On On-Line Social Networking

[mlerules]

I've been ruminating on the purposes and goals of on-line social networking recently as I've been wandering around in FaceBook these past few days. I have some thoughts that'll likely spill/spew forth here before long. This pretty well sums up what I do NOT care for about it.

Why do YOU use FaceBook and/or LJ and/or MySpace and/or whatEVER? What goals do you have in using it/whatEVER (if any)? What needs do you hope to fulfill/have fulfilled? What do you want to, hope to, and actually GET out of it? What's it FOR, in your opinion? (And what's IT?) I'm curious and'd really like to know, as it might help shed some light on these issues for myself. (And because generating and engaging in at least some slightly more in-depth discussion/conversation is something I value and prefer LJ for over FB, at least so far.)

Comments

[lunaticbubbles.livejournal.com]

Out of all the social networking sites, I prefer LJ. I've gotten more use out of it for networking as well as general and in-depth conversation. It makes me feel connected to friends that I don't get to see often. Seeing as I'm not a fan of phones and it's hard for me to stay in communication cause of my own insecurities of thinking folks don't want to talk to me. So LJ provides this space where I can comment and communicate in a manner that isn't stressful or constantly rubbing my insecurities. For the most part anyway. And on the flip side, it also allows my friends to get a glimpse of what's going on in my head with things that I don't normally communicate in person. I like the safety of my computer screen when I'm rambling my thoughts that I'm not comfortable talking about on a one on one type scenario.

Facebook is neat cause it seems a lot of people I use to know are on it an prefer it over the others. Also I find it easier to find/contact people I'm looking for. But at the same time I can make it REALLY difficult for folks to find me if that's what I want.

I can't stand myspace, I have one and don't at the same time and I have one or two friends on there that use it as a means to communicate with me. I made one up for the ferret because I did not want people finding me on there. I avoided it for so many years and just ignore it for the most part unless I'm pinged.

Twitter is fun because I don't have to devote my time an energy for a full post of updates and can do it on the run. It's also fun/entertaining to see what other folks write from mundane silly things to the "OMG READ THIS" type stuff.

Then there are a couple of others where I have accounts and are very group/interest specific. Again, don't really go on unless pinged.

Sooooo... That's a whole lot of stuff that I got carried away with. I guess in order of preference it's LJ, Twitter, and Facebook. The other's I don't use with much frequency at all.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts/feelings about this w/me. It really helps me to get outta my head and learn what other folks're doing/thinking 'bout all this. HEE re: the ferret's MySpace!

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

Seeing as I'm not a fan of phones and it's hard for me to stay in communication cause of my own insecurities of thinking folks don't want to talk to me.

Amen! THIS