Could someone explain FaceBook to me?

[TriPolar]

I don't know if this belongs in CS or somewhere else, but I'll start here.

I'm not on FaceBook. I don't want to be on FaceBook. I don't think I well ever be on FaceBook. I'm really good at resisting peer pressure, so I doubt it will happen.

What do you do on FaceBook? Why are so many people busy finding FB friends and then unfreinding them? Why do you want to put your entire life on public display? How often to you do this? Do you post words, pictures, what? And why? What does a FB page look like?

I may be good a resisting peer pressure, but I can be convinced to do something worthwhile. As an incentive I will offer anyone who convinces me to join FaceBook your choice of:

A. A maple smoked salmon loin
B. A fabulous apple pie
C. A chunk of rose granite I have in the backyard

This offer expires Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012 at midnight. Free shipping to the continental US only. Only Dopers are eligible. 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.

[Bryan Ekers]

Well, can you join just to play Battle Pirates, because I get a bonus for getting new players.

[Astral Rejection]

Here are a few compelling reasons: http://m.gizmodo.com/5828914/five-re...-join-facebook

When I was in college, my friends planned everything through Facebook. If I didn't have one, I probably would have had a much less active social life.

[CyclopticXander]

You can scratch the natural socialization itch in your PJs at home. Browsing your feed is a good time waster when you need one throughout the day. There's always something interesting to see like acticles to discuss with everyone, or you can get in a political debate. You're up on all sorts of real world social happenings that you would otherwise miss. You can stalk people. It's a good way so organize your photos and such. You can instant message chat with people. It's a good medium if you need to just vent about something or express an opinion and there will always be people to respond to it.

There are a lot of other ways it enhances my life, but those are just off the top of my head.

[ZipperJJ]

It's a passive way to engage with your friends.

Do you like watching TV? It's like watching a TV show that stars your friends. Or better yet, it's a Web comic that stars your friends. Why do you check on the Web comic every day? Well, to see what the characters are doing. Same reason to check Facebook every day - to see what your friends are doing.

I will say that IMHO the quality of your Facebook experience depends on the quality of your FB friends. I've got 173 friends. Probably 100 of them never post or interact. Then like 25 of them are related to me. The other 50 are people I've chosen to be a part of my Web comic. They're all like-minded with me, they all have a similar sense of humor as me. Some watch the same TV shows, some like the same sports teams, some I hang out with offline, some just think I'm neat. My "Web comic" is totally suited for me.

On the other hand I have friends who either have family members that post shit that bum them (my friends) out, or they friended people who are rude and/or dramatic or downers. I have friends who can't say things they'd like to say on FB because they have co-workers or relatives who'd freak out. Friends whose friends do nothing but post game shit to their news feed. Those people hate FB and can't see how anyone could like it. That's because the quality of their experience is dragged down by the quality of the characters in their comic.

As for putting your life out there...no one forces you to do or say anything. If you have something interesting to say, you say it. If you have a photo to share, you share it. If you like something your friend posts, you like it. You can comment on it. If you got nothing, stay mum.

It's not like by joining Facebook suddenly the Internet becomes privy to the contents of your fridge and your DVR and knows your daily schedule.

And the old "well if I want to contact my friends I'll CALL them" excuse well that's comparing apples to oranges. I'd think you were a right asshole if you called me any time your kid's team won a game, or you made something exotic for dinner or you liked an article you read. But if you just mention any of that stuff on Facebook I can scroll past it, or click "Like" or comment on it. We could even discuss it further, and maybe I could discuss it with your other friends. And now I know about it, and now 80 other people know about it, and we can all decide what to do with it, and no one had to talk to your boring ass on the phone. You see?

But still you don't need to be on FB. And if your friends are lame, you might not enjoy Facebook.

All that advice is free, too.

[grude]

FB is a pit of gossip and glurge and relationship drama, also you get to analyze what it means that someone didn't accept your friend request you made two hours ago.

No thank you!

[Becky2844]

Since we live 500 miles away from "home" (even tho we've lived here for over 15 years) it let's me keep in touch with old friends. Family is a given and we just agree to disagree. But I belong to some groups where we share the same interests and whenever I "check in," it's like slipping on a favorite coat. I don't post a whole lot in my "Status" but when I do it's usually YouTube music videos I like. That's so whenever I'm drinking, I can just go to my homepage and listen to some good music without having to search all over the place.

