HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

#1

Rating: 0

2/26/09 at 5:53pm

DaveF
offline

Joined: March 2001
Location: Rochester, NY
Post Count: 6,315

I see the new announcement that HTF has a Facebook page. The ad rhetorically asks, "Who doesn’t have their own facebook page these days?"

Ummm, me?

I feel so out of it. I still can't fathom the point of Facebook and MySpace. I looked at MySpace a once or twice times...I felt blessed to escape with my eyesight. It was a hideous experience, a Twilight Zone location filled with angsty 20-somethings fighting for who could have the ugliest page. I've not summoned the courage to test Facebook.

Should I just give up, stoically accept my future, and yell at the kids to get off my lawn? Or should I get a My/Face page and join HTF and all the angsty 20-somethings online?

#2

Rating: 0

2/26/09 at 5:58pm

Cameron Yee
online

Joined: May 2002
Post Count: 6,931

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Facebook is much easier on the eyes as there aren't many apps to "customize" it to your liking. I do have a Facebook friend who was promoting something to do that (I think he's involved in some kind of online "business"), but I posted a facetious comment about that being the reason I left MySpace. He summarily removed my comment.

Facebook is the hot thing now; who knows if it will be in a few years? It's not do or die. Although, my 80-year old father is on it (along with his 80-year old best friend), so you really have no excuse about "being too old."

He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"

#3

Rating: 0

2/26/09 at 6:10pm

Jay H
Jay
offline

Joined: March 1999
Location: NJ
Post Count: 5,237

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Do not join facebook if you don't want to touch base with zillions of schmoes you knew in high school, or elementary school!!!

Jay

*who has a facebook page full of hiking friends and old school acquaintances...

You are the crispy noodle in the vegetarian salad of life

#4

Rating: 0

2/26/09 at 7:35pm

drobbins
Dave
offline

Joined: December 2004
Location: KY
Post Count: 1,773

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Quote:

"Who doesn’t have their own facebook page these days?"

I don't either. I don't think I even visited the site until I clicked on the HTF link.

Cave Country Weather

#5

Rating: 0

2/26/09 at 8:05pm

TravisR
offline

Joined: November 2004
Location: The basement of the FBI building
Post Count: 12,733

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I don't have a Facebook page (I do have a My Space page that I rarely look at so social networking sites really aren't my thing) but I have a feeling that I'm/we're in the minority.

#6

Rating: 0

2/26/09 at 8:23pm

Ockeghem
Scott D. Atwell
offline

Joined: February 2007
Location: Michigan (U.S.A.)
Post Count: 3,060

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I don't use Facebook or MySpace, but we had to take a workshop or two on both at the university so that we could field questions from students on them.

#7

Rating: 0

2/26/09 at 8:46pm

Yee-Ming
Yee Ming Lim
offline

Joined: April 2002
Location: 'on a little street in Singapore'
Post Count: 4,000

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Neither do I. Some of my friends do, though, and they rave about getting in touch with old friends.

#8

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 12:27am

Michael Elliott
offline

Joined: July 2003
Post Count: 5,303

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I always thought both were just for hooking up so since I've got a current girlfriend I don't use either of them much anymore. Whenever a friends tells me they're single I always point them to online sites like those.

IMDB Reviews

#9

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 1:09am

Paul D G
offline

Joined: December 2001
Post Count: 907

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I agree with the OP - I don't understand the desire of social networking unless I'm in high school. However for the past month or so everything around me is getting associated with Facebook. HTF is the fourth thing that's not a specific person. An old friend I recently became reacquainted with has suggested more than once that I needed to get a Facebook page. It's gotten to the point where I'm pondering it. I just don't need another reminder I have no friends.

HA HA ha ha heh hrmm

#10

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 4:17am

Ed Moxley
offline

Joined: May 2003
Location: Eastern NC
Post Count: 1,756

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I signed up awhile back, to keep in touch with nieces and nephew, on a more regular basis. With 3 nieces and 1 nephew, I figured some time online with them, and their interests, was better than a lot of time on the telephone. I don't think they'd want to spend a lot of time on the phone either. Some of the quizzes and other stuff is fun to do with them. For me, it's just something to do, to spend long distance time, with friends and family...........

