S/O FB thread: What am I missing?

[Sahamamama]

Reading through this thread has me wondering what (if anything) I am missing.

 

I've never been drawn to FB. I don't own a cell phone. I don't "twitter." :confused: I just don't understand the appeal. :confused: I don't belong to another forum. Just here, and even on this forum I can go for long breaks without needing a "fix." :D

 

When I want to connect with someone, I usually just pick up the phone and call that person. Or, I might stop by and visit in person. Or, I might send an email. Or, I might send a LETTER. Remember snail mail? ;) I also send pretty cards with real stamps, LOL.

 

Why do people say they "love" FB?

 

Am I missing this wonderful world of social networking by not joining FB?

[Margo out of lurking]

..

[FiveOaksAcademy]

Reading through this thread has me wondering what (if anything) I am missing.

 

I've never been drawn to FB. I don't own a cell phone. I don't "twitter." :confused: I just don't understand the appeal. :confused: I don't belong to another forum. Just here, and even on this forum I can go for long breaks without needing a "fix." :D

 

When I want to connect with someone, I usually just pick up the phone and call that person. Or, I might stop by and visit in person. Or, I might send an email. Or, I might send a LETTER. Remember snail mail? ;) I also send pretty cards with real stamps, LOL.

 

Why do people say they "love" FB?

 

Am I missing this wonderful world of social networking by not joining FB?

 

I think you need to continue on the path you are on. I miss phone calls. I would make phone calls to friends just to check on them and talk but so few friends connect that way anymore. FB, I've discovered, is just one more way to complicate life with just. another. way to contact someone. That, I suppose, can be a good thing, but I find it a nuisance. I realize now that if I need to reach someone, I can rarely reach them by phone. Sometimes I get confused as to which avenue to take. I could text them, e-mail them, send them a fb message...

 

I have a few people on fb that I enjoy reading messages from. I really never post my own stuff but will "like" or encourage someone else's. BUT there are the people who are narcissists who just use it as one more avenue to make it all about them. I struggle wading through those. I will walk away just annoyed. If I could go back, I would never have signed up for fb. I am still considering deleting my account.

[QuirkyKapers]

I hardly ever FB but it has been a quick way to connect with people that I might not have gone out of my way to do so.

[DarlaS]

 

I have a few people on fb that I enjoy reading messages from. I really never post my own stuff but will "like" or encourage someone else's. BUT there are the people who are narcissists who just use it as one more avenue to make it all about them. I struggle wading through those. I will walk away just annoyed. If I could go back, I would never have signed up for fb. I am still considering deleting my account.

 

Just deleted one of those from my friends list.

 

Down to 37, 19 of those are family members.

 

It's a convenient place to see a status update, photo upload etc. all in one spot with the ability to carry on a conversation with more than one person at a time.

 

I'm keeping it for now, but if my family members stopped posting or went elsewhere, I'd be gone too.

[Beatusduo]

Reading through this thread has me wondering what (if anything) I am missing.

 

I've never been drawn to FB. I don't own a cell phone. I don't "twitter." :confused: I just don't understand the appeal. :confused: I don't belong to another forum. Just here, and even on this forum I can go for long breaks without needing a "fix." :D

 

When I want to connect with someone, I usually just pick up the phone and call that person. Or, I might stop by and visit in person. Or, I might send an email.

Or, I might send a LETTER.

Remember snail mail? ;) I also send pretty cards with real stamps, LOL.

 

Why do people say they "love" FB?

 

Am I missing this wonderful world of social networking by not joining FB?

 

I couldn't agree with you more.

Just yesterday I was moving some stuff in my desk and stopped to look at my stationary. I love writing letters. I will randomly write to someone just to stay in touch. I can't remember the last time I received a letter.

I also will stop by and visit or try and arrange a short visit at the local coffee house.

I prefer face to face conversations, and eye contact.

[Joker]

I love FB because our family is scattered throughout the country and we don't live near any of them. We see some once a year and others we only get to see once every few years. FB is a way to stay in touch with all of them and not feel so disconnected. It's really nice to post photos to only one place and know the grands, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. get to "see" dds.

[Dobela]

I love FB because our family is scattered throughout the country and we don't live near any of them. We see some once a year and others we only get to see once every few years. FB is a way to stay in touch with all of them and not feel so disconnected. It's really nice to post photos to only one place and know the grands, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. get to "see" dds.

That is what it is for me. My in-laws live 2000 miles away. I have also reconnected with friends that I am so glad we are connected again. However, I have had my share of folks that I have deleted.

[DarlaS]

I love FB because our family is scattered throughout the country and we don't live near any of them. We see some once a year and others we only get to see once every few years. FB is a way to stay in touch with all of them and not feel so disconnected. It's really nice to post photos to only one place and know the grands, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. get to "see" dds.

 

:iagree:

 

Incidentally, an internet forum is a social network. We're just all more or less strangers, and it's more awkward for certain purposes (like photo sharing). Facebook is people I actually know.

 

If I was going to pick something to be a Luddite about, it wouldn't be that.

 

No one is stopping you from sending letters also if you enjoy it.

 

As a kid, I would exchange addresses with friends from school at the beginning of summer and maybe send 1 or 2 letters in four months. I would send letters, they would not reply. I talk to them on FB now. It's all good. :001_smile:

[DianeW88]

I love FB because our family is scattered throughout the country and we don't live near any of them. We see some once a year and others we only get to see once every few years. FB is a way to stay in touch with all of them and not feel so disconnected. It's really nice to post photos to only one place and know the grands, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. get to "see" dds.