[manila]

Originally Posted by TriPolar

snip

I may be good a resisting peer pressure, but I can be convinced to do something worthwhile. As an incentive I will offer anyone who convinces me to join FaceBook your choice of:

A. A maple smoked salmon loin
B. A fabulous apple pie
C. A chunk of rose granite I have in the backyard

This offer expires Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012 at midnight. Free shipping to the continental US only. Only Dopers are eligible. 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.

Wow you should definitely put that offer up on facebook!

[Becky2844]

I forgot to say, I want the rock out of your backyard!

[kob09]

lol at the article link.. you can skype without having a facebook account

I refuse to join facebook for the simple reason that it is defined in the user rules that all content you put up on facebook is owned by facebook from that moment on and can be used by them (§2, first paragraph of the user rules) .. that makes it for me impossible to put up pictures or any data on facebook

[Johnny Bravo]

My "Facebook philosophy" is different than most people. My only friends on FB (with a very few exceptions) are people that I regularly hang out with in real life. I also don't seek out friends - my only friends on FB are people who have friended ME.

Should you join Facebook? IMHO, the only good reason to join Facebook is if you already have good friends who are active on Facebook.

If you've got buddies who are already there, you'll find Facebook vaguely entertaining/useful for the photo albums, event invitations, and the occasional interesting status update.

Some people let their entire social framework get subsumed in Facebook. I use Facebook as a very small peripheral experience, and it works very well for me.

[MsWhatsit]

Originally Posted by kob09

lol at the article link.. you can skype without having a facebook account

I refuse to join facebook for the simple reason that it is defined in the user rules that all content you put up on facebook is owned by facebook from that moment on and can be used by them (§2, first paragraph of the user rules) .. that makes it for me impossible to put up pictures or any data on facebook

I hate to tell you this, but the Straight Dope Message Board has the exact same policy. It was nice knowing you, though.

[Johnny Bravo]

I don't stress over that bit because everything I put up on Facebook goes up under a Creative Commons license anyway.

[Drain Bead]

Facebook helps me keep in touch with old friends who now live far away--it's great to be able to log in and see pictures of my best friend's kids, even though she lives in Texas and I live in Ohio. Their events tab makes it easier to plan parties--I can put up an event and send an invite to everyone, rather than having to call or e-mail a bunch of people. I can keep in touch with family. My co-workers and I vent in private messages all the time.

[corkboard]

I use it as a way to check out what is going on in the lives of people I don't have much opportunity to connect with, or that I want to keep tabs on from afar but don't really have enough interest in to interact with in person. I log on for five minutes while I eat my breakfast, read, scroll, and log off. Occasionally I'll post something interesting about my life, or if I have a witty comment in response to someone else's post, but I usually stay silent and observe. If it was shut down tomorrow, I'd probably shrug and find something else to occupy that part of my morning.

[Leaffan]

TriPolar, how old are you.

I just turned 50, and for my age group (in general) Facebook doesn't work. It just doesn't. Every now and again I log in and see an updated status or something, but it's boring as shit really.

Some friends wished me a happy birthday, because if you put your birth date in there your friends will apparently see a reminder or something. These birthday wishes appeared in my Gmail account, and I could read them there without logging into Facebook though.

Seriously, unless you're prepared to spend countless hours reading how "Dave" isn't feeling well today, and "Cathy" is at the cottage, it's pointless.

None of my friends are into political debates, religion, glurge or anything, so it's a really, really, really boring experience for me.

[Telemark]

Originally Posted by Leaffan

I just turned 50, and for my age group (in general) Facebook doesn't work. It just doesn't. Every now and again I log in and see an updated status or something, but it's boring as shit really.

I'm turning 49 this year. Facebook is my primary means of communicating with my friends and family. It works fine for our age group, IMO.

[jayjay]

Yeah, basically, if your Facebook is boring, it's not Facebook's fault. You just need more exciting friends.

[MsWhatsit]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Yeah, basically, if your Facebook is boring, it's not Facebook's fault. You just need more exciting friends.

