# Facebook, how does it work **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2011, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642 "2011-02-08T13:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mrpayday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@mrpayday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrpayday)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/1 "2011-02-08T13:06:26Z")
I understand magnets but facebook has got me confused. i send a lot of invites to people who used to know me 20 years ago can they all see my technophobia from sayin hello to some guy? i seriously don’t know what i’m doing with this facebook stuff ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/2 "2011-02-08T13:59:24Z")
> [@](#): > > i send a lot of invites to people who used to know me 20 years ago Stop doing that. If you don’t know “how Facebook works” you don’t need to be trying to communicate with people you don’t communicate. Stick with your current friends for now. > [@](#): > > can they all see my technophobia from sayin hello to some guy? I don’t know what that means. > [@](#): > > i seriously don’t know what i’m doing with this facebook stuff Use it to connect with your friends, organize parties/get-togethers, share interesting links/articles. Do not post to it more than anyone else you know. In fact - don’t post to it more than the top 5 contributors you’re friends with, especially since you don’t know what you’re doing. And don’t sign up for any games - that’s a sure way to quickly become “that guy” on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/3 "2011-02-08T14:20:29Z")
First, what do you expect from Facebook? It is, basically, a way to keep in touch with friends. You post something, and other people can read it. Who those other people are is dependent upon your security / privacy settings. I also do not know what your “technophobia” comment might mean. Could you expand upon it? And why are you pestering all these people you haven’t seen in twenty years? ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/4 "2011-02-08T16:04:38Z")
Not very well. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/5 "2011-02-08T16:24:52Z")
i think one of the genuinely useful aspects of facebook is to reconnect with people you’ve lost contact with. friends you talk to on a regular basis… you really have no curiosity as to how what their work/contact info would be. i would send requests with a short little message saying “hey there, remember me? joe schmoe from summer camp! yeah, finally gave in to fb. what are you up to?” if they accept, they accept. if they don’t? don’t sweat it. even if it’s personal, it’s not serious. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/6 "2011-02-08T16:38:46Z")
If you understand magnets then you should understand Facebook. It’s the same principle. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/7 "2011-02-08T16:57:04Z")
It doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/8 "2011-02-08T17:06:33Z")
It’s probably your upper frammis valve. If you’re using non-reticulated splines on a late-model upper frammis valve, you’re going to have no end of trouble on Facebook. Go check and make sure your splines are properly reticulated. That oughta clear things right up. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/9 "2011-02-09T01:55:54Z")
Moved Cafe Society --\> IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-how-does-it-work/570642/10 "2011-02-09T03:47:53Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > And why are you pestering all these people you haven’t seen in twenty years? Because that’s what facebook is for? I already know how to reach my current friends. Seriously, when I joined facebook, most of the friend requests I got right off the bat were people I went to high school with. Of course, it was a few months before the reunion, but still. Another thing facebook is good for is to scare the hell out of you by showing you exactly how many of your classmates have found Jesus, and are very, very eager to introduce you. I’ve hidden probably half of the people I went to high school with, at this point. And very honestly, just a few days ago I noticed that one of facebook’s “people you may know” was an old friend I haven’t been in touch with in nearly twenty years, and now we’re getting together to catch up tomorrow. That’s how facebook CAN work. 🙂