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

[wildwoosi.livejournal.com]

I went to Facebook because it seemed like all of my friends were going there, and then I joined up to be available to them and found everyone else already there - including my biological family and kids, so it's one place for me to post where everyone sees (except you... :)

Found this just at random about "FaceBook holdouts): http://www.slate.com/id/2208678/?GT1=38001

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Um, we ARE friend on FB.

As far as seeing what you post, I'm not sure how to see whatcha post unless I happen to wander over to your page when I'm on-line, as there's so bleeding much going on. Oh, mebbe you're saying you don't want me to see what you post? I'm confused...

[wildwoosi.livejournal.com]

I was saying "except you" since you've said you don't like it - guess I was assuming that meant you wouldn't be using it much going forward. Facebook does have a ton of noise - I've turned a lot of it off, but the little applications where people send you a flower can be a little annoying and I have no idea what the point is...

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Well, I made this post in an attempt to figure out how to use it w/out going crazy, to help learn what it's good for (for me). I've turned a mess of it off as well. Will you likely be using it for big posts or l'il daily whassups and the like? Will you be using LJ less as a result, do you think? I'd like to keep in touch w/you and whassup w/you, but not at the expense of having to wade through tons of carp everyday. I think there're Friends Lists or Groups or something (similar to LJ filters), so mebbe that's one way to go. Part of it is that I'm not super-familiar/comfie w/tech stuff and don't want to devote too much time/energy to figuring stuff out unless I'm gonna use it and it's gonna be worthwhile. Any thoughts/tips/hints/suggestions you have'd be appreciated. :-)

And yes, we DO look fab (in those pics and in real life, too)!

[wildwoosi.livejournal.com]

I can't see myself getting off of LJ unless it dies an untimely death on its own - it's too good at the friend-blogging thing.

I don't know much about FaceBook myself. Figured out how to turn off all of the e-mail notifications so I can just check it. Don't know if you can blog on it. There are some people on FaceBook that I don't want seeing everything about my life...

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Heh, luckily when I set up my FB account (a year ago during the Big Flood of '07 when I ended up at Freeple's before returning to CopperMoon) I set up a filter for all e-mails from FB, which I've pretty much just ignored. Just a little while ago I scaled back my e-mails so'll now check it now 'n' again, to see just the stuff I want.

And yeah, now that I've got nieces and a nephew and kids of friends who've friended me on FB, I'm also interested in keeping my private life outta there. "It's Complicated ;-)

Looking forward to seeing you Sun!

[vonvoncake.livejournal.com]

I'm there for the same reason as Woosi...my middle nieces both hounded me until I joined and then the rest of the family got into the act then the church decided seemly en masse to join...I was outnumbered and caved.

LJ is for *friends*, a place where I can share my whole life and not edit it for public (read that family) consumption. It's a place where I can think aloud and get good feedback from people I trust, where I can lose it and know I will be caught. It's the best substitute I've found for the telephone and easier to do at work!

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Thx for your feedback. And oh, yeah, so right on w/the last line!