 01 March, 2012, 12:56:45 pm
Yes, but I hardly have any friends on there (or anywhere else, ha.)

I used to be a regular user and then I got bored and closed the account. I only went back when I changed to a WP7 phone, and couldn't use the Android Words With Friends app so use the FB app instead.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: CrinklyLion on 03 March, 2012, 10:45:55 am
Yes.  But am idly considering not being for a while.  Apart from anything else there's a significant overlap between there and here.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: gordon taylor on 03 March, 2012, 02:55:04 pm
Yes.  But am idly considering not being for a while.  Apart from anything else there's a significant overlap between there and here.

That's interesting, I'm spending much less time on here and more on Facebook. I get a much broader picture of real life on FB because (I think) only a proportion of "friends" on there are cyclists. There's also much less discussion and no arguing.

Edited: I've also realised that when I post on Facebook about cycling, I'm writing for an audience that are, on the whole, non-cyclists. I'm therefore more upbeat and positive compared to my attitude on here.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: MarkA on 09 March, 2012, 01:20:46 pm
I'm not on Facebook.  I do know (from discussion in the office) that if I joined I would be able to engage in afterwork conversations with the people I already spend an avaerage of 9 hours a day working with.  I have not found this a sufficiently compelling reason to join.  The (few) real world freinds I have are not on it.  So no reason to join (other than idle curiosity) and some significant concerns about security and wasting even more time on the web than I already do.  If I did have some reason to join then I probably would do so.

Some posts on this thread have made me wonder if I'm mising out though.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 10 March, 2012, 06:48:44 pm
I'm put off mainly by the leftpondianism of it, then the privacy/security thing.  My wife is a heavy user and most of the "updates" seem to be trivial, verging on banal.  Most of her friends are women though  :demon:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 11 March, 2012, 07:49:16 am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17323095

 ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: fred the great on 11 March, 2012, 09:21:15 am
A lady Customer of mine informed me that everybody is on Face Book.

I replied "I'm not" and she replied "but you're not Thai"

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: geraldc on 16 March, 2012, 04:19:24 pm
I don't know if the ads on facebook are targetted as they are in Gmail, but I was intrigued and had to click on this product when it came up as an ad when viewing facebook

http://www.coloplast.co.uk/products/samples/speedicath_compact_male/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=SCCM
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: SteveC on 16 March, 2012, 07:00:55 pm
I don't know if the ads on facebook are targetted as they are in Gmail, but I was intrigued and had to click on this product when it came up as an ad when viewing facebook

http://www.coloplast.co.uk/products/samples/speedicath_compact_male/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=SCCM
Loads of friends have reported seeing that one.  They've decided it's probably age related.  :demon:

S
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 16 March, 2012, 07:26:51 pm
I see far too many Facebook ads referring to women of 53 for this to be a coincidence.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 16 March, 2012, 07:58:59 pm
I see far too many Facebook ads referring to women of 53 for this to be a coincidence.

You want to buy one?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 16 March, 2012, 08:14:11 pm
I see far too many Facebook ads referring to women of 53 for this to be a coincidence.

You want to buy one?

No. Do you?  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 16 March, 2012, 08:17:53 pm
I see far too many Facebook ads referring to women of 53 for this to be a coincidence.

You want to buy one?

No. Do you?  ;) ;D
You're not going to get me into trouble that easily.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 20 March, 2012, 06:56:38 am
I'm on it. Mostly to keep up with some friends from other online places that have fallen out of use. Would never consider adding colleagues as friends and there are a number of RL friends who have been added then promptly unfriended for their tendancy to be spam.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 20 March, 2012, 04:33:48 pm
Some of the people I know post large volumes of 'funny' posters, eg LOL cats. I want to know what's happening in their lives, not share third party 'humor' [sic] and 'wisdom...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: gotnobrakes on 22 March, 2012, 04:58:34 pm
I'm on it because some of my friends posted pictures of me (http://www.fashionforhome.co.uk/wall-pictures)and linked my name to it (http://fakebook.co.uk)!! Argh. ::-)

Not a good move. Constantly I get asked to be someone's friend whom I barely know and those same people play stupid games all the time and "want to show me their special egg" or some such nonsense.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 22 March, 2012, 09:09:58 pm
According to The Register, some employers now ask for your username and password to FB if you apply for a job.

It's always fun to walk out of job interviews when you realise you don't want to work there anyway.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 22 March, 2012, 09:28:21 pm
According to The Register, some employers now ask for your username and password to FB if you apply for a job.

It's always fun to walk out of job interviews when you realise you don't want to work there anyway.

There were stories about this happening in the USA a year or two back, and judging by the report in the Torygraph's tech pages, that is still the case (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/9155368/Companies-asking-for-Facebook-passwords-for-future-employees.html). Though one of the comments (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/9155368/Companies-asking-for-Facebook-passwords-for-future-employees.html#comment-470572144) there suggests that this practice is as close as you can get to it being an urban myth while still being technically correct...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Katie on 26 March, 2012, 12:33:18 am
I tried to kill my Facebook existence in 2009 or so.

It was quite successful, or a desperate failure, depending how you look at it: I stayed off FB for six whole weeks - the point at which I realised parties and events were happening and everyone had forgotten I existed.

 :-[
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Biggsy on 28 March, 2012, 01:16:45 pm
I'm helping some newbies get into computing and surfing the net.  They're a group of people mostly in their 60s and 70s.  It's interesting how often the subject of Facebook comes up.  They're interested because other family members are on it.  I'm in the embarrassing position of not being able to show or tell them much about it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: LEE on 28 March, 2012, 01:23:21 pm
My age/era means that many people I'd rather like to catch up with are lost forever. 

Many people spend their entire lives moving from place to place, country to country, I like the way FB allows you to maintain a virtual village of acquaintances.  You can interact or not, it's your choice.
(This is more about t'Web in general, not FB:)

You're right, but the flipside is that it discourages physical interaction. For every photo emailed to grandfolks in Oz, there is a couple emailing each-other from adjacent rooms.

That's tragic, when people resort to electronic discussions rather than face-to-face.

Let's try to avoid ever stepping onto that slippery slope.

What do you think Matt?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 28 March, 2012, 02:15:14 pm
My age/era means that many people I'd rather like to catch up with are lost forever. 

Many people spend their entire lives moving from place to place, country to country, I like the way FB allows you to maintain a virtual village of acquaintances.  You can interact or not, it's your choice.
(This is more about t'Web in general, not FB:)

You're right, but the flipside is that it discourages physical interaction. For every photo emailed to grandfolks in Oz, there is a couple emailing each-other from adjacent rooms.

That's tragic, when people resort to electronic discussions rather than face-to-face.

Let's try to avoid ever stepping onto that slippery slope.

What do you think Matt?
I think it's time you made the tea. And don't put the empty milk carton back in the fridge this time  >:(
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 30 March, 2012, 07:33:13 pm
Irritatingly, Trustpilot (which I wanted to use to leave a POSITIVE review of a company) requires Facebook to sign up, so the company won't get a review from me.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: andrewc on 01 April, 2012, 07:02:44 pm
I'm not on Facebook, Twitter is about as far as I go.  Social networking isn't of that much use to a basically anti-social introvert like myself  ;)

Interesting article here , http://www.cultofmac.com/157641/this-creepy-app-isnt-just-stalking-women-without-their-knowledge-its-a-wake-up-call-about-facebook-privacy/ (http://www.cultofmac.com/157641/this-creepy-app-isnt-just-stalking-women-without-their-knowledge-its-a-wake-up-call-about-facebook-privacy/)  with further discussion at Charlie Stross's blog (http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/03/not-an-april-fool-1.html#more)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: metformin on 13 April, 2012, 06:17:12 pm
My wife and kids use facebook but I'll keep away from it. I think it causes more problems than it solves.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: interzen on 14 April, 2012, 10:45:30 am
I am, although I don't use it a massive amount - a lot of the folks I know from round here are on Google+, whereas co-workers, family etc. are on FacePalm so most of my 'social networking' time is split between the two. But, like andrewc, I'm fundamentally an antisocial introvert :)

I very rarely use Twitter at the moment, although I suspect my usage may increase when I start going to strange places on a bicycle.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: AndyK on 14 April, 2012, 11:10:51 am
I'm on Google+ too. The good thing about Google plus is that it's empty. All the morons are over there on Facebook and Twitter liking pictures of cats and retweeting what Katy Perry thinks about her new shoes.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: interzen on 14 April, 2012, 11:12:49 am
I'm on Google+ too. The good thing about Google plus is that it's empty.
Even moreso since they unveiled the godawful 'new look' ;)

I noticed yesterday that Facebook have now shoehorned the 'timeline' into the iPhone app (probably the iPad app too, but I don't use that) and they've succeeded in making a bad thing even worse.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: AndyK on 14 April, 2012, 11:18:46 am
I'm on Google+ too. The good thing about Google plus is that it's empty.
Even moreso since they unveiled the godawful 'new look' ;)

I noticed yesterday that Facebook have now shoehorned the 'timeline' into the iPhone app (probably the iPad app too, but I don't use that) and they've succeeded in making a bad thing even worse.

Are you serious? It's clean, tidy, easy to navigate. And it is nowhere near as buggy as Fb.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 14 April, 2012, 06:41:15 pm
I posted an update about an event on my ukcyclist page and a few days later a minor London cycle shop responded with a God Bless You All - 10% off when you visit our shop[etc]. So I responded that it's not a commercial page and I'd prefer replies to be vaguely on-topic. Seconds later came a hurriedly typed garble on the same lines. What did that achieve? They're both marked Spam and invisible now.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: chagzuki on 15 April, 2012, 08:49:57 pm
A couple of years back I quite liked FB, it led to getting in touch with people I'd not seen for years, the usual thing. These days I've come to see a less pleasant aspect to it, it seems to magnify the more dubious aspects of human relations and highlight the fact that when you've got serious problems to deal with in life there's only 2 people on your friends list who give a damn. A large portion are only interested if their being associated with you brings some sort of social enhancement, that tends to be the game I guess.
That, along with a vague feeling that it's all too 'corporate', without knowing what that means or whether it's worth caring about privacy/data protection, I'd like to find a less glossy, less advert-laden alternative.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: SteveC on 15 April, 2012, 09:34:47 pm
That, along with a vague feeling that it's all too 'corporate', without knowing what that means or whether it's worth caring about privacy/data protection, I'd like to find a less glossy, less advert-laden alternative.
How much would you be prepared to pay for such a service?

S
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: AndyK on 15 April, 2012, 09:54:40 pm

That, along with a vague feeling that it's all too 'corporate', without knowing what that means or whether it's worth caring about privacy/data protection, I'd like to find a less glossy, less advert-laden alternative.

Google+. I have not found ads to be a problem since I installed AdBlock.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: chagzuki on 15 April, 2012, 10:07:54 pm
@SteveC:
Probably nothing. . . I don't know though. . . something strikes me as not right about Facebook but I don't have a clear idea of what sort of alternative I'd prefer. There are useful aspects to the way it organises and facilitates the exchange of information but like myspace before it it seems too geared towards an aspirational notion of glossy magazine-style self-representation.

Maybe I'll give Google+ a go.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 03 May, 2012, 11:03:25 pm
Facebook is worthwhile when I see my 98 year old great uncle is having a good time in Portugal as evidenced by photos posted today...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Riggers on 18 May, 2012, 09:06:20 am
No. I'm on here only.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 18 May, 2012, 11:51:16 pm
Today, a second cousin on the other side of the family posted pics of his mother's 95th birthday. I'm warming to Facebook for the very old...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: iainj837 on 19 May, 2012, 12:30:46 am
My

And obviously, there's the whole keeping track of teenage offspring.

My offspring refuse to have me on their friends list- should I be worried?
It appears  it's  not cool to have mum and dad on their friends list
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: clarion on 19 May, 2012, 08:34:36 am
Not cool.  But not optional.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: iainj837 on 22 May, 2012, 01:39:04 pm
I use it to keep in torch with old school friends, that live up north and what the cycling group are up to I.E Club rides and meetings 
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 22 May, 2012, 04:22:08 pm
My great uncle was eating CAEK at Kenwood House today...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Rhys W on 25 May, 2012, 11:58:35 am
I unfriended someone for the first time last week. I'd turned off his updates about a year ago because he was making daily snide remarks about the Wales rugby team during the World Cup. I'm no rugby fan, but they were becoming sly digs at the Welsh in general - I haven't really experienced that kind of patronising attitude from Little Englanders (he's someone who's lived and worked in Wales for 20 years or more!) since the early 80s. Even though I was blissfully unaware of most of his status updates, some of them came through when a mutual friend commented, specifically one about how proud he was to be British when he saw the Queen crying on TV. Several critical yet level-headed comments were made along the lines of "outrageous waste of money when people are suffering with the Coalition's cuts". He responded by making a sneering comment about the Welsh language to me, I snapped and instantly unfriended him. He later tried to say it was a joke - yes, like Jeremy Clarkson or AA Gill's "jokes", they betray a lack of respect.

Made me wonder quite a bit, in "real life" I've always avoided people like that, why am I "friends" with them in the first place?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: docsquid on 31 May, 2012, 07:43:40 pm
I find FB really good for keeping up to date with, and sharing things with, my cousins over the pond.  I have almost NO family left in GB, just in N Ireland and Canada/US.  It really helps me keep in touch.  Also with other "real" friends who live at a distance from me, particularly since I am disabled and have difficulty travelling to visit them.  Plus we have a page for our woods, and find it useful to keep people updated with news of events that we hold there, and we have recruited some volunteers via FB (although Twitter was better).

I have found it to be very good provide you ignore the adverts and stuff.  Perhaps I've just got good friends?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 05 June, 2012, 04:06:40 pm
I have just had an email to 'confirm' my FB 'Friendship' with Unknown Female.
Clicking on her Profile gives me WikiBigCockJunk.
I need neither Spam nor a big cock.
What should I do next.
Unknown Female is not on my list of friends.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: interzen on 05 June, 2012, 04:11:26 pm
I have just had an email to 'confirm' my FB 'Friendship' with Unknown Female.
Clicking on her Profile gives me WikiBigCockJunk.
I need neither Spam nor a big cock.
What should I do next.
Unknown Female is not on my list of friends.
Sounds like a chunk of spiced pork and ham to me ... I get these from time to time; I just ignore 'em (or in the case of Twitter, report them as spammers)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: geraldc on 06 June, 2012, 06:29:24 pm
Just got logged out of facebook for security reasons as I'd apparently logged on in Tokyo. Investigated, and I think I may have been one of the millions where my linked in account got hacked, and as my facebook and linked in log ins are the same, I think that's how they got my login. Time to start beefing up my security.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: gordon taylor on 10 June, 2012, 08:30:28 pm
On Friday, a colleague posted a tongue-in-cheek comment on FB about being evicted because her ex seemed to think that child support was optional. Whilst her ex isn't a FB friend, he has a big public profile and must have been tipped off.

Money paid within 20 minutes!

Unfortunately, the thread was removed before some of us could add what we really think of the guy.

 ;D :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 11 June, 2012, 07:37:59 pm
"Unfriend" has to be one of the most horrible non-words I've seen.  I suppose they couldn't use "ostracize" because we would want an "s" in it and it would be too hard to program(me).
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 June, 2012, 08:29:51 pm
Send to Coventry, or even better - Coventrize.  ;D  :demon:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 16 June, 2012, 09:33:47 am
My mum's from Dunbar which is a small town about 30 miles south of Edinburgh. It's pretty much an Edinburgh dormitory town now but the main work used to be farming, fishing and the cement works, and it really was a proper small town. Mum hasn't lived there since the early 60s but two of her four sisters and their one brother never left (well, their brother is dead now, but you know what I mean). Yesterday I found a Lost Dunbar group on facebook and so far I've found old school photos of 2 of her sisters and one of their brother, plus an excellent one of my aunt's husband's brother-in-law looking young and hot, when I've only ever seen him as a short round balding man with a tache and Simon Bates glasses. And I've learned that he use to play guitar in a band called Nick & the Sinners with a man called Jimmy Bain who went on to play bass in Rainbow and Dio.