My feeling also. "Ugh, Facebook is so boring and stupid." No, your friends are boring and stupid. Get better friends.

[Leaffan]

No. My friends are great. That's why my Facebook is boring. They have better things to do that sit around on a computer updating their status or proselytizing.

[twickster]

Moved Cafe Society --> IMHO.

[Anaamika]

I am not on Facebook....but I know some of the things I am missing out on. A lot of my circle of more casual acqauintances only post their events on FB, only invite on FB, only respond on FB. Since I am not, I literally don't get invited anymore. That was the price I paid.

[Hbns]

Originally Posted by TriPolar

I'm not on FaceBook. I don't want to be on FaceBook.

So why would you want to be convinced?

Facebook has around a 50% penetration rate amongst internet users in the US. But don't fret there are other industrialized nations whose populations are as paranoid and suspicious as you. Okay, okay, not paranoid and suspicious, rather you are concerned with privacy.

Germany is one. Only about a 28% penetration rate for Facebook. And they asked Google street view to leave and not come back. Poland and Romania have even lower penetration rates.

FACEBOOK USERS IN THE WORLD

[Hampshire]

Originally Posted by Drain Bead

Facebook helps me keep in touch with old friends who now live far away--it's great to be able to log in and see pictures of my best friend's kids, even though she lives in Texas and I live in Ohio.

Pretty much this.
Friends that live near me and I interact with a lot I'm not interested too much in what they put on facebook.
It's relatives and friends that live hundreds to thousands of miles away that I like to keep up on. I see pictures of nieces and nephews, friends kids, new houses, etc.
If I lived, grew up, and worked in a 50 mile radius and all my realtives and friends lived in this same radius I would probably have no use for facebook.

[MsWhatsit]

Originally Posted by Leaffan

No. My friends are great. That's why my Facebook is boring. They have better things to do that sit around on a computer updating their status or proselytizing.

Right, my point is that Facebook's content is user-provided. It isn't inherently boring or exciting or anything. If your friends are all out kayaking and saving cats from trees and whatever instead of posting on Facebook, that's not Facebook's fault. And fwiw I know several people in your age group who use FB fairly regularly. (They post little updates about their kayaking and kitten saving instead of calling each other to talk about it or whatever you olds normally do. )

[Enkel]

Originally Posted by kob09

lol at the article link.. you can skype without having a facebook account

I refuse to join facebook for the simple reason that it is defined in the user rules that all content you put up on facebook is owned by facebook from that moment on and can be used by them (§2, first paragraph of the user rules) .. that makes it for me impossible to put up pictures or any data on facebook

To be a bit nit picky. They don't own it. When you create something, you are the COPYRIGHT owner of your creation and you GRANT them the right to publish your posting and re-use it as they wish. IF they "owned" it, you could never re-use your own material.

As an example:

You create cool comic strip and post it to Facebook.

You've given Facebook the right to publish it (e.g. render it to the screens of the other users) and also reuse the materials as they see fit without any further payment.

You are still free to make and sell T-Shirts or postcards or what ever you want with the comic strip. You are still free to post that same comic strip where ever you please.

If Facebook "owned" the comic strip (as you wrote), you would have to pay Facebook to use your own comic strip. And as to the "well, what if Facebook makes T-Shirts from my comic strip?" -- IF they ever did such a thing, they'd be out of business pretty darn fast. They make their money (and a lot of it) by getting you to waste your time and energy on their site. Why would they throw that away over abusing intellectual property posted by a member?

[Telemark]

Originally Posted by Leaffan

They have better things to do that sit around on a computer updating their status or proselytizing.

My friends do all sorts of great things away from the computer. But they also post pictures, update their status with useful information, keep me up-to-date on their activities, and create/invite us to events. My friends are just more efficient than your friends, that's all.

[Inner Stickler]

Originally Posted by MsWhatsit

I hate to tell you this, but the Straight Dope Message Board has the exact same policy. It was nice knowing you, though.

Actually, the dope's policy is more draconian because they reserve their non-exclusive right to my postings perpetually. Once I take a photo off Facebook, they can't use it anymore. The dope doesn't even give me that level of control.

[Fake Tales of San Francisco]

It's a great way to keep in contact with people. Just this second a friend sent me a link to a book I might be interested in. It was just 99p on Kindle, and it looks good, so now I have something to read over the weekend!