Samsung HL61A750 (LED DLP)            Onkyo TX-SR805
Oppo BDP-83 Blu ray                                  Polk Audio LSi9
Polk Audio LSiC                                  Sony SS-MB100H
JBL PSW1200 (Sub)                        ...

#11

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 5:10am

Holadem
offline

Joined: November 2000
Post Count: 8,847

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveF

I feel so out of it. I still can't fathom the point of Facebook and MySpace.

I used to feel that way. Had a MySpace page left unused for years. Till I joined Facebook. I am now hopelssly addicted. Having been there, I understand your puzzlement enough to know that there is simply no way to explain it to you in a way that would even begin to make sense (I expressed similar feelings on this very forum a couple of years ago.) You have to experience it for yourself. Yeah, sounds dramatically cliche, but it's true. (and I still detest MySpace. The ugly pages you describe are only a part of it.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Elliott

I always thought both were just for hooking up so since I've got a current girlfriend I don't use either of them much anymore.

Ugh. You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. But OK.

Having lived in a few places, my friends are all over the world. I used to be terrible at keeping in touch with people. No longer.

--
H

#12

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 5:49am

DaveF
offline

Joined: March 2001
Location: Rochester, NY
Post Count: 6,315

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameron Yee

Facebook is the hot thing now; who knows if it will be in a few years? It's not do or die. Although, my 80-year old father is on it (along with his 80-year old best friend), so you really have no excuse about "being too old."

I've become more intrigued after learning that some acquaintances who are decidedly non-technophiles now have FaceBook accounts. I'm seeing it branching far past the original college crowd and into the broader world.

As for connecting with long lost friends, my experience is a LLF finds me, sends an email, we chat back and force for a few days, and then lapse back into LLF-dom. I don't see how Facebook changes this dynamic, but maybe it will.

So I've got the weekend free. Maybe I'll make a FaceBook account.

(On a side note, to my amusement, LinkedIn is all the rage these days in my professional circles. I ought to update my LI profile this weekend too.)

#13

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 6:46am

Jay H
Jay
offline

Joined: March 1999
Location: NJ
Post Count: 5,237

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Well, as far as LLF goes, the email back and forth usually does subside after a while, but if you're an active FB user, your status updates, notes, links get shared on friend's homepage so it depends on how active you and that LLF are, one can really keep in touch with them via status updates and the mindless banter.. I mean chit chat.

..then there is myFarm.

Which cracks me up to no end. Virtual farming.. go figure...

Jay

You are the crispy noodle in the vegetarian salad of life

#14

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 11:42am

Will_B
online

Joined: March 2001
Post Count: 3,971

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I like Facebook. When you sign in, your page basically has headlines from all your friends. So it is like a newsletter. Except the headlines might be really minor -- "Jenn ate ice cream today, mmm!" may be what Jenn wrote, for example -- so it is easy to glance at and have an immediate sense of how everyone you know is doing. It is useful in a world where we live apart.

Facebook is also excellent for organizing an event like a party, since it has an invite and RSVP system. Totally easy to inform everyone of a plan that way. Assuming everyone you know is on Facebook -- which they should be!

MySpace in contrast is terrible for anyone *except* bands, which can take great advantage of the built-in music player to provide visitors with samples of their work. It's one of the easiest ways to learn about a band.

"Scientists are saying the future is going to be far more futuristic than they originally predicted." -Krysta Now

#15

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 2:49pm

MarkHastings
Mark
offline

Joined: January 2003
Post Count: 12,009

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I avoided FB for a while because I was so disgusted with the garbage dump that is MySpace, but I should be ashamed of myself for comparing the two sites.

Ever since I joined, I've been pleasantly surprised at how much I like it. I've been hooking up with friends that I haven't seen or heard from in decades! It's great to hear from these people again and see what they're up to (and where they ended up).

And as far as the nay sayer here, what I'm finding is that Facebook is a lot like the After Hours lounge, with the one crucial difference being; I like everyone I communicate with on Facebook

#16

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 2:52pm

MarkHastings
Mark
offline

Joined: January 2003
Post Count: 12,009

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveF

As for connecting with long lost friends, my experience is a LLF finds me, sends an email, we chat back and force for a few days, and then lapse back into LLF-dom. I don't see how Facebook changes this dynamic, but maybe it will.

