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

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Yeah - the constant check or you'll miss it sorta sux. Turning off most applications and opting out of ALL games, quizzes, gift-giving/receiving, and the like has made it a lot easier for me to handle. There's a notification thingie down on the lower left that'll show me everything I've missed since I last looked, but that's not new stuff that people post, but just new stuff they've added to stuff I've done (I think). Still trying to figure it out w/out it being too much of a time-suck. Good to know when to back off b'c of compulsiveness!

Do tell if'n you learn any general tricks/strategies through your gardening website. (Specifics not so useful, but things like "turn off all quizzes" or an equivalent would be helpful.)

Thx for your thoughts on this. See you in a week and a day!

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

So far with the gardening site I've learned I'm best if I just check "recent forum posts' and avoid looking at everyone's status updates, etc. Sadly, being in beta, their group activity isn't notifying yet even when one is subscribed, so reading the "recent activity" list (which includes everything) is the easiest way to see if anyone's commented there, as they're a different thing than forum posts. So, right now, it's a training of will...