That kind of thing wouldn't be quite as streamlined over the phone.

[msmith537]

Originally Posted by Leaffan

No. My friends are great. That's why my Facebook is boring. They have better things to do that sit around on a computer updating their status or proselytizing.

Like posting on an anonymous message board?


To me, saying Facebook is "boring" is like saying the telephone is boring or email is boring. For me, Facebook is a useful tool for helping to enhance my actual real world relationships. Much in the same way the telephone or email does. Many of my friends organize activities through Facebook. It's useful for keeping contact information up to date. And, of course, it's always fun sharing photos afterwards.

[Enderw24]

Sorry, no.

[Munch]

Originally Posted by TriPolar

Could someone explain FaceBook to me?

You know, this question gets posted on the board about once a month, and each time, the OP comes across as if not being on Facebook should garner him some sort of medal of honor. If you don't have friends who keep pestering you to be on Facebook (for ease of communication, ease of planning things, ease of picture sharing), then you don't really have any need to be on Facebook.

And if at this point you are still unaware of what Facebook is and does, I'm not sure bragging about that point is really all that advisable. (Not being on Facebook is the new "I don't even own a television" fake brag.)

[MsWhatsit]

Originally Posted by Munch

And if at this point you are still unaware of what Facebook is and does, I'm not sure bragging about that point is really all that advisable. (Not being on Facebook is the new "I don't even own a television" fake brag.)

And "I have a Facebook account but I only use it for email notifications. I don't even check it, honestly. Once a month, MAX" is the new "I have a TV but I only use it to watch PBS."

[Leaffan]

Originally Posted by msmith537

Like posting on an anonymous message board?


To me, saying Facebook is "boring" is like saying the telephone is boring or email is boring. For me, Facebook is a useful tool for helping to enhance my actual real world relationships. Much in the same way the telephone or email does. Many of my friends organize activities through Facebook. It's useful for keeping contact information up to date. And, of course, it's always fun sharing photos afterwards.

Yeah, but if none of your friends are using it to organize activities, or share photos, or do anything but update their damned status, it is indeed boring. Believe me.

I've been on Facebook for about 5 years and just last week updated my status: for the first time ever. I don't give a shit about my friends' status, and I know they feel the same about mine.

My friends organize activities through email, or the telephone! Therefore, these devices are not boring.

My family doesn't use Facebook either. I'm glad you're having fun though.

[Sam Lowry]

Originally Posted by Munch

You know, this question gets posted on the board about once a month, and each time, the OP comes across as if not being on Facebook should garner him some sort of medal of honor. If you don't have friends who keep pestering you to be on Facebook (for ease of communication, ease of planning things, ease of picture sharing), then you don't really have any need to be on Facebook.

And if at this point you are still unaware of what Facebook is and does, I'm not sure bragging about that point is really all that advisable. (Not being on Facebook is the new "I don't even own a television" fake brag.)

Right, I was thinking a sticky should be made for this topic.

[Johanna]

I do not have my life on public display on Facebook. I have my life displayed only to friends of my choice. Over 99% of my information there is inaccessible to the public.

When I was gaming on FB, I was scrupulous about deleting every game post once it was 24 hours old. I left the posts up that long for my gamer friends to pick up their stuff. But I don't like the massive clutter of hundreds of game posts in which anything else becomes lost. Clean up that crap, peoples, please. Visiting your page is like visiting the home of an old hoarder with decades of accumulated junk and newspapers making it difficult to find a path to even walk through it.

I'm a grandmother going on 53. I enjoy Facebook greatly. I like having friends and being part of society.

[Leaffan]

Originally Posted by Johanna

I enjoy Facebook greatly. I like having friends and being part of society.

Boy, there's an oxymoron for ya'!

[MsWhatsit]

Originally Posted by Leaffan

Boy, there's an oxymoron for ya'!

That was rude. Don't be rude to grandmas.

[SmellMyWort]

Originally Posted by Enderw24

Sorry, no.

Damn you!

[SaharaTea]

Facebook is exactly what YOU put into it. If you seldom use it because you think it's boring and stupid, guess what? It will be boring and stupid. You can share as much as information as you like and use it for the purposes you like.

