Face ==> book

[greatbear]

Okay. I want some really convincing reasons as to why I should sign up for Facebook like so many others are doing. Since I havent signed up, I have no idea what one's Facebook pages look like, because one has to be a member in order to see them. The latter violates my spirit of openness on the 'net. With almost daily stories about some app or another being banned for violating privacy and rampant advertising tracking, who in their right mind would go for this unless there was something compelling. I am assuming the community aspect is that reason. If the setup is anything like the noisy hell that is Myspace, I'm not interested.

Full disclosure: I have a Myspace page. The only reason was to be able to see other Myspace pages, particularly Kit Watkins'. Given Kit's love for all things minimalist, despite all his attempts at a clean site design, it's still stuck in that same template along with millions of teenage girls and bad emo bands.

Help me, Obi-Wan Lazywebs, you're my only hope.

Comments

[barak.livejournal.com]

For the record, I had a MySpace account for about a week. I wound up canceling it because I loathed the ads.

I signed up for a FaceBook account a few months ago and it rather languished. I was about ready to delete it, when my sister found it. She threatened me with disembowelment if I cancelled my account, so I kept at it.

While my recommendation has really very little to go for it, since I feel its almost like a twitter account, except there's some interesting features. Built in photo sharing, social networking, a peer-to-peer commenting system versus a direct-wall system versus a couple other private messaging systems.

Is it worth it? I don't know... The big drawback I have is that the site doesn't seem to load all of my added friends updates properly. On the other hand, the security of not showing my profile information publicly is a nice thing. And unlike LJ, FB (not to be confused with FuckBuddy) does have one nice feature I appreciate- if someone I don't want to add tries to friend me, I can ignore it. No message back to them, just a complete block.

[sfogreekbear.livejournal.com]

Don't do it....
Resist the urge......
Why be common?

[4colorflood.livejournal.com]

To me, it serves the same basic purpose as having a myspace - most people have either or. Facebook seems more complicated, Myspace I'm barely using - not sure what the benefit of having that is -- except I got back in touch with a few relatives and friends I haven't seen in years.

[redmoonriver.livejournal.com]

I have both. Overall I feel like the programming, design, and implementation is MUCH better at facebook. The one nice thing about facebook's 'privacy' (you *can* set things public) is that, in my experience, you tend to get a lot less unwanted friending and spam.

The drawback is, of course, that it *is* redonkulous always running into things that are blocked off. :/

[shake-it-up.livejournal.com]

I have a facebook page. I use it to play Scrabble and a word game called WordTwist on it. Some of my game buddies go back to high school, some I only know the LJ, the internet or the Facebook site.

The interface is surprisingly funky. Things stick. The chat feels like 1995. I was put on a mailing list of pretty bears in London who must have had a really fun time about ice skating 'cause they kept talking about it- messages forwarded to my e-mail address.

I still am there playing scrabble.

The feature that puts an activity statement on your chat window when you're online and on your home page is Twitter-ish, but not as stalker-y to me: i.e., "Phil is assembling a new super server". Usually there are no great surprises there. But I did leave a message for friends who lost their father when I knew they had a heavy travel schedule and I didn't want to intrude.

Sounds like a pretty ambivalent recommendation? But if you were on there, I would add you. So you decide.

PS-- I love the icon

[knarfd.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't do either. Especially myspace. And Kit Watkins is fab but has a regular website already no? Merry Christmas Phil and to Jeff too!

[jkusters]

I have a facebook page, and I use it mainly to keep in touch with a group of friends who don't do LJ. *shrug* It's a lot like myspace, but does not allow for customized page graphics or layouts, which I think is absolutely wonderful (having been to far too many really, really bad myspace pages). Some of my facebook friends have hooked me into playing some of their games, but I stay away from the ponzi-style games.

[blackwingbear.livejournal.com]

Eh, it's one of those things you just have to decide for yourself.You either dig it or you don't, no-one is going to convince you either way.. I have one of each just so I can stay in contact with friends and family I have scattered across the globe...

[wrascalism.livejournal.com]

Facebook to me is like an animal always wanting attention. The more you give it, the more it demands. Yes, I have a FB and most of the people on it I know from LJ already.

[bearlover.livejournal.com]

Apparently, there are a lot of really hot guys on it. My LiveJournal already covers that territory quite nicely ;)

[dougoros.livejournal.com]

It's good for pic sharing, instant messaging etc. You don't have to accept any app you don't want. Our group of friends use it as a social calendar mostly for inviting people to dinners n parties etc. It's a great way to keep track of stuff like that....

[kjvbear.livejournal.com]

don't drink the green koolaide.....

I had a MySpace Page for a while, mainly since my Niece was on it. Got too many requests for friending from XXX whores and stuff so I set the page to private (friends only). Then it got hacked.....bleh.

I liked it for one thing, the music pages. Then one of those pages threw me some kind of worm virus that took out my PC.....once I was back up and running I deleted my account and I was done. I actually know no one on FaceBook so I am not getting the pressure to join nor will I ever.

[baeritone.livejournal.com]

It's good for keeping up with/finding people you lost a long time ago. That's why I use it. It's not as filthy, code-wise, as MySpace. Facebook is just fun, and gives only what you ask for; I'd go for it.

[clickboo.livejournal.com]

Facebook has completely enabled me to remember people's full names when I see them in real life... Otherwise, I end up calling people by their LJ names... :)

Facebook is fun, but it's much harder to keep up with everyone, so I don't even try.

[sparkygearhead.livejournal.com]

The only compelling reason I can think of is that when you join, it gives you the option of culling your address book. It then lists all your friends who are also on Facebook, as well as friends of theirs whom you may know. It's astonishing who I found on there!

[shawnsyms.livejournal.com]

FB requires zero effort because unlike something like LJ, you don't have to actually *do* anything other than adding people. I have reconnected with people from elementary school and been glad for it, and I would normally be the last person to have expected that because my childhood was not very happy. I've make other useful connections and learned about event I wanted to attend on FB before anywhere else. It's been valuable to me.