I spent hours looking at old photos on the page last night and was nowhere near all the way through them. Facebook has its problems but for things like that, it's great.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: LindaG on 29 June, 2012, 01:51:23 am
Well, well.  It seems my workplace has its very own page, with a picture of my new ward.  And our much-loved new management team.  How nice.

 ;)

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/c100.0.403.403/p403x403/562176_448840798468665_2129342461_n.jpg
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Deano on 29 June, 2012, 02:00:37 am
The guy at the back could have wandered in from the Sheraton.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: LindaG on 29 June, 2012, 02:01:58 am
The guy at the back could have wandered in from the Sheraton.

The one in scrubs?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Deano on 29 June, 2012, 02:08:39 am
No, the ruddy-faced one in the shirt and tie.

(note for non-Teesside folk: the Sheraton is a cheap pub on Stockton High Street, next door to the Jobcentre).
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Deano on 29 June, 2012, 02:16:50 am
Oh, him!

I have absolutely no idea who he is.  They probably dragged him in out the Sheraton for the photo to make up the numbers.  No doubt we'll be acquainted at my next disciplinary meeting eh?

Just slip him a mickey and he'll be your friend for the rest of your day.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 16 July, 2012, 02:07:10 am
There's now a vid on Facebook showing my 98 year old great uncle on the cable car crossing the Thames, with his son (62) and carers pointing out features of the view.
IMO FB is worthwhile just for this.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: BrianI on 16 July, 2012, 02:09:19 pm
^ Like!   :)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: fuaran on 11 August, 2012, 01:31:40 pm
You can't. All accounts are being switched to Timeline, though it seems to be happening in phases. You get one weeks warning before it is visible to others, so you can rearrange things or add a photo etc.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 11 August, 2012, 01:39:11 pm
It is pretty crap, time line seems to be even slower and more bloaty than the normal pages, at least on the devices I use.
Title: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mike J on 11 August, 2012, 02:18:42 pm
It is pretty crap, time line seems to be even slower and more bloaty than the normal pages, at least on the devices I use.

If it's the iPhone app, that's the app itself. The app is apparently supposed to be being rewritten (but will look the same), but quicker.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 14 August, 2012, 12:47:02 pm
My dad just reactivated his account. I've just had to spend my lunchtime fiddling with my privacy settings!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 14 August, 2012, 01:15:53 pm
It is pretty crap, time line seems to be even slower and more bloaty than the normal pages, at least on the devices I use.

I seldom find it necessary to visit my timeline page. I have friends grouped into different lists, from family through close friends down to those whom I accepted only out of politeness. Clicking the Facebook logo takes me to the main page where all my friend lists, groups, pages are down the left and I can choose whichever to view.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: RJ on 14 August, 2012, 01:19:57 pm
Still resisting  :-\
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: madcow on 30 August, 2012, 10:50:41 am
Mrs M has just signed up but only because our son has gone to  Canada for 8 months and FB  is one way  of keeping in touch.
 However this has set off the "I wonder who else is on this? " train of thought , which  then creates Friends Reunited in a different form.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: madcow on 30 August, 2012, 02:17:35 pm
Thats why I said " a different form" . That seems to be my impression as well, FB for adults does allow you to catch up with recent aquaintances, especialy those who , up until now have only  merited a quick note on a Christmas card.
 Friends Reunited is more focussed towards school/uni   etc., although I'm sure there could be some overlap if we tried hard enough.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: JT on 30 August, 2012, 02:20:01 pm
Someone started a Facebook group for my school so for me it's fulfilled that dual role. And you don't have to pay for FB either.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mr magnolia on 20 September, 2012, 08:21:37 pm
I'm not, and shall remain not.
But Bradley Wiggins is, and seems to have my bike. Looks a bit portly to my eyes.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.464998486873456.104297.178445785528729&type=1&l=2bb9b42495
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 26 September, 2012, 12:06:02 pm
I shouldn't care, but when I get "friend requests" emails from FB I feel guilty not checking the things. So - I get something like this every few months:

Quote
You have new notifications.
A lot has happened on Facebook since you last logged in. Here are some notifications you've missed from your friends.
   10 friend requests
View Notifications

If I click on the link, I then login, and there are no requests to be seen! (In fact I'm not sure I've ever actually seen one of these things since I signed up!) Is it all a lie?  :'(
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Feanor on 26 September, 2012, 12:09:39 pm
I've had malicious e-mails claiming to be from facebook recently.

They contained a 'photo' which it invited me to open.
it was of the form :<filename>.gif.exe

Might your e-mails be malicious too?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Basil on 26 September, 2012, 01:53:19 pm
I shouldn't care, but when I get "friend requests" emails from FB I feel guilty not checking the things. So - I get something like this every few months:

Quote
You have new notifications.
A lot has happened on Facebook since you last logged in. Here are some notifications you've missed from your friends.
   10 friend requests
View Notifications

If I click on the link, I then login, and there are no requests to be seen! (In fact I'm not sure I've ever actually seen one of these things since I signed up!) Is it all a lie?  :'(

I get these, on my junk addresses.  I've never been on face-ache, ever.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 26 September, 2012, 03:39:54 pm
I've had malicious e-mails claiming to be from facebook recently.

They contained a 'photo' which it invited me to open.
it was of the form :<filename>.gif.exe

Might your e-mails be malicious too?
Well, anything is possible on the dark side of the internet. And yet all the URLs in the mail are legit, no executables or the like. Odd.

I think I'll ignore them in future..  >:(
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Bairn Again on 26 September, 2012, 06:41:52 pm
After having spent all of the last 3 days at an IT case as a witness, I have changed my mind about joining facebook and am relieved and delighted never to have been on it.   

G
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: reddo on 01 October, 2012, 06:32:13 pm
Strewth, just spent several days teaching my Mum in law and her twin sister all about Facebook...  :facepalm: Oh boy...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 03 October, 2012, 07:37:52 pm
I'm now in the "yes, but I never log in or anything" category, just to disappoint anyone who wants to see if I'm dead yet.  Minimal personal information and separate e-mail address, so if the spam gets too much I can just turn it off.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 16 October, 2012, 01:40:49 pm
Not exactly news, but everyone seems to be missing the real lesson in this story:

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/10/16/facebook-accidentally-outed-users-to-their-parents-through-group-permissions-loophole/

Organisations: It's not cool to force people to use a third-party website that might out them.  By all means have a Facebook presence, but remember that many people have very good reasons for not having Facebook accounts, and stranding a subset of your membership at that bloody login page is simply not going to further your cause.  Use a website.  Mailing list.  Wordpress.  Twitter.  Anything that people can read (and ideally pull in automatically) without requiring an account with a third party that's been repeatedly proven to be untrustworthy in all things privacy.

I note with frustration that our local cycling campaign are falling into this trap.  They have a perfectly good website and mailing list that keeps people updated on planned rides.  The last message was a pointer to something hidden behind a Facebook login page.  I guess I won't be turning up for that one, then.   :(

I can forgive lazy cyclists.  LGBT organisations should know better.   :facepalm:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: COG on 29 October, 2012, 12:26:29 pm
I am on, but have the settings so only people I invite can be friends, and only friends can see my content or message me.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 29 October, 2012, 06:29:50 pm
I seldom post anything vital on Facebook. People can read about jam and my utility woes but little else.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Giraffe on 31 October, 2012, 05:43:25 pm
Facebook and Tw@tter are in my Hosts file - don't want that cr@p
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 31 October, 2012, 06:15:22 pm
I still enjoy following the activities of my 98.875 year-old great uncle on Facebook...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 November, 2012, 09:30:42 am
Or is it an attempt at identity theft by someone hackers?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Butterfly on 09 November, 2012, 09:32:08 am
Looks odd to me. Are the Slovakian government on to you?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: bobb on 09 November, 2012, 09:38:46 am
Or is it an attempt at identity theft by someone hackers?

It's genuine:

Read about it here (http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/15/facebook-verified-accounts-alternate-names/)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 November, 2012, 09:47:15 am
So road-runner is a VIP with many subscribers?  :thumbsup:

I can see the point of ensuring you've got the real Lady Gaga or distinguishing between the millions of people genuinely called, say, Robbie Williams, but not applying it to everyone.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: clarion on 09 November, 2012, 09:50:35 am
If they ask me for that, I will stop using it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 November, 2012, 09:55:03 am
You could just upload your Clarion 1893 card!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: clarion on 09 November, 2012, 10:08:30 am
1895, dear boy.  And it's not photo ID.  We could be anybody! :o
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mr magnolia on 11 November, 2012, 07:22:14 am
The real world seems increasingly to be gated by a Facebook page.

to Glasgow2014 organising committee:

Hey, my kids wanna take part in your 'upload a photo so you can be a part of the countdown thingie', but no one here has a facebook account.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 11 November, 2012, 08:12:42 pm
I thought road-runner was a Facebook friend of mine, entered his real name and did not get him.
Something seems amiss.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 12 November, 2012, 12:43:11 pm
Facebook page not found...  :(
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Phil W on 16 November, 2012, 07:16:53 pm
Using Facebook with pleasure. Became friends with an American cyclist through a mutual friend on Facebook. Did a tour of Taiwan together. A couple friends are cycling round world at present and post photos and updates via fb. Great way of keeping in touch and having discussions amongst a wide group that wouldn't otherwise happen.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 25 November, 2012, 03:35:26 pm
There's now a vid on Facebook showing my 98 year old great uncle on the cable car crossing the Thames, with his son (62) and carers pointing out features of the view.
IMO FB is worthwhile just for this.

My great-uncle's carer has just posted a picture of him at the Royal Festival Hall, presumably last night.
He'll be 99 next month...

[Edit] Mum's just visited his house and found place deserted. Most recent picture was taken in fading daylight so he is out and somehow forgot my Mum's arranged visit...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Nelson Longflap on 03 December, 2012, 05:47:04 pm
This is an intriguing thread ... fb clearly provides a useful service for many, good enough that they are prepared to put up with the intrusiveness, the spamming opportunities and security weaknesses.

Joining fb is like going through a trapdoor, which has always inhibited me from joining.  The functionality offered isn't really unique, so is it the convenience, the breadth of the userbase, or some pre-existing personal relationship with other fb users that makes it so beguiling? 
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 03 December, 2012, 05:51:41 pm
Joining fb is like going through a trapdoor, which has always inhibited me from joining.  The functionality offered isn't really unique, so is it the convenience, the breadth of the userbase, or some pre-existing personal relationship with other fb users that makes it so beguiling?

It's reached the point of critical mass where it doesn't have to offer any particular feature (like cow-clicker, or online scrabble) to lure people in any more.

It's simply that if you don't join facebook, $people won't tell you about $things.

Be that photos of your grandchildren or the date and start location for the next group cycle ride, it doesn't really matter.

It encourages laziness in communication, and uses that as bait.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Illegal Combat Ant on 10 December, 2012, 11:13:18 pm
Hehe. Facebook is broken tonight. I can see trouble brewing, withdrawals are starting.  ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: nicknack on 14 December, 2012, 01:16:26 pm
That's nice. According to an email I've received my mother wants to be friends with me on Faceache. Well, it would be if she wasn't in a care home suffering from dementia.

As I speak write, I find my sister-in-law does too. Wow! She really hates this social media stuff.

I wonder if my dad (who died 37 years ago) will want to be my friend too?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 21 December, 2012, 08:09:36 pm
Does anyone access the site on a feeble device - my netbook really doesn't like it much. Is there a "mobile" version that I can get to with my archaic Firefox version? Or Something?

(I did google for "mobile version" but it didn't really work out for me ... )


A big LIKE :thumbsup:  to Kim's post below. It's all about monopoly, like so many web sstuffs e.g.  YACF and Audax
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: quinnyassch on 21 December, 2012, 08:53:56 pm
Deactivated mine 2 months ago :)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: fuaran on 21 December, 2012, 09:24:18 pm
Does anyone access the site on a feeble device - my netbook really doesn't like it much. Is there a "mobile" version that I can get to with my archaic Firefox version? Or Something?
Mobile version here: https://m.facebook.com/
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 21 December, 2012, 10:46:01 pm
zactly what I was lookign for - thanks! (It ain't perfect, but at least I can post comments now. And most importantly it's fast.)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: jogler on 06 January, 2013, 11:09:26 am
I continue to resist.
However Marj has just told me that LEL has a number of facebook pages.
Get thee behind me satan.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Pedal Castro on 20 January, 2013, 08:54:06 am
I use FB is a number of ways and a number of purposes using different groups and pages, with a variety of privacy settings.

For example, my cycling pages are:
http://www.facebook.com/FantasyCyclingGame (http://www.facebook.com/FantasyCyclingGame)
and
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oundle-Cycling/113122995451999 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oundle-Cycling/113122995451999)

In total I manage 5 pages and 3 groups, it is a very effective way of connecting with groups of people, coordinating events and sharing news.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: PloddinPedro on 20 January, 2013, 10:50:57 am
I am getting increasingly frustrated by the spread of such as Facebook and Twitter. I freely admit that I am speaking largely from a position of ignorance, as a non-user, but I am not a Luddite regarding things digital, having freely embraced computers, email, et al.

But. It concerns me that I’m getting the impression that there is a trend towards Facebook and Twitter becoming “gateways” to information. There was a conversation recently on the LEL thread about this and comments were made that if I chose to cut myself off by refusing to use modern “conveniences” (my wording) then I have only myself to blame if I am left out of the loop.

Fair comment I thought, perhaps I ought to make more of an effort. I decided against Facebook because I’d read too many horror stories about how the company is constantly seeking to mine information for commercial purposes and sets traps on its software where the default setting is total disclosure, and because the big danger as I understand it is from postings other people put up.

But I thought I’d take a look at Twitter. If the LEL team want a rapid communications medium, easier than email circulation, then I’d perhaps do my bit and subscribe to the LEL Twitter feed. I was encouraged in this by researching the site and learning that there’s an option described as “Fast Follow” for those like me who “want [to follow someone] but don’t want to sign up”.

That’s me I thought and followed the instructions to set myself up to “follow LEL2013” without joining and getting a log-in, etc.

Within a matter of minutes the spam started to arrive. “Here’s a hot Tweet from the Daily Telegraph” (absolutely nothing to do with LEL or cycling) with an option to send a Tweet back to stop receiving messages from this sender. I promptly attempted to reply with a “Stop” message and got the response “Oh - you have to be signed in to do that.” So I could do nothing without capitulating and signing up; I chose not to.

Over the next few days, I received a steady stream of annoying texts advising me of “hot tweets” from a variety of sources, none of which could be stopped without signing up.

I have no confidence that, if I sign up, there will be a global setting which I can choose so that I receive messages from only those senders I choose. If I can’t rely on the company properly to describe a service such as “Fast Follow” how can I rely on them not to lie about everything? It’s precisely this kind of duplicity that causes me to think my previous impressions were correct and that this stuff is best avoided. I have now withdrawn from Twitter. It remains to be seen whether or not they will leave me alone.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Pedal Castro on 20 January, 2013, 11:13:24 am
I recently used Twitter for a school trip and encouraged parents to "Fast Follow", the only one that had a little trouble with spam was someone who it transpired had previously set up a twitter account but forgot about it. Maybe that is your case?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: PloddinPedro on 20 January, 2013, 11:23:27 am
.............the only one that had a little trouble with spam was someone who it transpired had previously set up a twitter account but forgot about it. Maybe that is your case?

