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

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."

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...

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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...........

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

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.)

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Do it Do it.

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

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

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.

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.

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.