I'm not on Facebook
Or Twitter, or whatever's hot this week. So could someone let me know when the revolt against the insanity is starting? I wouldn't want to miss it.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
For readers of the Daily Courier in Prescott, Arizona. Comment and discuss. Be nice, now.
A local newspaper is important to holding a community together, so it carries the responsibility of making good choices for the community. I'm an optimist, and I figure that if we become more critical readers and hold the editors accountable for what they're doing, including when they're doing right, we can gradually help make it better.
Who's this nut?
- Steven Ayres
- Professional writer, editor, musician and communications professional in Prescott AZ
Muggs archive
- Radical Bipartisans Stage a Coup
- Cracking open the door
- Post Office Needs New Routes
- Tarbabies
- It's Not the Guns, It's the Fear
- The Ongoing Medical Buzzkill
- Holiday Cheer at the End of the World
- Escape from the Poll-Work Chain Gang
- Mixed Bag o' Props
- Guns Do Kill People
- Back to Primary School
- Tapped Out
- Lockdown at the Orthodoxy Asylum
- Making Sense of Immigration
- Losing the war on women
- Getting our heads out of our past
- Older Columns
- Home
Ignorance breeds monsters to fill up the vacancies of the soul that are unoccupied by the verities of knowledge.
— Horace Mann
One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
— Niccolo Machiavelli
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
— Horace Mann
One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
— Niccolo Machiavelli
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Beware the bearers of FALSE gifts & their BROKEN PROMISES. Much PAIN but still time. BELIEVE. There is GOOD out there.We OPpose DECEPTION.
— Coded message embedded in the "Chilbolton Face" crop design, 2002
Things are more like they are now than ever.
— Gerald R. Ford
Things are more like they are now than ever.
— Gerald R. Ford
Daily Shredder
Trust, but Verify
- ► 10 (305)
- ► 09 (345)
6 comments:
Never underestimate the human capacity for narcissism! Forbes recently ran a piece about three guys who launched a site described as a "Facebook for the dead." That got my attention since that's what I've always said I'd have to be (dead) before anyone found me on one of these sites.
pieinearI was encouraged by some friends and family to start a Facebook page. I did, and that was the last thing I did with facebook. What an intrusive instrument. It contacted everybody in my address book letting them know I was on Facebook. They were already in my address book, I could send them an e-mail any time I wanted. I guess it is just convenient for some people, but, I already had my own network set up. So, I may be an old fart so I'll communicate the old fashioned way, by e-mail.
My first response when the subject of FB or Twitter or another online network entity comes up in conversation is that can be a colossal waste of time. That being said, I confess, guiltily, that yes, I have a FB account. It was curiosity at first. Then I found myself getting in touch with people that I hadn't seen or heard from in decades. Most of that was positive. Most notably was friend from high school and his wife, both of whom I was close to 30+ years ago. We lost touch shortly after graduating because of military service and general moving around. We got to talk on the phone a few times after the initial contact and even though we were a few thousand miles away, I believe I was able to help him through a few tough weeks after his wife had heart surgery. About six weeks after we first got in touch, he was dead from an auto accident. I'm glad that there were at least those few weeks of connection.
I know that the creators of FB aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. I do have concerns about the accessibility of personal information by less than scrupulous people out there. My biggest disappointment with FB is that I envisioned more personal exchanges with friends and family long lost. But that's not really FB's fault is it? I'd say about 80% of the people that I've reconnected with "communicate" or stay in touch by playing the games like Farmville, Happy Aquarium or God knows what else, and then sending out notices of their "accomplishments". I don't know how many times that I've resisted the urge to send out a reply saying that I don't give a rat's petootie about your Superpokes, snowball fights or the load of manure you got for your farm. But like regular society, one must use discretion. So, in essence, it's a love/hate relationship. Online networks could be better, but could be worse. I guess it's what you put into it.
I have done a couple of pro bono (no charge) introductions to Social Media in the last couple of years. I normally start with this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng
I encourage you to watch it. Social Media is a true paradigm shift and the numbers are staggering. It is growing exponentially, not mathematically. Facebook has over 600 million followers and is valued at more than $50-billion (more than Google). As always, it is a personal choice if you participate or not; however, I always advocate informed decision making.
Thanks for the tip, launchpad. The video confirms that my non-involvement is right for me -- I found it creepy, and I notice it's all about business finding consumers.
Same here launchpad. Thanks for the video, but I still don't get the "why" part. I'm not seeing the void that this fills, or how it enriches or simplifies our lives. Your reference to "600 million followers" is undoubtedly accurate, but to borrow Steven's word, creepy. Really creepy. And I'm always a little concerned when ANY company gets that powerful.
Post a Comment