I can say categorically that that doesn't apply to me. My recent experience is the only time I've even visited the Twitter website. I most certainly haven't set anything up and forgotten about it, sorry.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Biggsy on 20 January, 2013, 03:32:58 pm
re Twitter:

I have no confidence that, if I sign up, there will be a global setting which I can choose so that I receive messages from only those senders I choose.

You can turn some or all notifications off when you've properly signed up.  So you can be confident now I've told you.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: PloddinPedro on 20 January, 2013, 04:25:47 pm
re Twitter:
.....You can turn some or all notifications off when you've properly signed up.  So you can be confident now I've told you.
OK, just so's I'm clear here..............

Are you speaking from personal experience (hope that doesn't sound rude, but sometimes people report what they've been told)

And are you meaning that I can actually specify precisely which communicants I'll take Tweets from and I'll not get ANYTHING from ANYONE else? (Sorry, not shouting, honest!) :facepalm:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Biggsy on 20 January, 2013, 04:41:49 pm
Yes I use Twitter and have checked the options.

As a signed-up member, you don't normally get an email when someone you are following tweets.  In fact I don't know how you do (if you can).  The idea is that you read tweets (from all you're following) whenever you fancy via the website or an application.  It's not meant to be a mailing list service.

Here's a rough copy and paste of the notification options:
Quote
Activity related to you and your Tweets
Email me when
My Tweets are marked as favorites My Tweets are retweeted My Tweets get a reply or I'm mentioned in a Tweet I'm followed by someone new I'm sent a direct message
Activity from your network
Email me with
Top Tweets and Stories Updates about activity from my Twitter network

Updates from Twitter
Email me with
News about Twitter product and feature updates Tips on getting more out of Twitter Things I missed since I last logged into Twitter News about Twitter on partner products and other third party services Participation in Twitter research surveys Suggestions about people I may know on Twitter.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: gibbo on 20 January, 2013, 04:46:01 pm
I am now and only because my bike club posts their ride updates on there. I have resisted a long time and if it wasn't for the club site I wouldn't have bothered.
Gibbo.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: PloddinPedro on 20 January, 2013, 05:10:16 pm
Yes I use Twitter and have checked the options.

As a signed-up member, you don't normally get an email when someone you are following tweets.  In fact I don't know how you do (if you can).  The idea is that you read tweets (from all you're following) whenever you fancy via the website or an application.  It's not meant to be a mailing list service.

Here's a rough copy and paste of the notification options:
Quote
Activity related to you and your Tweets
Email me when
My Tweets are marked as favorites My Tweets are retweeted My Tweets get a reply or I'm mentioned in a Tweet I'm followed by someone new I'm sent a direct message
Activity from your network
Email me with
Top Tweets and Stories Updates about activity from my Twitter network

Updates from Twitter
Email me with
News about Twitter product and feature updates Tips on getting more out of Twitter Things I missed since I last logged into Twitter News about Twitter on partner products and other third party services Participation in Twitter research surveys Suggestions about people I may know on Twitter.
Ok, that's helpful. Thanks for taking the time to post.

I'll take another look at it when I get a chance.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 20 January, 2013, 07:09:02 pm
My intent is to never use Facebook.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 30 January, 2013, 08:04:10 am


In total I manage 5 pages and 3 groups, it is a very effective way of connecting with groups of people, coordinating events and sharing news.

Does it increase off line sociability, do you think?

I am not on it.  I did join years ago when Bebo was still in the running just to look at one link.  I used it that once but I still get requests from would be friends!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 14 February, 2013, 03:21:24 pm
OK so who has a fake girlfriend (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21446368)?

Quote
A little bit of Monica in my life
A little bit of Erica by my side
A little bit of Rita is all I need
A little bit of Tina is what I see
A little bit of Sandra in the sun
A little bit of Mary all night long
A little bit of Jessica here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man


Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 17 February, 2013, 04:53:51 pm
Does anyone access the site on a feeble device - my netbook really doesn't like it much. Is there a "mobile" version that I can get to with my archaic Firefox version? Or Something?
Mobile version here: https://m.facebook.com/

Bolox. They've 'upgraded' it - to shite. Loads of graphics and javascript wankiness.

I hereby revert my "Like Facebook?" status to "No - it's wank."

Sadly I am stuck with using it to communicate with various groups of wankers who know no better, so another dumb question:

I've "Liked" a page. Now my newsfeed/timeline is full of their bolox. Can i get rid of it?!?

[ A separate rant is that the newsfeed thing is completely ill-behaved, randomly missing posts from my "Friends". ]
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 17 February, 2013, 08:02:04 pm
Thanks RR. I didn't really want to "dislike" the page, but I clicked there anyway, as a last resort ... and lo-n-behold you get tickboxes for newsfeed/notifications! Why there?!? Who is this Zuckerberg guy and who put him in charge of everything?!?  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian123 on 17 February, 2013, 08:16:08 pm
One of my friends on facebook has 5000 friends which is the maximum allowed by facebook
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Littlesox on 19 February, 2013, 06:07:20 am
What's Facebook ?

Yours faithfully,

A. Luddite.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 19 February, 2013, 04:51:31 pm
What's Facebook ?

Yours faithfully,

A. Luddite.

Facebook is a pain in the a**e which has some useful features. It is grossly over-rated and it's quite possible tolive a rich and fulfilled life without it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 19 February, 2013, 05:19:45 pm
What's Facebook ?

A system for using people's acquaintances to mine personal data to sell to advertisers.  Its main function is to present people with a useless login page where there might once have been links to informative websites.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Poly Hive on 05 March, 2013, 07:56:35 pm
Sadly yes I am so is the guest house and so is my beesite.

Has it made a whit of difference? Not a single one that I am aware of.

PH
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 05 March, 2013, 08:01:32 pm
Thanks RR. I didn't really want to "dislike" the page, but I clicked there anyway, as a last resort ... and lo-n-behold you get tickboxes for newsfeed/notifications! Why there?!? Who is this Zuckerberg guy and who put him in charge of everything?!?  :facepalm:
He's CEO...bitch.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/business-cards-of-famous-people-including-1553158
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 March, 2013, 01:34:56 am
Likes can predict your race, IQ, sexuality, substance use, personality or political views (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/11/facebook-users-reveal-intimate-secrets)
That people's opinions and background can be inferred from their, um, opinions, does not seem surprising.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 12 March, 2013, 12:57:19 pm
Data mining tool in successfully mining data shocker!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Littlesox on 16 March, 2013, 05:59:29 pm
Sadly yes, but not intentionally.

My "best mate" has posted a picture of me and him on his wall, taken at the Reading Rock Festival 1978.

One of my other "mates" showed it to me on his phone, whilst wetting himself laughing.

Can't see what was funny really, I mean didn't everyone have long hair, an ELP World Tour 74 t-shirt, an RAF Greatcoat, faded denims and cowboy boots in those days ?

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: LindaG on 18 March, 2013, 10:21:21 am
Sadly yes, but not intentionally.

My "best mate" has posted a picture of me and him on his wall, taken at the Reading Rock Festival 1978.

One of my other "mates" showed it to me on his phone, whilst wetting himself laughing.

Can't see what was funny really, I mean didn't everyone have long hair, an ELP World Tour 74 t-shirt, an RAF Greatcoat, faded denims and cowboy boots in those days ?

I think we need to see the picture if you want an honest opinion Littlesox.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 23 March, 2013, 12:38:58 pm
Someone has been wanting to 'friend' me for about 2 months now. I don't recognise him; previous spammer types have been really obvious. This guy only has 4 posts on his Wall.

Giving him the flick seems oddly mean ...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Dibdib on 07 April, 2013, 12:22:23 pm
I'm actually starting to use it more again these days.

It's like any other tool - only useful if you have a use for it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mmmmartin on 08 April, 2013, 10:59:49 am
didn't everyone have long hair, an ELP World Tour 74 t-shirt, an RAF Greatcoat, faded denims and cowboy boots in those days ?
Of course. Certainly. I did.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 05 May, 2013, 06:26:25 pm
Has anyone else noticed (on m.facebook.com anyway) that posts are not appearing in time order?

I've seen this twice this week. Even took a screenshot in case I was going mad!

Bizarre website, just bizarre ...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: SteveC on 05 May, 2013, 09:21:50 pm
Has anyone else noticed (on m.facebook.com anyway) that posts are not appearing in time order?

I've seen this twice this week. Even took a screenshot in case I was going mad!
I'd noticed that as well.  Very annoying.

Bizarre website, just bizarre ...
[/quote]
I blame Zukerburg keeping the offices at 15C.  Can't program sensibly in those temperatures.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: RichForrest on 05 May, 2013, 09:40:22 pm
Has anyone else noticed (on m.facebook.com anyway) that posts are not appearing in time order?

I've seen this twice this week. Even took a screenshot in case I was going mad!

Bizarre website, just bizarre ...

Have you tried
Settings - Most recent
Compared to Top stories
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 08 May, 2013, 04:25:45 pm
My 99 year old great uncle is in Spain. His carers are posting stills and videos of his exploits.
He seems to be having fun.
Which is good.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 12 May, 2013, 10:23:08 pm
Has anyone else noticed (on m.facebook.com anyway) that posts are not appearing in time order?

I've seen this twice this week. Even took a screenshot in case I was going mad!

Bizarre website, just bizarre ...

Have you tried
Settings - Most recent
Compared to Top stories
Er ... thanks ... but how the f**k else would they choose to order replies to a post?!?

Bizarre. And why f**k with something that worked OK before?  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 17 May, 2013, 08:22:13 am
Bizarre. And why f**k with something that worked OK before?  :facepalm:

That's my general problem with Facebook and why I virtually never use it now - I used to find it a useful way to connect with friends and family, now I find it an unusable piece of crap bloatware.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: tom_e on 17 May, 2013, 09:51:11 am
And if you try to use the "most recent" setting then:

a) Facebook will change it back occasionally, just to annoy you.
b) You'll discover their interpretation of most recent is most recently posted topic, not topic with most recent posts.  So ongoing discussions disappear down the page.
c) Both of the rules above, and any other logic, will be overriden by any organisation which gives facebook money.

If you're used any kind of forum or newsgroup software before then it's a huge leap backward; crap bloatware as WW says.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 25 May, 2013, 12:17:44 pm
Glad to see so many people talking sense!

And if you try to use the "most recent" setting then:
...
b) You'll discover their interpretation of most recent is most recently posted topic, not topic with most recent posts.  So ongoing discussions disappear down the page.
...
This has long been a gripe of mine. It just reinforces the ephemeral nature of stuff on FB. You can't have a conversation with anyone for more than 5 minutes - there is only ever time for users to post the briefest inane replies, anything else gets lost.

:Mattc is - currently logged in, but ignoring facebook:

Is there any free software to lauch DofS attacks on an organisation's FB page? Please!!! Anything to make them use a grown-up form of communication...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 29 May, 2013, 02:14:14 am
It's got even worse and wants you to log ridiculous amounts of personal details and 'life events'.

So now I was born in 1905, educated on Mars and arrived here from the future in 1969.  If they won't take me seriously, I refuse to take them seriously.

I think I added a lot more about squirrels but I was drunk at the time.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 June, 2013, 12:21:25 am
Mrs Cudzo has told me that Facebook has issued "friend" requests to people in her email address book, who she does not want to be "friends" with, without her knowledge. What really annoys her is those people have accepted her "request"!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: LindaG on 01 June, 2013, 10:58:57 pm
Facebook has turned into a weird stalky ex.  It wants to know what I'm doing, how I feel, and now - it wants my 'phone number!

Well it can't have it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Polar Bear on 01 June, 2013, 11:29:45 pm
Facebook became a nightmare so I have deactivated my account.   Stalkers becoming friends without my approval and a truly shite format sealed it's fate.   ;)   
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Dibdib on 17 June, 2013, 02:32:52 pm
Do you have your "real name" (which looks like a "real name") on your faceache profile? They are ridiculously strict on that policy, despite plenty of good reasons to the contrary.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Adam on 17 June, 2013, 08:06:22 pm
Are you posting every day trivial comments about what you've done, what you had for lunch etc?  If not, that's why you might get blocked.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 17 June, 2013, 08:07:55 pm
 ;D

You could post every time you moan about FB on another (superior) social network.

HTH,
Matt
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: barakta on 17 June, 2013, 09:54:01 pm
Well I have got myself blocked for 12 hours because admins on a group I'm on were running riot and I had the audacity to call them on it.  The weird thing is the issue happened on Saturday but the post I made got blocked today so I can read but not *do* anything.

Considerably unimpressed. I have registered my objections as best as possible cos they leave racist, sexist, violent, disablist and other hate speech up yet I get banned cos of some crazy group admins who decide they don't like me despite being someone who tried to mediate in a fight...

Fuckem.  Will probably leave the group in question if they're going to do that kind of shit.  I hope FB reply but I don't expect them to.  I'd ditch FB but that seems to be where people lurk these days including family and I am out of loops as it is.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 June, 2013, 11:45:57 pm
Mattc is, of course, quite correct (not that I know which web site he is referring to) but I would prefer to have no reason to moan and to learn not to even when I have cause to.
Could be you're on it now.  :)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Feline on 17 June, 2013, 11:59:37 pm
Could be you're on it now.  :)

Gosh, did I really miss such an obvious hint? I do find YACF to be better than FB so it's a pity that most Slovaks seems to use Facebook so I need to be on it.

I should think the reason they blocked you was because you added a large number of friends so quickly after making the account. This is what people do who are creating 'multi' accounts to play some of the Facebook app games that are based on amassing large powerful 'mobs' or where you need 'friends' who play too to give gifts to each other to help each other get ahead etc.

If you want to get round it try adding a dozen friends every couple of days until you have everyone you want on it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Basil on 18 June, 2013, 07:25:56 am
440 friends?  ??? :o

No wonder I don't bother getting a face-ache account.  I don't even know 440 people - and I'm including people I only "know" on-line in that figure.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 18 June, 2013, 12:57:57 pm
Yes, I have always used my real name, both on the account that was blocked/deleted and now the new one.
Pleased to see you back!
I don't think you've been back long enough for The Powers That Be to form any real impression.
Maybe you should only 'friend' five people per day.
IDIOTS!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 07 July, 2013, 01:31:48 pm
Latest picture of 99.5 year old great uncle shows him lounging in his garden in July sunshine while his 63 year old son shows him something on his smartphone.
Son is wearing hi-vis FFS!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 16 July, 2013, 06:03:39 pm
Today's "features":

- A photo I posted disappeared 10 mins after posting.

- "Previous Comments" link does nothing useful.

 :facepalm:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 16 July, 2013, 06:26:21 pm
Latest picture of 99.5 year old great uncle shows him lounging in his garden in July sunshine while his 63 year old son shows him something on his smartphone.
Son is wearing hi-vis FFS!

Perhaps great-uncle is hard of seeing and bumps into things.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 16 July, 2013, 11:15:38 pm
Latest picture of 99.5 year old great uncle shows him lounging in his garden in July sunshine while his 63 year old son shows him something on his smartphone.
Son is wearing hi-vis FFS!

Perhaps great-uncle is hard of seeing and bumps into things.

Perhaps. Perhaps 30 years in the USA have caused cousin totally absurd risk-averse behaviour. Went to Tate with my Mum and same cousin and Mum had to ask him to remove his hi-vis...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Squarewheels on 07 August, 2013, 02:14:55 pm
Dez suggested to me that I might like to find music by signing up to something called "Spotify" but it wouldn't let me create an account without being a facebook person.

That sounds a bit odd...I don't have Faceache but do have Spotify
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Darwin on 12 August, 2013, 07:56:58 pm
Dez suggested to me that I might like to find music by signing up to something called "Spotify" but it wouldn't let me create an account without being a facebook person.

