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

[deviantgrrrl.livejournal.com]

I still have an Orkut and Friendster account, but neither has been checked in years. I am very, very anti-MySpace. Truly, it's everything that was wrong with the internet in the late 90s: blinky, flashy, I'll force my music and ads on you. Um, no thank you. And I don't want to deal with the inherent drama of MySpace, like ranking friends and the question of whether to friend someone or not. I've got to say that my negative attitude about MySpace has carried over to FaceBook, which I have never even glanced at. I'm over most social networking, except LJ.

Why do I like LJ? Well, it makes me feel like I'm still a part of the lives of many that I don't see or speak with often. What do I dislike? The drama of whether to friend or unfriend someone. I've also found that it's really hard sometimes to shake an impression (positive or negative) of someone based on a post or series of posts. I'm working hard to keep in mind that LJ is full of "this is what I feel at the moment" posts, which are not necessarily home truths.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Thanks for responding - it's good to hear your voice (as it were) and thoughts. Still hoping you can make it here in '09 - there's lots to see and do and experience and methinks you'd have a good time. *hugs* Oh, I've penciled in MEF for this year, FYI...not inked in, but certainly a possibility.