The thing with FB is, most people are so addicted that there's ALWAYS action going on. So much so that I find it hard to keep up. Of course there are some friends of mine that haven't really contacted me since I added them as a friend, but as Will mentions, you can always see their activity and you can always make comments back and forth to each other, so you really never feel like you're losing touch...unless they never sign in to check their pages.

#17

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 3:14pm

Holadem
offline

Joined: November 2000
Post Count: 8,847

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkHastings

And as far as the nay sayer here, what I'm finding is that Facebook is a lot like the After Hours lounge, with the one crucial difference being; I like everyone I communicate with on Facebook

Perfectly put! Seriously, I was struggling to express the way you have your bubble of friends and family (or whoever is on your page -- basically people you know), yet you can interact in limited fashion with people beyond that (friends' friends.) But yeah, that ^^^ is pretty much it.

--
H

#18

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 3:14pm

Steve Christou
offline

Joined: April 2000
Location: Deepest Darkest London, England
Post Count: 12,028

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I'm not much of an internet person (this is the only forum I frequent) so I've never really been interested in the whole myspace facebook thing, and I think it's really for young people isn't it? Anyway I spotted this news story a few minutes ago and thought I should post it here -

Facebook users with hundreds of online 'friends' only have a handful of TRUE pals, claims study | Mail Online

Dave hören... auf, Wille stoppen Sie Dave..., Stoppen Sie Dave..., Mein Gehirn geht..., Ich bin Gefühl es..., Ich bin Gefühl es..., Ich bin ängstlich Dave...

#19

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 4:09pm

Greg_S_H
online

Joined: May 2001
Location: North Central Texas
Post Count: 11,748

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Can you turn off the frequent updates from talkative friends? I'm not on FB and don't plan to be, but my sister friended some people who update every time they make a ham sandwich. She may know if you can silence that to where you only read their updates if you want to, but I'm just curious.

#20

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 4:18pm

DavidJ
offline

Joined: July 2001
Post Count: 1,361

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Christou

I'm not much of an internet person (this is the only forum I frequent) so I've never really been interested in the whole myspace facebook thing, and I think it's really for young people isn't it? Anyway I spotted this news story a few minutes ago and thought I should post it here -

Facebook users with hundreds of online 'friends' only have a handful of TRUE pals, claims study | Mail Online

Thanks for posting that link. I read and forwarded the article to my wife who is an avid Facebook user.

I tend to be in the minority in our circle of friends and where I work since I don't use Facebook. I'm holding out and am probably just being stubborn in doing so, but it is not like I need something else to take up my time.

Facebook was originally just college students, but its popularity and use has been spreading. And not just in the number of users-- its demographics are changing as well. One of the latest groups to show significant growth is grandparents. My mother-in-law has recently gotten involved. It is a great way for her to share pictures of her grandchild with friends. In fact, sharing pictures of family and friends seems to be one if the biggest reasons its popularity has been growing. I know it has played a significant part of the popularity in my age group.

#21

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 4:19pm

Cameron Yee
online

Joined: May 2002
Post Count: 6,931

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Quote:

Can you turn off the frequent updates from talkative friends? I'm not on FB and don't plan to be, but my sister friended some people who update every time they make a ham sandwich. She may know if you can silence that to where you only read their updates if you want to, but I'm just curious.

There's a feature where you can tell it to show more or less from a particular person. When she's on her home page, each update has an "Option" icon where she can set seeing more or less.

He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"

#22

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 6:26pm

Greg_S_H
online

Joined: May 2001
Location: North Central Texas
Post Count: 11,748

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Cool, thanks. That would be a necessity for me. I may want to catch up with LLFs, but I don't want to know every single thing going on in their lives. A friend of mine friended my sister, and now she's more up to date on him than I am.

#23

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 6:33pm

TonyD
offline

Joined: December 1999
Location: where ever my wife lets me, Mostly near Philly
Post Count: 11,212

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I've had a facebook for years, but havent used it much until
a few months ago.

It has helped me get in touch with friends that I havent
seen on over 20 years.