That sounds a bit odd...I don't have Faceache but do have Spotify
Year ago it was still possible to create an account without Facebook credentials.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Chabang on 29 August, 2013, 09:34:08 am
I have never had a facebook account. Somehow I could resist the urge of joining and now I am really happy I didn't feed them with all my personal data :)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 29 August, 2013, 12:24:51 pm
So people think that just by not having a Facebook account, their data isn't in Facebook? Think again

http://www.groovypost.com/news/facebook-shadow-accounts-non-users/?utm_source=howtogeek&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

(http://cdn1.groovypost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/image133.png)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Chabang on 29 August, 2013, 01:15:34 pm
Maybe you are right and there does exist a Shadow profile, but at least then the information "they" have isn't as accurate as if I had given it on a voluntary basis. Also, I reckon it must be harder to draw connections between who I am friends with.

I am perfectly aware that no one who makes use of the web stays "invisible" and there is also data being collected but that's exactly why I don't feel any urge to feed companies with my personal data.

Just my personal two cents though, I am far from critisizing anyone who uses facebook. It's just not for me.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 29 August, 2013, 02:10:10 pm
My mother is not on Facebook but I see my 99.7 year old great uncle (who is on Facebook) visited her flat last week...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: T42 on 12 September, 2013, 03:23:05 pm
I resisted it until it became the only practical way to exchange messages with a chum whose ISP took a scunner against mine. Since then, most of my far-flung family (splat) and just about all the local cyclists I know have joined. Great for news, but I can't make sarky remarks about one set without pissing off the other set.

I rarely put pics on FB: I'd rather put them on my PBase account and link from there, since it leaves the copyright info intact (FB strips it out). If I do post pics on FB I usually superimpose a copyright message over them.

I don't log into other sites with FB, because they demand access to all my FB data. It's probably futile to consider that any kind of ID protection, but it feels more comfortable.

I don't play games. Waste of time.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mr magnolia on 13 September, 2013, 07:42:32 pm
Magnoliette numero uno is approaching official face book age.
She has no FB that we know of,and is ambivalent about wanting one.
Apparently its 'ok for mums, but it's not really for people my age'
Snapchat currently rules apparently. That's all a bit fast and tricky for me,which I guess is most of the point.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: drossall on 13 September, 2013, 08:45:55 pm
I'm currently getting plaintive emails from FB, telling me how much I've missed since my last visit.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: The_Mikey on 13 September, 2013, 08:55:48 pm
I'm currently getting plaintive emails from FB, telling me how much I've missed since my last visit.

Me too, I seem to get them every few days at the moment, I don't visit facebook.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 14 September, 2013, 01:26:26 pm
Magnoliette numero uno is approaching official face book age.
She has no FB that we know of,and is ambivalent about wanting one.
Apparently its 'ok for mums, but it's not really for people my age'

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Most of my FB friends are over 25...as would be expected of a 55 year old.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: CrinklyLion on 04 October, 2013, 09:35:24 pm
Every once in a while I do that 'checking what your timeline looks like to ppl who don't know you' thing.

My life appears to consist entirely of gigs, the odd play, music, articles and blogs about feminism... and bridges.

There is very little public cake.

Who'dathunkit.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: L CC on 04 October, 2013, 09:50:30 pm
Whereas mine is a succession of Mighty Grease Laden Breakfasts
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: BrianI on 14 October, 2013, 07:48:07 pm
Whereas mine is a succession of Mighty Grease Laden Breakfasts
:thumbsup:

Mines is probably the only facebook timeline in the world which has pictures of moths, flora, fauna and plastic modelling kits on it!   :smug:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Polar Bear on 14 October, 2013, 07:57:26 pm
It would appear that I had been reactivated.   Hopefully I've stopped that again... !
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: shyumu on 23 October, 2013, 12:37:47 pm
In protest over the video of a person being beheaded posted to facebook.

Facebook has been bothering me for some time now.  It is not the privacy issue, because I only post stuff I want to share with my friends.  It is the way I am supporting a business with very loose ethics which is slowly wearing away my tolerance.  However, facebook's recent attitude to violent videos has finally tipped the balance and I have decide to protest to facebook in the only effective way I have.  To remove my account.

Facebook has become so ingrained in the way in which we share information, promote events and keep in touch that it is difficult at first to see how to remove myself from it and yet stay in touch with all my friends.

So I have a plan:
1. Make sure my email address book is properly up to date, and go back to using email to write to friends, share pictures and stay in touch.
2. I have a blog, I have editorial control over this and enjoy sharing information publicly via that - I can encourage my friends to subscribe to the blog if they are interested. www.balancingontwowheels.com

So over the next couple of weeks I'm going to be repeating this post as I tidy up my facebook affairs, remove content, and ask friends to send me their email address so I can stay in touch.  I hope that I don't lose contact with my friends because of this, but I feel strongly that I cannot continue to "have fun" and "happily arrange social events" within the program that is facebook, a program which enables bullying and doesn't care where it makes money so long as it continues to grow.

To my friends - let's stay in touch - send me your email addresses and I will update my  address book.

God bless.
shyumu
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 23 October, 2013, 02:22:44 pm
So over the next couple of weeks I'm going to be repeating this post as I tidy up my facebook affairs, remove content, and ask friends to send me their email address so I can stay in touch.  I hope that I don't lose contact with my friends because of this

You will, I guarantee it.  That's what happens when you put dancing pigs inside a walled garden.  It's depressing how much I find out about what my friends are doing only because I happen to ask barakta what's she's giggling at.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ivo on 23 October, 2013, 03:49:19 pm
You could try migrating to another social network and convince your friends to join you there. I'm on Facebook and vkontakte, if one fails I still have another one ;).
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 30 October, 2013, 06:35:01 pm
It's got even worse and wants you to log ridiculous amounts of personal details and 'life events'.

Logged into Zuckerberk's monstrosity a short time ago, and at the top of my news feed Facebonk was nagging my for my home town. Usually, when you get notifications at the top of the page, you can click the x button to remove them and then get on with seeing what inanities your friends have posted, but not this time.

So I tried clicking on "I don't have a home town" - after all, it's not really any of their interest, and I have my reasons for not being more searchable on there than I am already - and that didn't work either, and when I tried entering a place name under "other", it would't let me select "only me" for visibility.

Hmmmmm...  ::-)

If Fastbuck is going to insist, I think I might have to follow your example and get creative.  :demon:


(EDIT) Although I can click on the gear icon and go to my account and privacy settings, I am unable to edit any of them - killing all functionality until I have given Facef&%$ my life story is just taking the piss IMHO.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 30 October, 2013, 07:37:02 pm
I see NOTHING wrong with giving false - preferably humourous - information.

So, they have a rule requiring your real name; a part of me cheers every time I see someone breaking this rule. Especially any friend of Hugh Jorofice.

Childish? I prefer "childlike".
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 30 October, 2013, 09:41:24 pm
I've permanently deleted my account, which had very little information on it and was never used anyway.  Do I really think they'll purge the data?  No way.

I never found anything vaguely interesting or useful on there and the "find friends" feature was utterly crap; it didn't even find Mrs Z, and she's a very heavy user.  It turned up a load of people who may have lived in the same town as me at some point in time.  The LinkedIn "people you may know" is rather better.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 31 October, 2013, 12:51:00 am
On further research, it's more likely that Farcebork has gone kablooey, it's not just me.

http://www.isitdownrightnow.com/facebook.com.html See comments

https://getsatisfaction.com/facebook/problems/recent

Interestingly, it could still be FB being bar stewards, as the last post on page 2 of one of the threads in the second link above suggests that there's been a code change which means FB doesn't work if you have the Do Not Track Me plug-in installed.

Quote
Got this from DNTM--
Hello,

It seems that Facebook has just made some changes to their site, and in order for it to function properly, you will need to allow Doubleclick to track you on Facebook.

To allow Doubleclick to track you, click your DNTme icon, and then click under the companies that are tracking you. Slide the green toggle switch associated with Doubleclick from green to red and refresh your page.

https://getsatisfaction.com/facebook/topics/cant_like_or_post_anything_today_october_21st#reply_13220778

Well, there's a surprise...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 10 November, 2013, 06:48:40 pm
I do wonder how many accounts on there are completely fake; a trawl of the profile pictures for stock images might be illuminating for them  :)

The men's profiles look considerably more fake than the ladies'.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 11 November, 2013, 02:54:58 pm
I do wonder how many accounts on there are completely fake; a trawl of the profile pictures for stock images might be illuminating for them  :)

The men's profiles look considerably more fake than the ladies'.

Methinks it's an anti-Graph Search countermeasure.  :demon:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 November, 2013, 06:05:34 pm
Was this the thread which had stuff about Facebook refusing to remove pages approving of rape and stuff? Or was that in POBI? Either way, I've just read that they have blocked a page called "Burn, rainbow, burn" run by National Rebirth, a far-right group in Poland, on grounds of spreading hate against gays.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 18 November, 2013, 09:12:47 pm
They're very inconsistent in their attitude to rape, beheadings or homophobia, it seems, and the policy changes almost weekly.

Apparently there is paedopr0n on FB if you know where to look, although this could just be an urban legend (I read it in one of those HYS bottom-half-of-the-Internet discussions).
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: clarion on 18 November, 2013, 10:24:25 pm
Banning search terms doesn't help.  They could use codewords - rainbow unicorn or narwhal spang for instance.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 23 November, 2013, 09:01:47 am
Quote
Get Important News
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
572,600 like this.
Magazine
Like
Fast Ford
Fast Ford
105,360 like this.
Magazine
Like
ZOO Magazine
ZOO Magazine
525,016 like this.
Publisher
Like
[I figured you could all live without the pictures.]


Yeah. OK. Thanks for that Important News tipoff ...  ::-)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 03 December, 2013, 03:38:58 pm
Great uncle is now 16 days from his centenary.
My Mum took him up the Shard today.
A video has appeared on Facebook.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 03 December, 2013, 04:03:15 pm
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/sex-survey-study-finds-brits-2851643

More to the point, women would rather gossip on FB than have sex.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: CrinklyLion on 03 December, 2013, 04:34:10 pm
Be a sweetie would you Roger old chap, and fuck right off?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 03 December, 2013, 04:51:30 pm
I'm sorry for the DM link, I truly am.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2216346/Women-prefer-Facebook-sex-Study-reveals-wed-bedroom-antics-quit-using-internet.html
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 03 December, 2013, 05:14:16 pm
If it's in the Mail it must be true.   ::-)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: CrinklyLion on 03 December, 2013, 05:16:16 pm
A DM link to a survey in Cosmo, no less. 

But it's OK.  It's probably banter.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 03 December, 2013, 05:23:00 pm
Yeah, Dibs was always more rigorous in his research methodology...


(The Mail has made a profitable business out of gratuitous clickbait, but how does Cosmo still exist?)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 19 December, 2013, 12:14:27 am
I have wished Great Uncle Happy Birthday on Facebook.

It might be cheesy but it's still special. I am still amazed how the technology has allowed us to share so much so easily.

Shame the knobs abuse it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: bobb on 19 December, 2013, 06:07:36 pm
Facebook is b0rked for me today. Anyone else?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 19 December, 2013, 06:13:39 pm
Working fine for me.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: bobb on 19 December, 2013, 06:28:15 pm
How strange. I logged myself out via an app I'd authenticated with FB, then logged back in and all is fine. As you were...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 19 December, 2013, 11:21:17 pm
Facebook is b0rked for me today. Anyone else?

Facebook was very slow at times for me today; I thought this was due to overload by those sharing in great-uncle's centenary celebrations  :) ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 30 December, 2013, 06:28:05 pm
allofasudden I am getting "suggested" friends requests. Wossat all about?

It smacks of more automated shenanigans to me, but who knows? :shrugs:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 December, 2013, 09:01:02 pm
I have wished Great Uncle Happy Birthday on Facebook.

It might be cheesy but it's still special. I am still amazed how the technology has allowed us to share so much so easily.

Shame the knobs abuse it.
It's only special cos you're an old fuddy duddy.
click (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/27/facebook-dead-and-buried-to-teens-research-finds)
 :)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 30 December, 2013, 10:53:42 pm
I have wished Great Uncle Happy Birthday on Facebook.

It might be cheesy but it's still special. I am still amazed how the technology has allowed us to share so much so easily.

Shame the knobs abuse it.
It's only special cos you're an old fuddy duddy.
click (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/27/facebook-dead-and-buried-to-teens-research-finds)
 :)

That's fine!
His children are in their late 50s/early 60s, all his grandchildren are over 20 and the great-grandchildren aren't yet up to computers or Facebook...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mr magnolia on 22 January, 2014, 07:34:59 pm
Miss magnolia has been forbidden from having a Facebook account until she was 13 in,like,actual life. That happened a good while ago, and she really doesn't give a chuff about having an account at all.
No-one uses it, apparently.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 22 January, 2014, 07:40:46 pm
...
No-one uses it, apparently.
Most of those I encounter using it seem to be cycling clubs/organisations attempting to show how modern/hip they are ...  ::-)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 22 January, 2014, 09:33:04 pm
Facebook keeps advertising funeral plans to me. They know I'm getting on a bit.
If they targeted such advertising at The Yoof, they'd never bother with FB. Perhaps they do...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 23 January, 2014, 08:02:45 am
Occasionally they make a guess at my location. It appears to be based entirely on my Friends, and is a good shot - but if they expect me to help them, well ...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: clarion on 23 January, 2014, 11:34:11 am
It's amusing that FB keeps having three guesses at my school.  Last time, it suggested a girls school attended by one of my friends. ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 29 January, 2014, 11:24:08 am
this "login via Facebook" business is getting on my tits.

Just tried the "share... " button on change.org. Same old depressing message:

Change.org will receive the following info: your public profile, friend list and email address.

In which case you can f*** off  ::-)

(Does Facebook actually allow other sites to use their login feature WITHOUT giving away your public profile, friend list and email address ? Doesn't seem too difficult on a technical level. )
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Jaded on 29 January, 2014, 12:10:01 pm
This obsession with using FB for logins and likes etc. is an utter nonsense.

PS news report today appears to say that Twittering and FaceBooking is a past-time for narcissists.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 29 January, 2014, 01:49:24 pm
Oh it's fine if you simply understand that they'd like to make money. I don't do apps that want my details. Those I do use have privacy set to 'only me'. I don't post anything I wouldn't say in public (much like here).
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: drossall on 29 January, 2014, 02:50:06 pm
The idea is to move towards "logging in to the Internet" instead of logging in to each site. In another version, your browser handles the central log in.

Your public profile is public anyway. Your Facebook friends list can probably be seen by anyone who is logged in (and anyone can register and log in, so that's anyone able to see your friends list).

OK, they can't get your email address, but, if you don't log in using Facebook and still want to log in, you're going to have to register on the other site and give them your email address anyway.

It's not the information as such that gives me pause for thought, so much as the linking together of everything. If I'm using Facebook to log in to various other sites, that's me definitely identified as the same person on all of them.

I just use a password manager and have a separate account on each site.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 29 January, 2014, 03:04:06 pm
Friend lists can be private - Joe Public will only see mutual friends in my profile.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 29 January, 2014, 03:09:04 pm
Facebook could act like my password manager in this case. I'm not bothered about being linked to many sites that I'll only use a few times - theyre the ones that it's so annoying to register on.

But they've added these extra privacy infringements  ::-)

(If I want to use a site regularly, maybe state some forthright views, I'll create a proper puppet account  and call myself something innocuous like Matt ... )
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 29 January, 2014, 04:02:43 pm
Have we had this one yet?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/29/facebook_android_privacy_flap/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2547326/Is-Facebook-reading-TEXTS-Android-app-update-lets-app-access-written-picture-messages.html
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: RW on 30 January, 2014, 09:24:24 am
Where's the button to leave facebook?  I signed up for it before Christmas to look at one thing, but I've got very cold feet about it.  I've looked and looked for it, it must be deliberately hidden.  Admittedly I haven't had time to read all the pages of this thread.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: RW on 30 January, 2014, 05:47:51 pm
You are right, it is more like Hotel California than you'd imagine:

I followed the steps you outlined above and then had to enter my password to confirm.  A message told me that my password wasn't correct.  I went back, logged out, and logged in again using the same password and went through the same process, with the same password, with the same result.

