The social networking bandwagon.

[Craige]

Am I the only one who isn't jumping on this social networking bandwagon (Myspace/TagWorld/Facebook/Other)? At least once a month I get an invite from someone telling me they have added me as a friend, and that I should join. It seems like I'm the only one not already on this bandwagon, and not wanting to get on it.

What's all this hype about? I really don't see the point; I never have. I don't blog, and if I did, it sure as hell wouldn't be on MySpace, I don't need a public list of my friends to prove I'm "better" than the next guy, or to boost my ego, if you want to contact me, that's what emails for, and if you want to get to know me, then send me an IM: I'm more then glad to talk. So seriously, what's the deal with it.

Has anybody else here avoided the bandwagon? My props to you if you have. Share your opinions.

[Hikaru79]

I avoided the bandwagon for a very long time, citing almost exactly the same reasons that you give. Then, for a few reasons, in February I gave in, and joined Facebook (which is huge at Waterloo).

And, it turns out, it's not so bad.

Contrary to popular belief, people do not judge you by the size of your friends list or whatever. It is a great way to get back in touch with some old friends; in only a few months I have re-found 4 old friends (one of them a very GOOD friend, one whom I lived with for about two years when I was younger) whose contact info was lost in the sands of time, but who was on Facebook (everyone uses their real name). Also, people schedule stuff on it; like, I would never have found out about the get-together with Clayton and Ultrahex and Martin and Tony and Cervantes, etc., if it hadn't been a Facebook event. And so on.

It's not so bad, really. Give it a try. (Facebook, at least; from what I've seen of MySpace, it's not the same)

[bugzpodder]

this is what web 2.0 is about, user contributed customized content. you, of all being a web developer should know that.

[Tony]

Just... don't bother with myspace, there's virb. Haven't used the latter, but I hear it has less problems.

I actually tried to stay off the Facebook bandwagon until my girlfriend signed up, then I gave in. Though as Hikaru pointed out, it's actually quite good for organizing events with your friends. It worked quite well for pulling off this year's Tour + Wings.

Facebook is good for keeping up with what your friends are up to. I've recently also signed up with LinkedIn to do the same with my professional contacts.

I'm on 9rules for blogging.

I use Digg/Flickr/Technorati/etc on regular basis.

I figure as long as I stay away from Twitter, I'm still good.

[rdrake]

I had avoided it for as long as I possibly could. Didn't really want to get on it either. I was signed up anyways (by my girlfriend ) so I figured I might as well give it a shot.

I must say, it's a great way to survive boring lectures. Not on it much, but it's something to do when you're bored.

Oh, I'm referring to Facebook. MySpace has too many pedophiles and annoying elements on it for my liking.

[BenLi]

I've stayed off of social networking sites. I had a facebook account for several weeks because my friends kept sending those annoying emails to join. Contrary to what others have said in this thread,l I didn't find facebook helpful. All I found it to be was a waste of time. So I deleted all my friends, left all my groups, and deactivated my account.

Thats all I have to say... about that...

[Clayton]

Hikaru79 wrote:

I would never have found out about the get-together with Clayton and Ultrahex and Martin and Tony and Cervantes, etc., if it hadn't been a Facebook event.

And you still weren't ready for us when we all got together

I personally like Facebook. I think it's a great way to share photos, keep in contact with old friends (I just recently found a bunch of my old friends from elementary school on there), and is just another way to keep in contact with people in general. It's really not bad at all.

[PaulButler]

Facebook is great for sending messages to people. I try to keep my MSN contact list as small as I can, so if I want to send a message to someone I know but don't talk with frequently enough to have on MSN, I use facebook. The killer feature is groups though, it's a good way to keep in contact with a team you are on and stuff like that. (I'm not talking about joke groups.)

If you are disgusted with MySpace or Bebo (like I was), you might be surprised with facebook.

[Clayton]

Good point. I know of a group on Facebook that UWaterloo students use to look for/sub-let housing. It's really much easier than cruising around campus looking for pieces of paper

[klopyrev]

hmm... I agree that social networking sites are a waste of time. My friends keep talking about how they spend hours on Facebook. I have no idea how one can possibly spend so much time on Facebook. What is there to do on it? Even though I don't really like it, I still signed up for an account. Its quite interesting seeing all the people you know in one place. (Well, not all, but you get the point) I actually sign in to see what's happening maybe once every few weeks? There are some things that social networking sites are good for. meetmeinto always advertizes events, for example. However, wasting so much time on them is not so good.

KL

[iluvchairs112]

I've stayed away from it (still am). I've checked out MySpace a couple of times on a friends account - just out of curiousity. Some people are obsessed with it.

I suppose it can be good for organizing events, but personally I think it's better to use email, or, like the olden days, a phone call lol.

[Ultrahex]

Social networking is good for once and a while things, catching up with old friends and such, however.... this is where it goes wrong....

bad :: [ No Specific Order ]

1. Predators...
2. People faking as other people
3. Some people get obsessed and are on them more then 2-3 hrs a day
4. Get annoying people you don't know in person wanting to add you to their list even though you do not know them
--- for example, someone added me to their list a couple weeks ago, they go to my school, IVE NEVER TALKED TO THEM IN MY LIFE
5. Some people think its "cool" to have thousands of friends
6. Pointless groups are made to see if people will do stuff, or just in general
7. Giving out your information to people you do not want to!
8. Random people knowing your name, universities looking up your info if they have time etc.

good :: [ No Specific Order ]

1. Organization of photo albums
2. Meet old friends
3. Gives you something to do if your bored out of your mind... but like that would happen
4. Organizing Events with Friends/Coworkers/Groups
5. School group projects
6. Lost someones info and your suppose to go hangout

There is probably others also, but overall that is about it...

[Tony]

I know that a couple of people got fired over some info they revealed in a "private" Facebook group.

Though basically if you turn up your public privacy settings, and accept only those friends that you actually want to share your information with (I only accept people I have met in person at least once), and keep real about the fact that nothing on the internets is, in fact, "private" - that negates a lot of the negative points.

[Craige]

bugzpodder @ Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:14 am wrote:

this is what web 2.0 is about, user contributed customized content. you, of all being a web developer should know that.

Being a web developer, I do know that Web 2.0 is about user submitted content, but that doesn't mean that I get the point of this type of user contributed content.

----

So, it seems in general people argue they are great for keeping in touch, which I can see, but I can keep in touch with whomever I want via email, IM, forums, phone, or if they're close enough, walking out my door and going into town. Maybe I'll give Facebook a try though, but I doubt I'll keep my account.

---
Oh, and to whoever compared 9rules to these types of sites, I frown. 9rules is not like these sites at all. I have a 9rules account also, but it has value. I've found links to many important, educational topics on that site.

[bugzpodder]

facebook helped me found a friend that i havent talked to in 10 years. but on the other hand, lets just say there seem to be people i'd rather not see on it which i eventually ended up blocking.