My husband has chosen not to join Facebook because he thinks it's pointless. But he doesn't go around bragging about it or asking people to defend why they joined. To each their own.

[Johanna]

Originally Posted by MsWhatsit

That was rude. Don't be rude to grandmas.

Johanna likes this.

[Coustralee]

I only use an alias to read a couple of pages about stocks. The kind of thing better suited to a forum - im forever opening up little boxes. My friends and aquantances are all email

[suranyi]

Originally Posted by Munch

You know, this question gets posted on the board about once a month, and each time, the OP comes across as if not being on Facebook should garner him some sort of medal of honor. If you don't have friends who keep pestering you to be on Facebook (for ease of communication, ease of planning things, ease of picture sharing), then you don't really have any need to be on Facebook.

That's my situation. Nobody ever asks me to be on Facebook, so I see no reason to join. In fact, I pretty much only do social things with my wife, and I live with her.

Now, my wife is on Facebook and she uses it a lot. But then, she's got a ton of out-of-town friends. I don't.

[pravnik]

Originally Posted by Drain Bead

Facebook helps me keep in touch with old friends who now live far away--it's great to be able to log in and see pictures of my best friend's kids, even though she lives in Texas and I live in Ohio. Their events tab makes it easier to plan parties--I can put up an event and send an invite to everyone, rather than having to call or e-mail a bunch of people.

Both of these. I have a bunch of friends I knew in undergrad or law school that facebook is the main way we keep tabs on each other for births, marriages, funny stories, whatever. A huge group of my old friends from undergrad used it to organize a reunion, and those of us who played in bands back then played reunion shows for it. It was a complete blast. We had such a good time we're playing one more reunion show with another band later in the year and letting everyone know by facebook, which beats the heck out of our back in the day method of stapling flyers to telephone poles.

A few of my friends have had to delete their accounts for work or personal reasons and say they don't miss them, but I would. It's the easiest way to keep in regular touch with old friends. Besides, if interacting with your old and new friends on the internet doesn't sound appealing, why the heck are you interacting with a bunch of total strangers on a message board?

[suranyi]

Originally Posted by Astral Rejection

Here are a few compelling reasons: http://m.gizmodo.com/5828914/five-re...-join-facebook

When I was in college, my friends planned everything through Facebook. If I didn't have one, I probably would have had a much less active social life.

I understand why Facebook works for many people. My wife loves it, for example. But I don't need it myself. I can answer the points in that gizmondo article:

5. I don't want an online presence. I am very pleased that I can barely be found by Googling my name. Certainly, Google Image will not find any photographs of me.

4. I don't need a website. I have nothing to sell.

3. I already have a job.

2. I already have all the means of communication I need.

1. This is the main thing: I don't need to communicate with 750 million people. Generally, I only comunicate socially with five people outside of work: My wife, my son, my parents, and my sister. Two of them live in the same house as me.

Basically, I don't like to socialize. I leave that to my wife. I prefer to read and do crossword puzzles.

[TriPolar]

Random responses. You are still eligible for the prize even if I don't respond to your specificially.

Originally Posted by Bryan Ekers

Well, can you join just to play Battle Pirates, because I get a bonus for getting new players.

Actually not a bad reason.

Originally Posted by Astral Rejection

Here are a few compelling reasons: http://m.gizmodo.com/5828914/five-re...-join-facebook

See post #45

Originally Posted by grude

FB is a pit of gossip and glurge and relationship drama, also you get to analyze what it means that someone didn't accept your friend request you made two hours ago.

No thank you!

Are you, or you have you actually been on FB? Or is this just based on anecdotal evidence?

Originally Posted by manila

Wow you should definitely put that offer up on facebook!

How's the sense of humor level on FB? I don't find it that high in real life.

Originally Posted by Becky2844

I forgot to say, I want the rock out of your backyard!

If you pay the shipping, and nobody else wins it, or you'd be interested in a different piece of rose granite, I'll send it to you. Please specify a weight from around 20 lbs. or less. Note that at some small size it's no longer actually a piece of granite since it's a kind of aggregate rock.