If my concerns were speculative at first, the interaction I've just had with the sight has made them a bit more real.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: geraldc on 30 January, 2014, 06:01:52 pm
http://techland.time.com/2014/01/27/how-much-time-have-you-wasted-on-facebook/

28 days, 9 hrs for me since July 2007...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 30 January, 2014, 06:33:36 pm
http://techland.time.com/2014/01/27/how-much-time-have-you-wasted-on-facebook/

That's rubbish.  It says I've wasted zero hours on Facebook, when I've clearly spent ages waiting for interesting links to take me to the login page of futility, and applying social engineering techniques to find out details of events.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Basil on 30 January, 2014, 06:43:24 pm
Exactly what I was about to post, Kim.  (Well, not quite so well written)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: CrinklyLion on 30 January, 2014, 08:01:59 pm
Calculating....

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 30 January, 2014, 08:05:55 pm
I also suspect that the more important number is the dimensionless ratio of time spent on Facebook to time spent riding one's bike.  (Sorry CL)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: CrinklyLion on 30 January, 2014, 08:07:10 pm
Calculating....

That took a while!

Hmm.  Quite a lot of time, but I know that a lot of it is spent talking to geographically distant Good Friends so, tbh, I don't necessarily consider it wasted.  For a proper scary stat, of course, I can always go look at 'total time online' in my profile here.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: L CC on 30 January, 2014, 08:35:29 pm
I also suspect that the more important number is the dimensionless ratio of time spent on Facebook to time spent riding one's bike.  (Sorry CL)
I think you'll find some of us manage both at the same time.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 30 January, 2014, 08:47:22 pm
I also suspect that the more important number is the dimensionless ratio of time spent on Facebook to time spent riding one's bike.  (Sorry CL)
I think you'll find some of us manage both at the same time.

That is, of course, cheating.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 01 February, 2014, 02:48:58 pm
FB informs me my centenarian great uncle is on the pier at Southend enjoying fish'n'chips.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 13 February, 2014, 12:45:32 pm
(http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b496/22xjR2Udt/YACF/facebook_like_zpsd533e587.jpg)

IRL (in real life) no one has ever asked me, "Could I invite you to like ...?" Rather, "Could I introduce to ...," or, "Would you like to meet my friend ...?" It must be a strange world at Facebook where IRL doesn't exist.

In that case you're being invited to like a page. It may be a page about a person, but it isn't a personal profile. Often done for/by famous people or those who wish to be.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Patrick Harper on 01 March, 2014, 09:18:17 am
I made an account in 2010, sat disused until I deactivated it at the end of the year. Then last year I had to resurrect it due to the creation of a page for an unrelated project. With that dusted off, a few months ago I deleted all of it for good.

I have Skype for contacting people. Sure, it's maybe not the most well known, but I've got quite a few friends on there. Certainly a lot easier than using FB.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Rhys W on 28 April, 2014, 11:39:30 pm
Three of my "friends" have just liked a nasty post by "Britain First", which is quite unashamedly the political wing of the EDL. Reason enough to unfriend them in my book... but then one of the three has liked a post I made which ridiculed UKIP.  ???
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: clarion on 29 April, 2014, 09:48:53 am
I noticed a post shared by a friend (who dislikes the right) originated by Britain First.  It was seemingly innocuous and non-political, but the name rang alarm bells for me.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: andrewc on 12 May, 2014, 07:09:40 pm
A nasty little BNP spin off http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britain_First (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britain_First)

They are supposed to have recently offered to act as bodyguards for Farage in order to protect him from "lefties".   
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 13 May, 2014, 08:33:05 pm
Does anyone have a clue what this group is about?!?

https://m.facebook.com/groups/171205979604741?_rdr

It was a FB "suggested group" and sounds bonkers!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: itsbruce on 17 June, 2014, 07:41:15 pm
Timetrialling group.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: fields5069 on 18 June, 2014, 11:35:03 am
I have just requested the deletion of my Facebook account. I was spending far too much time on there, liking posts and whatnot, reading stories of the various achievements of various "friend"-spawn, and not much else.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 18 June, 2014, 01:18:28 pm
My centenarian great-uncle has just visited his father's grave at Interlaken and his carers have posted the evidence on FB.
He gets about!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: nicknack on 10 July, 2014, 11:30:55 am
I have a Facebook page but I don't use it at all. Just lately I've had quite of number of friend requests from people I don't know. There is usually at least one mutual friend. Is there some sort of etiquette when dealing with these? Do I just accept them all? Will the skies fall if I just ignore everything? Do people get upset by refusal to acknowledge? Why do they do it when they don't know me?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: itsbruce on 11 July, 2014, 02:59:29 pm
If you don't know them, ignore it and don't worry.  It won't affect either your relationship with your real friends or the non-existent relationship you don't have with strangers.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: citoyen on 23 July, 2014, 11:49:31 pm
If you don't know them IRL, does it matter if you offend them? Think of ignoring friend requests from people you don't know in the same light as ignoring those chain letters you sometimes received as a kid.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 July, 2014, 09:51:11 am
In a spirit of scientific enquiry I created a Bookface profile last night.

Unable to determine any purpose for which t might prove useful, I deleted it this morning ???
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 11 August, 2014, 10:48:14 pm
Centenarian great-uncle's carer has just posted a vid of said relative ascending in the funicular railway at Interlaken.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ruth on 03 September, 2014, 09:08:23 pm
Are facebook playing mind games again this evening?

All I want to do is send a message to someone.  Come on, big blue hand.  This is getting tiresome.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 03 September, 2014, 09:28:00 pm
Appears to be having glitches, according to Twitter.
I see a posting from Ruthie within the past hour.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ruth on 03 September, 2014, 09:31:41 pm
Great, thanks Helly, I'll crack on and send that message.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Steph on 13 October, 2014, 06:49:14 pm
I just received an e-mail asking me (a) to contact them regarding my* difficulty accessing the service, and (b) telling me that if I wanted to unsubscribe I had to WRITE to them. On paper.


*Old identity. I stopped using it very shortly after going on, as it struck me as more than a bit shit.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 04 December, 2014, 07:55:39 pm
When Facebook tells me that
Bob,
Sue,
Chris Froome &
Kitty Triplehorn

... are "people I may know",
is there a button to tell me who our "mutual friends" actually are?  ???
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2014, 01:35:42 am
When Facebook tells me that
Bob,
Sue,
Chris Froome &
Kitty Triplehorn

... are "people I may know",
is there a button to tell me who our "mutual friends" actually are?  ???

Bob and Sue were in a film with Rita, if that's any help.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 05 December, 2014, 07:22:34 am
Ah, so it's Rita's fault!

[Glad someone spotted that :) ]

Oh, and I've found out now, but I don't have the patience to explain it, and anyone that cares probably knows already ...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 15 December, 2014, 05:53:23 pm
Just read this:


The Audax UK Facebook Group. A calm and relaxed place for audax chat. No horribleness - just nice people making positive contributions


This sickened me so much, I nearly left the "Group". Must resist posting grumpiness, Must resist posting grumpiness, Must resist posting grumpiness, Must resist posting grumpiness ...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 15 December, 2014, 07:01:13 pm
Just read this:


The Audax UK Facebook Group. A calm and relaxed place for audax chat. No horribleness - just nice people making positive contributions


This sickened me so much, I nearly left the "Group". Must resist posting grumpiness, Must resist posting grumpiness, Must resist posting grumpiness, Must resist posting grumpiness ...

So near, yet so far.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 16 December, 2014, 01:37:35 am
I hope to post birthday greetings for my great uncle's 101st on Friday.
Hope his carers take him somewhere nice and post the pictures!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 19 December, 2014, 04:00:42 pm
Great uncle turns 101 in London.
84 year old nephew sends birthday greetings from Copenhagen.
Son and daughter post video of them all singing Chanukah songs together in London.
Two grand-daughters and two great grand-daughters of post video of birthday greetings from Chicago.
Technology can be a blessing.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 28 December, 2014, 03:11:41 pm
Phoned home to speak to Mum.
Dad said she'd gone to park with great uncle.
Pictures of their antics on outdoor gym were on FB when I got off phone...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ruthie on 06 March, 2015, 09:14:19 pm
How in heaven's name has Friendface linked me up with my ex-landlord???

Yes, I do know him.  No, I don't want to friend him.

Just bizarre.  I don't know anyone else who knows him!

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 26 March, 2015, 08:17:38 am
I need some help, from those who understand these things.

I've been signed up to farcebook for yearsanyearsanyears although I almost never "use" it. I recently found that my strategy of not using my birthdate or real name on my profile has backfired, but that's not why I need help.

Currently, I am using it regularly to follow my daughter in Australia and Tarzan. Most of the time this isn't a problem, and it can be interesting to see what others are sharing in idle moments. But, there are two friends (who are actually friends) who post nsfw stuff. One I'm reasonably cool about as (a) It's normally not that bad (b) he is a glamour photographer these days (c) his fb posts are infrequent. The other chap's likes are far less discreet, and currently daily.

Is there any way of stopping the feed from a friend without "unfriending"? I doubt there will be in fb, but possibly a plug-in?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: tiermat on 26 March, 2015, 08:22:30 am
I need some help, from those who understand these things.

I've been signed up to farcebook for yearsanyearsanyears although I almost never "use" it. I recently found that my strategy of not using my birthdate or real name on my profile has backfired, but that's not why I need help.

Currently, I am using it regularly to follow my daughter in Australia and Tarzan. Most of the time this isn't a problem, and it can be interesting to see what others are sharing in idle moments. But, there are two friends (who are actually friends) who post nsfw stuff. One I'm reasonably cool about as (a) It's normally not that bad (b) he is a glamour photographer these days (c) his fb posts are infrequent. The other chap's likes are far less discreet, and currently daily.

Is there any way of stopping the feed from a friend without "unfriending"? I doubt there will be in fb, but possibly a plug-in?

YES! Find one of his posts.

Hover over it, a cross downward pointing arrow will appear in the top right corner.  Click on this and follow the prompts.

Job done.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 26 March, 2015, 02:50:24 pm
Thanks!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 29 March, 2015, 10:48:40 am
My current interest in facebook content (related to following Steve & Miss Ham) means that I am loading it up daily. As I have quite a lot of "friends" related to my interests, unsurprisingly I have a lot of content appearing that I find interesting. However, I think I am also finding what it is that I dislike about the Facebook environment, in that it strives to control and direct links and content internally. For example, videos are frequently FB internal, the context and interpretation is then often skewed from the original. those videos are always available externally, too, which can provide a different perspective.

One good example is the the Rachel Maddow I linked  here https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=89418.msg1837316#msg1837316 - it was only once I had taken the trouble to go off the FB piste that I find that the shop visitors were not random members of the public but people believing they were taking part in a marketing experiment (which they were, obv)

The more I use FB, the more I can see the appeal, the less I like it.

ETA - and it was also interesting to find that
Quote
Maddow is the first openly gay anchor to host a major prime-time news program in the United States
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Steph on 02 April, 2015, 04:04:39 pm
I have now returned to the system, mainly as a publicity thing for my scribbles. I am there under my real name as well as the 'initials' version I use on my books.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Torslanda on 04 April, 2015, 08:22:45 am
I like to be as 'anonymous' as I can on FB. I don't play games, I don't share extremist stuff etc.

I rather quickly drop 'friends' who are constantly sharing Britain First shite but I'm increasingly annoyed with FB itself for not being content with me dropping something or someone and constantly asking 'Why?'

'Have we not loved you? Have we not shared and enjoyed with you . . . ?' What's worse is that there isn't a checkbox for 'This is an arrogant, sexist, dickhead and I wouldn't be seen dead in the same crem!' Nor is there a box marked 'Look! I don't want to see ANY FUCKING ADVERTS!'
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 04 April, 2015, 09:24:05 am
I like to be as 'anonymous' as I can on FB. I don't play games, I don't share extremist stuff etc.

I rather quickly drop 'friends' who are constantly sharing Britain First shite but I'm increasingly annoyed with FB itself for not being content with me dropping something or someone and constantly asking 'Why?'

'Have we not loved you? Have we not shared and enjoyed with you . . . ?' What's worse is that there isn't a checkbox for 'This is an arrogant, sexist, dickhead and I wouldn't be seen dead in the same crem!' Nor is there a box marked 'Look! I don't want to see ANY FUCKING ADVERTS!'

FB seems to go through phases of 'encouraging' you to tell everyone all about yourself, join groups, play games, pay to boost posts. That's okay, the people who succumb effectively pay for my use of it.  Adblock works for the ads.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 April, 2015, 02:28:08 pm
I seem to have set up a facebook account. I remain to be convinced that this is a good idea. Dez persuaded me to do it because "everyone else" in the local Green Party is on.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 04 April, 2015, 03:01:36 pm
I seem to have set up a facebook account. I remain to be convinced that this is a good idea. Dez persuaded me to do it because "everyone else" in the local Green Party is on.

 I see you friended me...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 04 April, 2015, 03:54:46 pm
Facebook just got hairier.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 April, 2015, 12:49:40 am
Facebook very quickly found a woman with whom I used to run the local Woodcraft Folk - when Dez and his siblings were of that sort of age - so about 25 years ago. She accepted my friendship this morning.

When I came in this evening after our bike ride, I had a message from her. "Was that you I saw riding through East Hanningfield this afternoon?"

Small world.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Psychler on 06 April, 2015, 01:11:40 am
Small world.

It's a very small world on facebookery!  Year or so back I made a comment on a friends status who I knew from years back playing rugby.  A mutual friend then turned out to be a work friend from 25 years plus ago.

This all ended in a work reunion, myself and 25 ladies!!! 

Edit.  None looked any older than they did 25 years back.  In fact, they all looked rather splendid!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 April, 2015, 11:40:23 pm
We have just had something similar.

I had added Poulton-le-Fylde Teachers' Training College as my "university", not having a real one, you understand. So far as I could ascertain, the only other person to have done so was one Howard Raw, who was in the same year as Mrs. Wow and myself. When I took a look at his facebook page he is FB friends with one Peli OTP. It turns out that Howard taught Vicky, is still teaching well past the age of 60 and is a generally very well liked and respected Good Egg.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 23 April, 2015, 03:06:10 pm
My 101-year-old Great Uncle has been sitting in the sun in the café at Golders hill Park with his younger son today...
That is life and Facebook as they should be...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 27 April, 2015, 07:05:47 pm
I see my great uncle had lunch in Hendon Park with my parents and his younger son today.
The combined age of the foursome is 326, I think.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: GruB on 08 June, 2015, 09:35:07 pm
I have two accounts.  One is locked right down and is just for mum to keep up to date in Australia.  It is not my correct name either.
The other is totally fictional and is a skeleton account I use for work.  It is great at finding out stuff and especially associates of wanted people and even where wanteds may be.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 09 June, 2015, 01:58:27 am
Facebook announced the birth of my latest second cousin once removed (with grinning photo of proud mum) before child's grandfather had chance to email me. (Is that a First World problem?)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 08 August, 2015, 12:11:56 pm
How long are its tentacles ...

This morning my work supervisor popped up in the "people you may know" section.

there is no work info on my profile, I have no "Friends" at work. I dont even list my surname!