I've also found "groups" started by people who lived in the neighborhood were I grew up and it's fun seeing these old names
saying things like remember the old bakery and the candy store on the corner.
btw I grew up in Philly and my neighborhood was Kensington.

Also , while it was a few years before my time this area of Philly had
at one time as many as 8-10 movie theaters all within a few miles of each other.

#24

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 7:11pm

DaveF
offline

Joined: March 2001
Location: Rochester, NY
Post Count: 6,315

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Christou

... I think it's really for young people isn't it?

That's what I thought. But last week I was talking with some acquaintances. One is a 50-ish mother who's on FaceBook to stay in touch with children and nieces and such. Another is a late-30s guy -- definitely now an internet forum guy -- who uses Facebook to post photos of his travels for friends and family to see. Another friend, 40-ish and living in LA, is on Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends around the country and world; and probably so his in-laws in Taiwan can better know what's happening with their granddaugher.

So I realize I really should set up an account this weekend.

#25

Rating: 0

2/27/09 at 8:01pm

TonyD
offline

Joined: December 1999
Location: where ever my wife lets me, Mostly near Philly
Post Count: 11,212

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Do it Do it.

#26

Rating: 0

2/28/09 at 5:23am

mattCR
online

Joined: October 2005
Post Count: 2,198

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I don't. There is a reason for that.

#27

Rating: 0

2/28/09 at 6:58am

MarkHastings
Mark
offline

Joined: January 2003
Post Count: 12,009

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Here's another reason why I like Facebook:

I have some fairly close acquaintances (especially spouses of friends) that I interact with (in person) a few times a year. A good friend of mine has a HUGE 4th of July party every year and about 30-40 of my friends/acquaintances show up. When we were all in our early 20's, we'd all hang out at the local bar every Friday night, but now that everyone is in their late 30's (most with kids), we don't get to see each other that much. Some of these people I don't hang out with outside of these parties. It's nice to make small talk with these people online so that when I DO see them, I have a little more to say to them. Facebook is like a virtual bar, it's helping me maintain closeness to people I otherwise never would talk to more than a couple times a year.

And also, as someone else mentioned, it's nice to stay in touch with family members that I only see around family events. I love my cousin to death and have a blast with her when my family gets together, but outside of a family setting, what does a 39 year old male have in common with a 20 year old female (who is realted)? I would never call her up to just "chat", but I do chat with her on FB.

The point is, Facebook is used for lots of things. Some people use it as a teen/gossip network, others use it as a way to catch up on friends/family/acquaintances they haven't heard from in years (and otherwise never would), and others use it to help solidify friendships that they'd never be able to do outside of the internet.

I've definitely fallen into the later 2 myself.

#28

Rating: 0

2/28/09 at 8:13am

DaveF
offline

Joined: March 2001
Location: Rochester, NY
Post Count: 6,315

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Ok, so I've joined. Strange thing, seeing long-forgotten names from high school -- some frankly I'm content not renewing any contact with.

And I joined the HTF group.

I need to a get picture up; I need one for LinkedIn as well.

#29

Rating: 0

2/28/09 at 9:49am

Bryan X
Bryan
offline

Joined: February 2003
Location: Ohio
Post Count: 3,195

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

I joined Facebook a few months ago. It really is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family who aren't close geographically. I've joined the HTF group too.

#30

Rating: 0

2/28/09 at 10:21am

Ronald Epstein
Ronald Epstein
offline

Joined: July 1997
Post Count: 20,194

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Actually, I joined Facebook for the first time two months ago.

Was really into it for a while, but sadly, have become too busy to
really deal with it anymore.

I will say this --- I found friends from High School that I have not
talked to in nearly 30 years.

Not sure what we are going to do with the HTF Facebook. We are
new to this social networking thing and slowly easing ourselves into it.

Ronald J Epstein
Home Theater Forum co-owner
Email me at: repstein@hometheaterforum.com
To View My Massive DVD Collection Click Here
HTF Rules and Regulations

Tags

Other Threads

Recent Reviews

What Users Want

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Re: HTF on Facebook, or, I'm so behind the times

Got Facebook?

Already a User?

Create a New Account

Recent Discussions

Recent Reviews

Recent Wikis