Originally Posted by kob09

lol at the article link.. you can skype without having a facebook account

I refuse to join facebook for the simple reason that it is defined in the user rules that all content you put up on facebook is owned by facebook from that moment on and can be used by them (§2, first paragraph of the user rules) .. that makes it for me impossible to put up pictures or any data on facebook

Yes, I already have Skype, and I have concerns about content ownership. It already prevents me from discussing some things here on the Dope.

Originally Posted by Johnny Bravo

My "Facebook philosophy" is different than most people. My only friends on FB (with a very few exceptions) are people that I regularly hang out with in real life. I also don't seek out friends - my only friends on FB are people who have friended ME.

Should you join Facebook? IMHO, the only good reason to join Facebook is if you already have good friends who are active on Facebook.

See, there's the thing. I'm already well connected on line with my tech oriented friends, and my non-tech friends are mostly not on.

Originally Posted by Leaffan

TriPolar, how old are you.

I just turned 50, and for my age group (in general) Facebook doesn't work. It just doesn't. Every now and again I log in and see an updated status or something, but it's boring as shit really.

Some friends wished me a happy birthday, because if you put your birth date in there your friends will apparently see a reminder or something. These birthday wishes appeared in my Gmail account, and I could read them there without logging into Facebook though.

Seriously, unless you're prepared to spend countless hours reading how "Dave" isn't feeling well today, and "Cathy" is at the cottage, it's pointless.

None of my friends are into political debates, religion, glurge or anything, so it's a really, really, really boring experience for me.

I'm 56 and that's a big part of it I think. If I were younger I might align my life around social media, but it's not what I've done and so I'm hesitant to adapt to this when there are so many other things I rather adapt to.

Originally Posted by Hbns

So why would you want to be convinced?

I don't want to be convinced, but I'm willing to be convinced. I have 0 FB experience, so maybe I'm missing something.

Originally Posted by Enderw24

Sorry, no.

Points for that.

Originally Posted by Munch

You know, this question gets posted on the board about once a month, and each time, the OP comes across as if not being on Facebook should garner him some sort of medal of honor. If you don't have friends who keep pestering you to be on Facebook (for ease of communication, ease of planning things, ease of picture sharing), then you don't really have any need to be on Facebook.

And if at this point you are still unaware of what Facebook is and does, I'm not sure bragging about that point is really all that advisable. (Not being on Facebook is the new "I don't even own a television" fake brag.)

If you're tired of threads like this then don't open them. Otherwise come up with better snark than an a rolleyes thingy.

The television thing is not fair. It's like owning a television and not watching Lost because you aren't interested in it. I've been online steadily since the late 70s, I don't appreciate technoobs calling me snotty.

Originally Posted by Johanna

I do not have my life on public display on Facebook. I have my life displayed only to friends of my choice. Over 99% of my information there is inaccessible to the public.

When I was gaming on FB, I was scrupulous about deleting every game post once it was 24 hours old. I left the posts up that long for my gamer friends to pick up their stuff. But I don't like the massive clutter of hundreds of game posts in which anything else becomes lost. Clean up that crap, peoples, please. Visiting your page is like visiting the home of an old hoarder with decades of accumulated junk and newspapers making it difficult to find a path to even walk through it.

I'm a grandmother going on 53. I enjoy Facebook greatly. I like having friends and being part of society.

Now this is the part people aren't talking about. I don't know anything about FB. I have no idea what's involved in keeping stuff private or public, or what kind of maintenance is required to do that. If your description wasn't dissuading me, I'd put you in the top spot right now.

Also, sorry to hear your kids couldn't control themselves. Or happy to hear it if you like being a grandma

[Munch]

The television thing is not fair. It's like owning a television and not watching Lost because you aren't interested in it. I've been online steadily since the late 70s, I don't appreciate technoobs calling me snotty.

You're right - the television thing isn't fair. What you're doing is the equivalent of responding to the "I don't even own a television" guy with "what's a television?".

[Johnny Bravo]

Then my position is that you should stay away from Facebook!

What do I win for helping you to maintain your position?

[etv78]

Facebook is GREAT for people who would otherwise have problems communicating with people/spending RL time with them.

[Telemark]

Originally Posted by etv78

Facebook is GREAT for people who would otherwise have problems communicating with people/spending RL time with them.

It's also great for people who spend a lot of time interacting with people IRL.