(I suspect there is a "List Mutual Friends" button, but pressing that will only feed more info into the machine ... )
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 17 August, 2015, 08:14:49 pm
There one aspect I really loathe about Facebook (OK, more than one) and that is the way they appropriate content - pics, video - from other sources without credit. So much of it goes on, which is weird as I would have thought the original provider (eg Youtube) would complain. Apart from anything else it strips away the context, leaving only the asinine comment of the re-posting Facebook person.

Surely this has to break copyright?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: numbnuts on 17 August, 2015, 08:27:20 pm
I joined  a few weeks ago to see if I could find my daughter, but no such luck  :'(
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Aidan on 17 August, 2015, 10:39:55 pm
I notice that recently embedded videos start playing as soon as they come into view. I have looked through the preferences and security setting but I cannot see how to stop this. If you know do please tell as it is driving me mad and so I now look at friends' pages less than before (which was rarely).

Go to settings under the little down arrow at the top right on your Facebook home screen, right at the bottom is a "videos" menu item on the left.  Click on that and change autoplay from default to off. That should do it :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: red marley on 27 August, 2015, 11:45:14 am
Since this morning, it appears that I am no longer able to view Facebook pages without having an account and logging in. Is it just me or have FB changed access rights to previously public pages?

I really don't want to give my data away to FB so am not going to sign up, but it does make it a pain to follow progress of Kurt, Steve and Miles in the OYTT.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: αdαmsκι on 27 August, 2015, 11:49:03 am
Since this morning, it appears that I am no longer able to view Facebook pages without having an account and logging in. Is it just me

It's not just you. I can no longer access Tarzan's FB account >:(.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Legs on 27 August, 2015, 05:05:02 pm
My FaceTube seems to have recently been overrun with stuff about things my friends are liking.  X (my friend) likes Y (their friend, NOT mine)'s new profile picture.  Why would I give a tuppenny f*ck about that?

(As an aside, αdαmsκι, how's the world of teaching treating you?  I taught at Derby College for 4 years after John Port TP, but have recently reverted to Structural Engineering so that I can have a quiet easy life.  I never really resumed cycling after the PGCE, but have taken up running - though not as fast as you!)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: CrinklyLion on 27 August, 2015, 05:46:19 pm
Why is this thread stickied?  I've wondered for ages.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Basil on 27 August, 2015, 05:54:01 pm
Why is this thread stickied?  I've wondered for ages.

Me too.  I think perhaps this place must have been sold to the Zuckerperson, or something.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 27 August, 2015, 06:43:14 pm
Since this morning, it appears that I am no longer able to view Facebook pages without having an account and logging in. Is it just me

It's not just you. I can no longer access Tarzan's FB account >:(.
Well ... I do in fact have an account. This week - for the first time in months - my Timeline/Wall thingy has featured Kurt's daily posts. I havent noticed this with any other pages/accounts.

It seems odd that both these changes would be caused by The Faceless Facebook People: my (uneducated) guess is that Kurt (or team) have changed their settings.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 August, 2015, 06:57:02 pm
Since this morning, it appears that I am no longer able to view Facebook pages without having an account and logging in. Is it just me

It's not just you. I can no longer access Tarzan's FB account >:(.

I see the page for a few seconds but then a GBFO login Thing comes down on top of it and refuses to go away chiz.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 27 August, 2015, 07:08:02 pm
Since this morning, it appears that I am no longer able to view Facebook pages without having an account and logging in. Is it just me or have FB changed access rights to previously public pages?

I really don't want to give my data away to FB so am not going to sign up, but it does make it a pain to follow progress of Kurt, Steve and Miles in the OYTT.

I hit escape and it went away.  Interestingly the AUK page (which is there only for those not logged-in to see) doesn't get the log-in pop-up.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: red marley on 27 August, 2015, 07:38:59 pm
It seems to happen for many public pages (but not those that are a holding page for subscriber groups like AUK). e.g.

https://www.facebook.com/stevenabraham2015
https://www.facebook.com/GoMilesAU
https://www.facebook.com/tarzanrides

So I think it is probably a Facebook change rather than one by the page authors. But thanks Ian, ESC seems to remove the block.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 August, 2015, 11:46:08 am
Only likely to work if you have an <ESC> key.  Is there any way of fooling a tablet into believing it's got one?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Biggsy on 28 August, 2015, 01:32:02 pm
Only 6/7ths of the world's population now aren't frequently on Faceache.  A billion people logged in on Saturday.

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 28 August, 2015, 02:31:06 pm
Only likely to work if you have an <ESC> key.  Is there any way of fooling a tablet into believing it's got one?

On my Android phone I don't get the floating log-in, not even having gone to the desktop site...but then, on checking, it's not appearing (for Tarzan at least) on the PC either today.  Hmm.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: BrianI on 30 August, 2015, 09:11:16 pm
it seems a few work colleagues are facebook friends with each other including bosses!.  Sorry, but that isn't a thing I'm going to do!   
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 30 August, 2015, 09:18:40 pm
it seems a few work colleagues are facebook friends with each other including bosses!.  Sorry, but that isn't a thing I'm going to do!

It can be done safely.  I have sub-divisions, so that only 'family' see some posts, 'close friends' see some that 'friends' don't, and 'acquaintances' are bottom of the pile. 
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 02 September, 2015, 01:05:34 pm
There one aspect I really loathe about Facebook (OK, more than one) and that is the way they appropriate content - pics, video - from other sources without credit. So much of it goes on, which is weird as I would have thought the original provider (eg Youtube) would complain. Apart from anything else it strips away the context, leaving only the asinine comment of the re-posting Facebook person.

Surely this has to break copyright?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34106475

Yeah right. Believe it when I see it. 
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ruthie on 03 September, 2015, 08:31:37 pm
Well, this is annoying.  Got a 'friend' request from someone called Jason, who I didn't recognise, but I do meet an awful lot of people so I sent a polite 'do I know you?' message just in case.

He just replied:

Dear, i must confess When I saw your profile picture,
i felt something very strong for you. It will be a
privilege to comment to the fact that you are pretty
Your lovely lips, pointed nose, and your spotless face,
your sweet and responsible mode of dressing. it
sooth something deep inside me while at the same
time, it stirs a romantic passion that can make me
forget everything else .So I decided to write you this
short mail to express how I feel about you. please i
want to know more about you.

My profile picture at the moment is a picture of my feet.  From behind.  Wearing odd socks.  FFS.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Dibdib on 03 September, 2015, 08:52:45 pm
Well, this is annoying.  Got a 'friend' request from someone called Jason, who I didn't recognise, but I do meet an awful lot of people so I sent a polite 'do I know you?' message just in case.

He just replied:

Dear, i must confess When I saw your profile picture,
i felt something very strong for you. It will be a
privilege to comment to the fact that you are pretty
Your lovely lips, pointed nose, and your spotless face,
your sweet and responsible mode of dressing. it
sooth something deep inside me while at the same
time, it stirs a romantic passion that can make me
forget everything else .So I decided to write you this
short mail to express how I feel about you. please i
want to know more about you.

My profile picture at the moment is a picture of my feet.  From behind.  Wearing odd socks.  FFS.

Hey, be nice. That's Nigerian royalty you're speaking to, and he needs your help to move this big pile of cash... ;-)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ruthie on 03 September, 2015, 08:59:11 pm
Well, this is annoying.  Got a 'friend' request from someone called Jason, who I didn't recognise, but I do meet an awful lot of people so I sent a polite 'do I know you?' message just in case.

He just replied:

Dear, i must confess When I saw your profile picture,
i felt something very strong for you. It will be a
privilege to comment to the fact that you are pretty
Your lovely lips, pointed nose, and your spotless face,
your sweet and responsible mode of dressing. it
sooth something deep inside me while at the same
time, it stirs a romantic passion that can make me
forget everything else .So I decided to write you this
short mail to express how I feel about you. please i
want to know more about you.

My profile picture at the moment is a picture of my feet.  From behind.  Wearing odd socks.  FFS.

Hey, be nice. That's Nigerian royalty you're speaking to, and he needs your help to move this big pile of cash... ;-)

Tell you what Dibbers.  Have a jelly baby.  No, really, it's on me.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Basil on 03 September, 2015, 09:03:31 pm
Still haven't had it explained to me why this thread is a sticky.
Bit random isn't it?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Dibdib on 03 September, 2015, 09:12:49 pm
Tell you what Dibbers.  Have a jelly baby.  No, really, it's on me.

I love jelly babies!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 03 September, 2015, 09:32:26 pm
Still haven't had it explained to me why this thread is a sticky.
Bit random isn't it?
It's so long ago that I can't remember.  Probably because at one point it looked like FB might have taken over from Internet fora, but I think everyone has realised it's banal, commercial and dangerous.  FB, I mean  ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 04 September, 2015, 08:56:01 am
Just going back a few posts, I'm friends with my work colleagues 'IRL', I'm also friends with my work colleagues on FB. I don't have anything to hide, so don't understand the issue. I like my work colleagues, perhaps this is rare!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 06 September, 2015, 07:24:29 pm
Just going back a few posts, I'm friends with my work colleagues 'IRL', I'm also friends with my work colleagues on FB. I don't have anything to hide, so don't understand the issue. I like my work colleagues, perhaps this is rare!
Does that include the nasty mean boss that you moan about?!?

Quote
I don't have anything to hide
Do friends/work know about your life as a Super Randonneur that posts on YACF?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 07 September, 2015, 09:20:00 am
My nasty mean boss left in July :p It's a happy place in here now.

I was never friends on FB with her ;)

And no, I CBA to explain silly badges and rules. They just know I go for bike rides.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 04 October, 2015, 12:39:25 pm
I'll just leave this here...  http://violetblue.tumblr.com/post/130440543695/why-im-sitting-at-home-crying-on-a-saturday
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 09 October, 2015, 08:09:28 pm
Still haven't had it explained to me why this thread is a sticky.
Bit random isn't it?
It's so long ago that I can't remember.  Probably because at one point it looked like FB might have taken over from Internet fora, but I think everyone has realised it's banal, commercial and dangerous.  FB, I mean  ;D

'fraid so :(

East Yorkshire mother jailed after son drowns in garden pond (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-34491753)

Quote
A mother has been jailed for five years after her toddler son drowned in a garden pond while she chatted on Facebook.

To some it is like being on drugs.  A very sad case.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 19 December, 2015, 09:25:55 pm
Great uncle turned 102 today.
Family celebration photo featuring 3 offspring, carers and several grandchildren has been duly posted.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: simonp on 23 December, 2015, 11:32:39 pm
Well, this is annoying.  Got a 'friend' request from someone called Jason, who I didn't recognise, but I do meet an awful lot of people so I sent a polite 'do I know you?' message just in case.

He just replied:

Dear, i must confess When I saw your profile picture,
i felt something very strong for you. It will be a
privilege to comment to the fact that you are pretty
Your lovely lips, pointed nose, and your spotless face,
your sweet and responsible mode of dressing. it
sooth something deep inside me while at the same
time, it stirs a romantic passion that can make me
forget everything else .So I decided to write you this
short mail to express how I feel about you. please i
want to know more about you.

My profile picture at the moment is a picture of my feet.  From behind.  Wearing odd socks.  FFS.

And they said romance was dead.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 23 December, 2015, 11:56:44 pm
Well, this is annoying.  Got a 'friend' request from someone called Jason, who I didn't recognise, but I do meet an awful lot of people so I sent a polite 'do I know you?' message just in case.

He just replied:

Dear, i must confess When I saw your profile picture,
i felt something very strong for you...

And they said romance was dead.

Set friend requests to 'friends of friends' only (that's the current minimum on FB).
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2016, 04:07:21 pm
Facebook may be a work of Stan, but it's also a killer app:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-35103292
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Tigerrr on 19 February, 2016, 06:34:44 am
I have been on Facebook for ages but frankly have no idea what for. I gather now though that I must start to get active, and learn how Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc work because I will need these media when I start working as a humanist celebrant. So I am starting to do stuff. Initially I am blogging linked to Facebook. I am looking for friends too.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Torslanda on 19 February, 2016, 10:13:51 pm
I'll be your dog friend. Follow the link to the John's Bikes page below.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 24 March, 2016, 10:20:55 am
I belive some posts are visible to those Luddites without a Facebook login. Is there a simples way to identify these? (e.g. something about the URL)

And is there a way to make my posts/shares/whatevers visible to the Luddites?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 24 March, 2016, 01:03:34 pm
I don't think so, unless, in a member's privacy settings, they have ticked "Allow search engines outside of Facebook to link to your Profile" and that shows posts in search results. 

Otherwise, only FB pages are visible to the outside world.  There is an AUK page (https://www.facebook.com/AudaxUK/) just for that purpose, which refers you to the group (hit Esc to clear any obscuring invitation to log-in).
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: SteveC on 18 April, 2016, 08:50:39 pm
Earlier this evening I introduced my 77 year old mother to Facebook.
She's had an account for ages but does not appear to have looked at it!
I suspect I will be doing a bit more 'mentoring' over the next week or so.

(Would it be safe to introduce Skype, I wonder?)
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 September, 2016, 04:16:58 pm
Decided I was missing out on too much interesting Stuffs in the WHPSC group so signed up again.  As Sebastian Weetabix.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 07 October, 2016, 07:41:05 pm
The psycholgoy of facebook posts (and profiles) can be revealing.

A couple I know have used the same picture for their profiles. Except:
- hers just shows the two of them, smiling away.
- his piccie is a less cropped version, showing another pretty lady on his other arm, smiling away.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Phil W on 07 October, 2016, 07:55:34 pm
I belive some posts are visible to those Luddites without a Facebook login. Is there a simples way to identify these? (e.g. something about the URL)

And is there a way to make my posts/shares/whatevers visible to the Luddites?

Yes, you need to make the post public. Then click on share -> copy link and then send link via email etc. There's nothing in the URL to identify them. But you can share a link to all your posts and they'll just see the public ones if not Facebook friends with you and logged in.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 07 October, 2016, 08:21:41 pm
The psycholgoy of facebook posts (and profiles) can be revealing.

A couple I know have used the same picture for their profiles. Except:
- hers just shows the two of them, smiling away.
- his piccie is a less cropped version, showing another pretty lady on his other arm, smiling away.

I'm not quite sure what that reveals though.  Probably depends on who the other pretty young lady is.

She might be better at using image processing that software than he is.
She might not have had consent from the third person (though consent is rarely given much consideration on Facebook) to use their photo.
Either way, having a photo with someone else in as your profile pic would seem to imply a certain amount of luserdom.  I wouldn't be surprised if the couple share an email address[1].


[1] Something that squicks me even more than Facebook.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Dibdib on 07 October, 2016, 08:38:34 pm
The psycholgoy of facebook posts (and profiles) can be revealing.

A couple I know have used the same picture for their profiles. Except:
- hers just shows the two of them, smiling away.
- his piccie is a less cropped version, showing another pretty lady on his other arm, smiling away.

I'm not quite sure what that reveals though.  Probably depends on who the other pretty young lady is.

She might be better at using image processing that software than he is.
She might not have had consent from the third person (though consent is rarely given much consideration on Facebook) to use their photo.
Either way, having a photo with someone else in as your profile pic would seem to imply a certain amount of luserdom.  I wouldn't be surprised if the couple share an email address[1].


[1] Something that squicks me even more than Facebook.

The most squicky are the couples who share a facebook account. Janetandjohn Smith, I'm looking at you. *shudder*
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 07 October, 2016, 08:49:50 pm
I'd no idea that was a thing...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 08 October, 2016, 08:37:20 am
My manager recently retired at a ripe old age. For years his wife has been using Alan's facebook account.    There was frequent hilarity when she posted (what's the right word here?...) raunchy-but-SFW links to stuff like male strippers, or just jokey comments that no bloke would make, let alone one in his late 60s.

Probably not unusual!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 09 October, 2016, 04:37:06 pm
Things I Didnt Know:

You can post, then Disable Comments to your post. Basically shutting down any possible response if you say something daft/provocative/unpleasant.

Seems very odd, in the current social media landscape.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 09 October, 2016, 05:00:11 pm
Or alternatively, it makes perfect sense in the current social media landscape.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ruthie on 20 October, 2016, 09:52:50 pm
Been getting a lot of nasty Facebook posts about Syrian child refugees, so I clicked on a link to see whether they were just a wind-up, and got an insight into the Brexiteer Trump-supporting mindset and it's scared the crap out of me.  These are people I actually LIKE. 

If this is the majority mindset then these are dark times.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 20 October, 2016, 10:29:09 pm
Thankfully, there seem to be few Little Englanders amongst my FB friends.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 21 October, 2016, 07:14:59 pm
Somewhere, somehow, I appear to have a Trump supporter in my "feed" .....  :sick:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 04 November, 2016, 09:00:39 pm
Partner informs me a 'Friend' (more a friend of a friend, really) was 'Live' washing her dishes.
PERLEEEZE!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 10 November, 2016, 07:55:44 pm
(click to show/hide)

And breath ...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: TigaSefi on 10 November, 2016, 10:09:51 pm
Breathe btw!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 10 November, 2016, 11:13:56 pm
I tried to 'friend' someone I knew from previous cyber contact on Facebook and she only discovered my Friend request when I contacted her through her business FB account some years later so concur with rr
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 11 November, 2016, 08:14:49 am
Breathe btw!

Your supposed to spell like that on Facebook!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 November, 2016, 12:33:19 am
If Facething gives me "Britain First" as a 'Suggested Page' once more I'm going to be using Agent Orange on Mr Zuckerberg's Walled Garden >:(
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Andrij on 18 November, 2016, 09:11:36 am
Received a friend request from someone who was at an event I attended last Saturday.  We have mutual acquaintances (expected considering event/venue), but have never actually met.  And this from a mature (in years) person. 

 ???

People are weird, and even weirder online.  Present company excepted, of course - you're all weirder in real life.  :-*
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 23 November, 2016, 07:48:42 pm
That's it.  I'm going to write a browser plugin that pops up a login box over the top right of the page you're viewing, then after a couple of seconds pops up another larger, even more obnoxious "you need an account" dialog with a "no, fuck off" button that merely causes it to shrink down to occupy the bottom quarter of the screen.

Unless it's a dailymail.co.uk address, in which it just gives you a blank page with a login prompt.  I'm not a complete monster.

Once we can view the entire fucking web like that, Facebook itself should be redundant.   :demon:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 November, 2016, 02:47:14 am
I, on the other hand, am going to track down the people responsible for the crash-o-matic memory hog that is Facething's wanky iOS app, and cut them up with a chainsaw.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 10 February, 2017, 02:28:04 pm
It was a toss-up between here and "What I have learned today", but:

https://techcrunch.com/2009/09/10/facebook-now-lets-you-fax-your-photos-i-have-no-idea-why-anyone-would-want-to-do-this/

I suppose it might be big in Japan.  Or in an alternate timeline where Biff Tannen is president of the USA.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 March, 2017, 12:14:33 pm
Yesterday Farcebok appeared to go on an advertising-announcement blitz.  I have been offered motor-cars from every major Japanese manufacturer, three exclusive homes in exclusive developments, a hair styling experience in Saffron Walden, half a dozen shit video games and some bucket of wank from "Conservative Woman", which is a fail on so many levels it makes me shudder.

Oh, and a used tractor. £9,250.  Bargain.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 08 March, 2017, 12:16:50 pm
Yesterday Farcebok appeared to go on an advertising-announcement blitz.  I have been offered motor-cars from every major Japanese manufacturer, three exclusive homes in exclusive developments, a hair styling experience in Saffron Walden, half a dozen shit video games and some bucket of wank from "Conservative Woman", which is a fail on so many levels it makes me shudder.

Oh, and a used tractor. £9,250.  Bargain.

All I get [quick look] is two cycling holidays and a picture of a dog in specs.

I have a friend who wants a tractor.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 March, 2017, 10:27:41 am
Some outfit calling themselves"CarsSales" are the purveyors of tractors.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 09 March, 2017, 02:26:58 pm
Yesterday Farcebok appeared to go on an advertising-announcement blitz.  I have been offered motor-cars from every major Japanese manufacturer, three exclusive homes in exclusive developments, a hair styling experience in Saffron Walden, half a dozen shit video games and some bucket of wank from "Conservative Woman", which is a fail on so many levels it makes me shudder.

Oh, and a used tractor. £9,250.  Bargain.

All I get [quick look] is two cycling holidays and a picture of a dog in specs.

I have a friend who wants a tractor.
I can get you one for £9,750. Tomorrow.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: SteveC on 19 April, 2017, 07:05:08 pm
...wishing FB had a 'don't look at POBI' option, at least for the next 50 days.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Basil on 19 April, 2017, 07:16:34 pm
...wishing FB had a 'don't look at POBI' option, at least for the next 50 days.

You could  use the ' Dont  look at FB' option.  Works for me.   :D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 19 April, 2017, 07:21:14 pm
Whereas a friend is complaining 'FB's gone all political' and I'm inclined to point out that some are political because they CARE about what's happening.

I'm not that interested in politics but I fear for the future under our current Führership.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 April, 2017, 08:02:58 pm
...wishing FB had a 'don't look at POBI' option, at least for the next 50 days.

Not long after signing up I expressed a wish for a rounders filter, which drew a certain amount of flak and/or bewilderment from "World" Series-obsessed USAnians.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: SteveC on 19 April, 2017, 08:30:21 pm
You could  use the ' Dont  look at FB' option.  Works for me.   :D

Trouble is too much of the rest of my life seems to be organised through FB.

Whereas a friend is complaining 'FB's gone all political' and I'm inclined to point out that some are political because they CARE about what's happening.

Don't disagree about the caring. It's just that there's a lot of heat and very little light in most cases.
Better stop now or this will be banished to POBI as well.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 20 April, 2017, 10:22:59 am
Whereas a friend is complaining 'FB's gone all political' and I'm inclined to point out that some are political because they CARE about what's happening.

Don't disagree about the caring. It's just that there's a lot of heat and very little light in most cases.
Better stop now or this will be banished to POBI as well.
I'd agree with both of you.

One actual positive feature of FB is the Hide Post option (I think it's called!). You often don't need to see a single Reply to realise there will be too high a heat:light ratio!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 20 April, 2017, 07:17:30 pm
Meanwhile:

I can't figure out if this is a satirical/humourous site: https://www.facebook.com/uktactical/
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 20 April, 2017, 10:16:49 pm
Looks serious enough.

https://www.uktactical.com/t-about.aspx
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 30 August, 2017, 07:53:16 am
We need to nationalise Google, Facebook and Amazon. Here’s why (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/30/nationalise-google-facebook-amazon-data-monopoly-platform-public-interest)

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: T42 on 30 August, 2017, 08:24:46 am
The supposition being that the Federal Govt. - they being American - would be a more trustworthy custodian of everyone's personal data, pictures, vapourings.  Yeah, sure.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 30 August, 2017, 08:58:32 am
Agree, we are too far down the road now.  Especially as AI is so close to governing our collective decision making. 

 
Quote
Data is quickly becoming the 21st-century version of oil – a resource essential to the entire global economy, and the focus of intense struggle to control it. Platforms, as spaces in which two or more groups interact, provide what is in effect an oil rig for data. Every interaction on a platform becomes another data point that can be captured and fed into an algorithm. In this sense, platforms are the only business model built for a data-centric economy.

More and more companies are coming to realise this. We often think of platforms as a tech-sector phenomenon, but the truth is that they are becoming ubiquitous across the economy.

Shopping ain't never gonna be like this again..

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1649/24127647931_c208515c76_b.jpg)

And politics? Post Brexit and Trump, anything could happen.  It's most interesting.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 13 September, 2017, 02:17:33 pm
Does anyone use Faecebook on a real computer these days?  MY EYES!  It's tolerable on a phone except for the vacuous "Roger, Rain is forecast for tomorrow, Stay dry" sort of crap that appears in your feed.  However, on a laptop or PC, there is an absolute tidal wave of spam, rubbish and pointless lists overwhelming the screen and even the adblocker chokes on it.

It's worse than a local newspaper site - these work quite well if you have an adblocker that suppresses the "turn off your adblocker" banners  ;D

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Andrij on 13 September, 2017, 02:28:09 pm
I, on the other hand, really dislike accessing Bookface on mobile devices and much prefer using a proper computer.  I run adblock, etc.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 13 September, 2017, 04:23:39 pm
I ONLY see Facebook on my laptop cos I don't have a smartphone.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: drossall on 13 September, 2017, 07:20:45 pm
When I bother with Facebook, I tend to use a desktop.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 23 September, 2017, 08:23:21 pm
Facebook can't hide behind algorithms (http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41358078)

Quote
First, the company admitted a “fail” when its advertising algorithm allowed for the targeting of anti-Semitic users.
Then on Thursday, Mark Zuckerberg said he was handing over details of more than 3,000 advertisements bought by groups with links to the Kremlin, a move made possible by the advertising algorithms that have made Mr Zuckerberg a multi-billionaire...

..Facebook’s wild profits - $3.9bn (£2.9bn) between April and June this year - are due to that automated process. It finds out what users like, it finds advertisers that want to hit those interests, and it marries the two and takes the money. No humans necessary.
But unfortunately, that lack of oversight has left the company open to the kinds of abuse laid bare in ProPublica’s investigation into anti-Semitic targeting...

....His [Zuckerberg's] naivety about the power of his own company sparked an immense backlash - internally as well as externally - and an investigation into the impact of fake news and other abuses was launched.
On Thursday, the 33-year-old found himself conceding that not only was abuse affecting elections, but that he had done little to stop it happening.
"I wish I could tell you we're going to be able to stop all interference,” he said.
"But that wouldn't be realistic. There will always be bad people in the world, and we can't prevent all governments from all interference.”
A huge turnaround on his position just 10 months ago...

.. the political mood in the US taken a sharp turn: Big Tech’s algorithms are out of control.

..“All of these problems are the result of the fact Zuckerberg has created and profited from a system that has grown to encompass the world… and harvest information from more than two billion people."

Oops!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 September, 2017, 07:24:47 am
Does anyone use Faecebook on a real computer these days?  MY EYES!  It's tolerable on a phone except for the vacuous "Roger, Rain is forecast for tomorrow, Stay dry" sort of crap that appears in your feed.  However, on a laptop or PC, there is an absolute tidal wave of spam, rubbish and pointless lists overwhelming the screen and even the adblocker chokes on it.

It's worse than a local newspaper site - these work quite well if you have an adblocker that suppresses the "turn off your adblocker" banners  ;D

Judicious use of Facebook Purity can get rid of most of the crap Mr Zuckerberg and his gribleys try to throw at you.  I've been using it on a Windows laptop for most of the past month and it's mostly an improvement over the shitty iOS app which devours memory like a hungry tiger and crashes for no readily apparent reason about once every fifteen minutes.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: ElyDave on 24 September, 2017, 08:27:51 am
I haven't been on bookface since about February, can't say I've missed it.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: T42 on 24 September, 2017, 09:36:28 am
Modo on Sugarloaf (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/23/opinion/sunday/facebook-zuckerberg-dowd.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region&region=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region&_r=0)

Ferry interestink...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 November, 2017, 09:03:52 am
Looks like someone or something on Farcebok can't tell the difference between racist hate speech and a quote from a song lyric by notable Nazi sympathiser Tom Robinson, as they've removed a comment I made referencing "Power In The Darkness" :facepalm:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: T42 on 02 November, 2017, 09:32:22 am
Context doesn't matter any more, it's the BAD WORDS that count. C.f. To Kill a Mockingbird, Biloxi, etc.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 November, 2017, 07:04:14 pm
That was my suspicion.  They presumably objected to the n-word and possibly the shortened form of "Pakistani" as well.  Idiots.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 02 November, 2017, 07:19:30 pm
Much of F$B Book and Tw@tter is run on algorithms. Which is why the news feed sucks, because F$B Book's programming douche bros think they know best about what I want to see in the news feed.

These days, I really can't be arsed to log in any more.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 02 November, 2017, 07:33:09 pm
... notable Nazi sympathiser Tom Robinson...
Really?? I've always liked the guy :(

That's another 6Music programme I'll have to boycott ...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 02 November, 2017, 08:00:41 pm
Much of F$B Book and Tw@tter is run on algorithms. Which is why the news feed sucks, because F$B Book's programming douche bros think they know best about what I want they want you to see in the news feed.

FTFY

Twitter's nowhere near as bad, because you don't have to use their user interface.  With a third-party client you can avoid all the algorithmic order and promoted tweet rubbish, as well as most of the UI terribleness.

Unfortunately it's still full of Brexit and Trump.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 02 November, 2017, 08:04:04 pm
... notable Nazi sympathiser Tom Robinson...
Really?? I've always liked the guy :(

That's another 6Music programme I'll have to boycott ...

That's MrL expounding Fake News, on the strength of the lyrics of the song

Quote
What we want is
Freedom from the reds and the blacks and the criminals
Prostitutes, pansies and punks
Football hooligans, juvenile delinquents
Lesbians and left wing scum
Freedom from the niggers and the Pakis and the unions
Freedom from the Gipsies and the Jews
Freedom from leftwing layabouts and liberals
Freedom from the likes of you

taken out of context, you could be forgiven for thinking that nice Mr R was a bit odd. Carry on though and you get

Quote
Power in the darkness
Frightening lies from the other side
Power in the darkness
Stand up and fight for your rights
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: mattc on 03 November, 2017, 08:36:16 am
Thanks Ham. Probably a worthwhile post, even though my post wasn't sincere!

(For Avoidance of Doubt: Tom Robinson seems a fine fellow to me, he's entertained me for years, on-and-off ... )
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 03 November, 2017, 11:17:01 am
Yeah, I know, didn't really think so, I was using it as an excuse to Listen Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qev84xYA7w

If one were needed. Really takes me back.

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: ElyDave on 04 November, 2017, 10:47:10 pm
I've not been on bookface since February, have I missed anything?
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 07 November, 2017, 05:08:57 pm
https://gizmodo.com/how-facebook-figures-out-everyone-youve-ever-met-1819822691

Most of this isn't news, of course, but one thing stood out at me:

Quote
Yes, Facebook functions as a reverse phone-number look-up service; under the default settings, anyone can put your phone number into the search bar and pull up your account.

Nice...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 20 November, 2017, 09:09:01 am
My Farcebook activity is limited to scanning my feed. I had an invite to participate in a survey "to provide feedback", I thought, why not? Started off OK - "What's your overall level of satisfaction?" Easy, very dissatisfied. Onto the next, How do you evaluate your familiarity with News? Again, fairly easy, probably not the very most familiar, let's choose the one from the top.

The rest of the questions were all designed to test that familiarity. I scored 7/12.  Which is actually 100% for news items and 0% for stuff like What's Prince William's official residence and who got knocked out in football.

I started thinking that was useless then realised that the questions were so specifically targeted news/gossip that actually my 100% dissatisfaction with facebook correlating with 100% informed on the news may well mean something to them at the end of the day.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Cunobelin on 21 November, 2017, 06:34:31 pm
From Person of Interest

It was invented by the CIA!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPirWp2oAJ4
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 19 December, 2017, 12:59:21 am
Much of F$B Book and Tw@tter is run on algorithms. Which is why the news feed sucks, because F$B Book's programming douche bros think they know best about what I want to see in the news feed.

Thread with a particularly tragic example of why this sort of ranking algorithm is unfit for purpose[1]: https://twitter.com/Hellchick/status/942863353403150336

Of course, this isn't all that different from what Facebook have been doing to non-Facebook-users for years.  I remember someone's new partner disappearing from an online community and assuming they'd had an acrimonious breakup that I wasn't privy to (and carefully tiptoed around the subject).  A year or so later I discovered that they'd just switched to doing everything on Facebook instead.


I'm not sure what comes next, though?  A mass return to the open standards of the early noughties seems unrealistic:  The appeal of Facebook was that everyone was on it, and that monolithic simplicity is only likely to be achieved by some tech/media company who happened to be in the right place at the right time.  And while long-form blogging and realtime chat are easy, the world[2] now expects their social network to come with photos and video, and making that sort of thing user-proof takes serious infrastructure.  (Case in point: The perennial threads about how to embed images in YACF posts.)

Can the Next Big Thing (whatever the specifics may be) *not* turn into another Facebook?  Is there a way to make this sort of thing happen *without* selling eyeballs to advertisers?


[1] Except where that purpose is maximising engagement with advertising.
[2] Particularly the next billion internet users, who aren't fluent in text media and are primarily going to be accessing the network with low-end smartphones.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 19 December, 2017, 01:24:54 am
I have just wished my great-uncle happy 104th birthday on Facebook...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Beardy on 19 December, 2017, 02:19:34 pm
For those of use with growed up family who have been thrown out of left home and moved away, FarceBark is an excellent way to see more of what they are up to than one previously would[1]. It's also allowed me to be reconnected with some of my extended family (whether I've wanted to be or not!) and even a few friends from way back when. We've also created little community of ex internal newsgroupers from work where we can continue our particular brand of irreverence and silliness. The rest I just ignore as best I can.

1. Although not always as good thing. one of my nephews ended up setting up a new sanitised account for family and blocking us all from his original presence after the downward trend plunged into uncharted regions over one weekend. I still need a regular mind bleaching after some of the stuff I read that weekend! :sick: :o :facepalm: :-X
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hulver on 19 December, 2017, 05:35:43 pm
Much of F$B Book and Tw@tter is run on algorithms. Which is why the news feed sucks, because F$B Book's programming douche bros think they know best about what I want to see in the news feed.

Thread with a particularly tragic example of why this sort of ranking algorithm is unfit for purpose[1]: https://twitter.com/Hellchick/status/942863353403150336

Of course, this isn't all that different from what Facebook have been doing to non-Facebook-users for years.  I remember someone's new partner disappearing from an online community and assuming they'd had an acrimonious breakup that I wasn't privy to (and carefully tiptoed around the subject).  A year or so later I discovered that they'd just switched to doing everything on Facebook instead.


I'm not sure what comes next, though?  A mass return to the open standards of the early noughties seems unrealistic:  The appeal of Facebook was that everyone was on it, and that monolithic simplicity is only likely to be achieved by some tech/media company who happened to be in the right place at the right time.  And while long-form blogging and realtime chat are easy, the world[2] now expects their social network to come with photos and video, and making that sort of thing user-proof takes serious infrastructure.  (Case in point: The perennial threads about how to embed images in YACF posts.)

Can the Next Big Thing (whatever the specifics may be) *not* turn into another Facebook?  Is there a way to make this sort of thing happen *without* selling eyeballs to advertisers?


[1] Except where that purpose is maximising engagement with advertising.
[2] Particularly the next billion internet users, who aren't fluent in text media and are primarily going to be accessing the network with low-end smartphones.


I'm using (and running a small instance of) Mastodon (https://hulvr.com/). It's like twitter, but linked servers so no central place. Each server can have its own rules about what can and can't be posted. You could easily set up a yacf instance for example. You can follow people on other instances (fairly) easily, although it can be a bit clunky.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 19 December, 2017, 05:44:57 pm
I'm using (and running a small instance of) Mastodon (https://hulvr.com/). It's like twitter, but linked servers so no central place. Each server can have its own rules about what can and can't be posted. You could easily set up a yacf instance for example. You can follow people on other instances (fairly) easily, although it can be a bit clunky.

Mastodon isn't going to solve the problem any more than Diaspora or Dreamwidth did, for more or less the same reasons:  Re-inventing the Last Big Thing in a form that has geek appeal, but neither compelling new features nor an established userbase isn't going to result in a mass migration.

Which isn't to say that they aren't good tools to serve specific communities, just like SMF can be.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 April, 2018, 08:31:21 am
Those intolerable busybodies at the gates of Mr Zuckerberg's Walled Garden had the sheer nerve to ask me to provide evidence that I actually am who I tell them I am.  Scans of my phone bill and polling card left them gasping for more.  Those little pink wiggly lines on an EU driving licence are absolute buggers to reproduce in Photoshop.  Take THAT, The Man ;D
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 04 May, 2018, 09:05:30 pm
Those intolerable busybodies at the gates of Mr Zuckerberg's Walled Garden had the sheer nerve to ask me to provide evidence that I actually am who I tell them I am.  Scans of my phone bill and polling card left them gasping for more.  Those little pink wiggly lines on an EU driving licence are absolute buggers to reproduce in Photoshop.  Take THAT, The Man ;D

You're a cereal liar.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Chris S on 04 May, 2018, 10:07:32 pm
NOT ANYMORE!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: hellymedic on 04 May, 2018, 10:32:06 pm
You're a cereal liar.

What, he repeatedly claims he eats Bran flakes but you found Frosties in his kitchen cupboard instead?

You might be unfamiliar with Mr Larrington's name on Facebook...
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: LEE on 04 May, 2018, 10:41:54 pm
I'm on Facebook.

It does what I want.  I understand the risks (and am understanding more every day).

While people are worrying about facebook their personal data is being harvested elsewhere and everywhere.

There's almost nothing you can do about it unless you go offline altogether and revert to a barter economy.

After 100 years of being manipulated by right-wing Newspaper millionaires we're all suddenly horrified that we may be being manipulated by the Internet. 

Wise up.  Choose a variety of news sources.  The Internet provides a democracy of news information that we never had before.


Example.  Syria.  UK press make Assad the Enemy #1  but why?  We don't care about Syrian Children.  We're happy to watch them drown in the Med.

Maybe it's all about illegal Israeli Oil.

https://yournewswire.com/cheney-rothschild-murdoch-co-start-drilling-for-oil-in-syria/ (https://yournewswire.com/cheney-rothschild-murdoch-co-start-drilling-for-oil-in-syria/)

This may or may not be true but at least it's possible to go beyond what the Daily mail tell me is the truth.

Of course it's about Oil.  It's always about Oil.  Assad is a twat but no more of a twat than the Saudi Sheiks.

Just assume you're being lied to by the mass media.  Do your own research, stop buying the Daily Mail and Google a variety of news sources.  What you find may shock you.  It's about Oil.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Jaded on 04 May, 2018, 11:30:56 pm
Posted on a computer created by and powered by oil.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 05 May, 2018, 07:59:44 am
Getting fed up of the constant "join Instagram" and "connect with dead-eyed android Zuckerberg" spam from Faecebook themselves (on mobile, I never see any other adverts on FB, which is amazing since FB is unusably spammy on a real computer).   It really is shite.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 May, 2018, 11:16:53 am
On a Real ComputerTM this Unit uses and recommends the FB Purity browser plugin.  Quashes advertising, allows you to set "Most Recent" as your default view option, can filter out cat-related contact and much, much more.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: nicknack on 05 May, 2018, 12:26:18 pm
On a Real ComputerTM this Unit uses and recommends the FB Purity browser plugin.  Quashes advertising, allows you to set "Most Recent" as your default view option, can filter out cat-related contact and much, much more.
Thankyou!
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ian H on 05 May, 2018, 01:09:34 pm
On the phone do not have the app.  I just use the standard website which defaults to "m.facebook". 
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mad cyclist on 23 September, 2018, 03:26:10 pm
Dez suggested to me that I might like to find music by signing up to something called "Spotify" but it wouldn't let me create an account without being a facebook person.
My Spotify is linked to my Facebook account but I don't think you need to have an account

Sent from my FIG-LX1 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 04 October, 2018, 01:00:08 pm
I think most of us suspected this already, but it's nice to see it tested:  https://gizmodo.com/facebook-is-giving-advertisers-access-to-your-shadow-co-1828476051
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 04 April, 2019, 09:24:39 pm
This isn't FB, this is the ad services that track you and deliver tailored content. You can disable cookies, but often that diables functionality too.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 04 April, 2019, 11:23:58 pm
Which isn't to say that Facebook aren't tracking you too:  Every site with one of those little "Like us on Facebook" buttons causes your browser to load an image from Facebook's servers, revealing any identifying features of your browser's profile[1], even without the presence of a Facebook login cookie.  If at any point that browser *does* log in to Facebook, they know all that was you.  Or if you go to some public Facebook pages without logging in, they can make inferences about where in the social graph you might be.

(See also: Twittergram, GooTube, etc.)


[1] *This* build of *this* version of *this* browser with *these* addons on *this* OS version with *these* other cookies present at *this* IP address... it can be surprisingly unique.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 05 April, 2019, 04:05:26 am
Given that I don't seem to be doing the sleep thing right now, I might as well explain a bit more.

There are multiple ways that your day to day passage through the WWW is tracked, that can result in the semi-spooky adverts that you describe, there are two prime methods.

The first, most likely option is one of the ad giants. you visit page A from WeSellStuff.com, and the 3rd party service embedded in the page makes a note of what you are looking at. When you visit site B that also uses that service, the advert space on the page retrieves the data stored on your computer in cookies, looks for an appropriate advertiser on its books for those products and displays it. One of the biggest is doubleclick.net - what a surprise, it's google. As you point out, they will not know that you bought the item, they just know that it is relevant to you which makes the ad more likely to be valuable to the advertiser.

The second, more tricksy method is web beacons, or some variant thereof. If you use Yahoo, then you will have agreed to their use as part of your TOS. This uses clever tech to identify your passage around the net, such as image/script loading that Kim mentions. Yahoo are (or at least, were?) one of the worst offenders in this respect. You can block some of the worst aspects of this behaviour by blocking 3rd party cookies. Facebook tried with the Facebook Beacon, overstepped the mark because it couldn't be blocked and got their wrists slapped a few years back. It is likely that they have some sort of tracking tech in play, but it may be confined to those who use the Facebook API, eg using third party games within FB (but, may not as well).

You can see what cookies are being set by any site if you use something like ublock origin (click on the "Shield" to see any page data), which by default will kill any of the more aggressive tracking and can be modified to reject more if you want. As, indeed, can your browser, just by throwing away all cookies after a session. Want to see just how many cookies you have? In Chrome, go to settings, advanced, privacy and security, content settings, Cookies, See all cookies and site data. Wot a lot there are. Apart from doubleclick, quantxxxx is another AI tracking giant.



Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: T42 on 05 April, 2019, 09:11:50 am
There's a nifty Firefox add-on called Lightbeam that presents first- and third-party cookies as a graph and shows the connections between them all.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: woollypigs on 28 January, 2020, 02:30:57 pm
Time to really stop using farcebook https://twitter.com/DylanByers/status/1222140259493912576?s=20
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: De Sisti on 28 January, 2020, 04:27:41 pm
I did have an account, but suspect it had been hacked, because individuals whom I had contacted
on it (maybe once or twice) years ago and had not had any connection with since, were sending
me emails, which all appeared similar in construction (a hyperlink, sometimes with a strikethrough) and
nothing else, apart from my first name. The same thing definately happened on my former yahoo
account.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 October, 2020, 10:53:07 am
Oculus owners told not only to get Facebook accounts, purchases will be wiped if they ever leave social network (https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/27/facebook_oculus_accounts/).  That’s me off their list of potential customers then.  Not that I was actually on it in the first place.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 28 October, 2020, 12:12:42 pm
A no-lube antitrust probe is the least that FuckerBorg and his walled garden deserves.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 20 December, 2022, 09:20:37 am
The new mobile site doesn't work on Firefox, so that's me off Faecebook by default.  I think they employ all the shitty coders that even eBay won't recruit.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: spesh on 20 December, 2022, 12:00:39 pm
The new mobile site doesn't work on Firefox, so that's me off Faecebook by default.  I think they employ all the shitty coders that even eBay won't recruit.

Same as Twitter and YouTube: "If ain't broken, keep throwing cludged scripts at it until it is a FUBARed CPU-nomming mess."

Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 20 March, 2023, 10:01:51 am
They pulled the new mobile site but now it's back and worse than ever, pushing unblockable advertising shite.  That's it, I'm out.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 March, 2023, 11:09:42 am
How in the name of Bog and all Her unholy angles did The Algorithm conclude that I have shown an interest in “Starter home”?  Yes, just the one.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 20 March, 2023, 11:13:15 am
I've an old account. I never log on, I only created it to get a refund from a dodgy dealer, years ago.

FB used to pester me with lists of people 'who share my interests' but they have have given up now.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: FifeingEejit on 20 March, 2023, 11:21:58 am
Pretty much my only reason to still be there is
Family
Cycling
Motorsport
Messenger

I probably could drop it TBH
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 March, 2023, 11:30:32 am
I only rejoined coz all the gen about Battle Mountain is there.  Well, that and being beastly to purveyors of ill-considered shitverts.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: robgul on 20 March, 2023, 12:25:25 pm
I just use FB Marketplace to sell the furniture and stuff that I restore - every other feature is switched off . . . and I only access it using a browser on the PC that I don't use for anything else and a "seeded" email addy.  Seems to work for me.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 March, 2023, 12:49:33 pm
I do use it quite a bit. I was suckered in about 8 years ago when I stood for the Greens and that was their communication method.

Some years ago we used it (with the help of another forummer) to track down a couple of college friends whom we hadn't seen since 1977 and with whom we now keep in regular contact.

I also use it for other stuff, but I always wash my hands afterwards.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: rogerzilla on 20 June, 2023, 12:17:34 pm
When they say your account is deleted after 30 days, do they really mean it, or do they just sell everything on the dark web?

Also, they ask why you're leaving so I selected "I don't feel safe".  I don't feel safe from Facebook itself and its creepy-as-shit tracking (plus the unusable mobile site) but they just suggested ways to block Nasty People.  No, Zuck, YOU are the problem.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Kim on 20 June, 2023, 01:37:03 pm
When they say your account is deleted after 30 days, do they really mean it, or do they just sell everything on the dark web?

Also, they ask why you're leaving so I selected "I don't feel safe".  I don't feel safe from Facebook itself and its creepy-as-shit tracking (plus the unusable mobile site) but they just suggested ways to block Nasty People.  No, Zuck, YOU are the problem.

I can't imaging them actually deleting their precious data, shirley they'll just set a flag to disable the account.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: woollypigs on 20 June, 2023, 01:47:18 pm
I hope that by deleting all the post, likes, photo etc I had on farcebook. Then wait 3 months to then delete the account helped in making it harder for them to milk my online footprint there.
Title: Re: Are you on Facebook?
Post by: Ham on 11 August, 2023, 12:56:27 pm
Fucken Facebook.

"We care about your online safety" - only, there is no way to report a scammer. 

My  mail to fb support

Quote
There are two parts to my question.

The first part is, how do you report scammers on Facebook?

The second part is, why is it so hard to find out? You claim to care about the security of users but when following the instructions to report a user, there is no option to report a scammer, despite Meta operating a "Marketplace" platform that appears rife with scammers. I have created some listings for sale and within minutes I was contacted by two overt scammers, the first who asked for payment for "insurance" the second who sent a fake email trying to fake Paypal, both overt, absolute, scams.

I was able to identify them, but clearly some do not, so reporting these users and having the profile they are using (which is possibly a genuine profile, hacked) blocked very quickly seems a fundamental security process you could implement. I reported the profile, but there was no way I could identify it as a scammer, and I received a reply virtually immediately saying nothing would be done. In this instance the profiles of the scammers were a Peterfi Laszlo and sando sandino

So, please tell me why don't you care about the users of Facebook, sufficiently to take  any action against scammers ?