 

:iagree:Yes, this. I love FB because I live so far away. I now know what all my childhood and high school friends are up to. I see their beautiful children and get to be a part of their family. I've loved reconnecting with everyone. It's been really fun and I have a great time with it.

[Haiku]

Why do people say they "love" FB?

 

Because I have been alive nearly four decades and I have many friends who live in far-flung corners of the world. FB gives me a way to keep tabs on their lives (and they on mine). I simply don't have time to keep in regular contact with everyone I care about if I had to call, email, or write each one individually. But I can read their updates and know what's going on in their lives, which makes me happy.

 

Tara

[DarlaS]

That is what it is for me. My in-laws live 2000 miles away. I have also reconnected with friends that I am so glad we are connected again. However, I have had my share of folks that I have deleted.

 

It's funny how often people are reluctant to do that. I see someone complain about their idiot friends posting inappropriate stuff, or stupid stuff on FB, but they won't delete or block them. :001_huh:

[EmilyinND]

I love FB because our family is scattered throughout the country and we don't live near any of them.

 

This is why I love facebook. Also, I moved around alot as a kid & went to several different schools. You make friends, you move, you lose touch, so it's been fun to reconnect with long lost friends.

[StephanieZ]

I LOVE fb b/c in 20 min a day I can keep up with the general goings ons with a few dozen people I really like to know about and a few dozen others who aren't super close pals but who I still care about.

 

I see kid pics regularly from at least a dozen friends and family members who I'd probably not see but one pic every year or two if at all if it weren't on fb. One cousin is posting daily pictures of her baby for her husband who is deployed. I have so enjoyed watching him grow up every day.

 

Sure, someone *could* email you photos. But, in the same time it'd take them to email you a batch of photos (just to probably be bounced half the time for being too big), they can upload them to fb where you and all their other friends & family can see them, comment, see your comments back, etc -- today, and tomorrow, indefinitely unless the poster removes them.

 

FB is a great way to have small group chats to set up book club meetings, etc. Messages are archived and viewable very conveniently for everyone included.

 

You can set up events and invites. Casual, easy way to invite folks to kid concerts, etc w/ low pressure.

 

You can encourage and support folks (and receive it back) very quickly and effectively. An "atta girl" for a long run, or a "way to go" for a kid's accomplishment. Takes a second, but has bigger impact than an email b/c it is sort of "public" if you put it on their wall.

 

Never post anything that would humiliate anyone or get them in trouble in any way. Understand privacy settings. Don't friend strangers. Be nice. Unless you have morons for friends, facebook is a lot of fun, IMHO.

[TravelingChris]

I have lived in lots of places and also for some groups, it is a good way to keep up announcements.

 

I love my cell phone. I now hardly ever have nothing to do when I am waiting somewhere. I can read my emails, get the news and weather, come here, look up stuff, always have a camera in case I need one like a car accident, etc, etc. It also acts like a navigation tool for me if I need it w/ real time traffic (not needed here ((the traffic bit)) but amazingly helpful in the DC area).

[mom2att]

I am on again, off again with FB. Right now it's off again. I think what bugs me most about it is the superficiality. Sure it's nice to connect with people I haven't seen in a long time, but I'd rather connect with them in a way that allows me to get to know what they've been doing for the past 10 years that we've been apart, not just chatty little updates on how they found a great sale at Target last Tuesday. But that's just me . . .

[Crissy]

 

When I want to connect with someone, I usually just pick up the phone and call that person. Or, I might stop by and visit in person. Or, I might send an email. Or, I might send a LETTER. Remember snail mail? ;) I also send pretty cards with real stamps, LOL.

 

 

Participating in conversation on facebook doesn't mean folks aren't also using these more traditional forms of communication. I use the phone, I visit in person, I write cards and letters, and I use facebook.

[Wendi]

Well, I live on the other side of the country from my family, dh's family, and our closest friends. We also have friends in France, Uganda, Mexico, and Japan. (And when an old friend from church was in Iraq with the Army, we kept in touch on Facebook.) My Facebook is multilingual! So for us, Facebook is a way to see what's going on in their lives easily, and to share what we're doing. I can communicate with my nieces and nephews. I really like seeing everyone's photos.

 

It's cool to share things we're interested in, encourage each other, share prayer requests, etc. I've reconnected with a few high school friends, too.

 

Wendi

[PeacefulChaos]

My reasons are pretty much the same as the others posted. Family spread out across the country. Lots of them I would never hear from or see pics of them/their kids if it weren't for FB. Not everyone is into Christmas cards, etc. And honestly, all they would get from me is a Christmas card if I wasn't on FB, also. Whereas I think it gives us a little bit more of a chance to know what's going on in their lives. My cousin in Afghanistan could update how things were going periodically. He chatted with my grandparents on there a few times. Good stuff.

I delete people if I don't want them knowing about my life. Right now it's only family and people I currently know, with the exception of a few close friends from years past. There are also a couple of people (family members who would be a little awkward to delete) that I hide so I don't have to see everything they say/do.

I hate calling people. I don't really care if they call me, but it isn't always convenient. I text most of the time. I would MUCH rather text someone so they can respond when they have time than call someone and put them out. If someone sends me stuff in the mail - cards or something - with the exception of Christmas cards, which I set out as part of the 'decor', or the picture ones, which I put on the fridge, I throw it away. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with a bunch of junk people send?? And I can't even think of why anyone would write a letter. Can't they just email me? Nothing could be so important as to send a letter. I would read it and throw it away. Just seems like a waste.

That's jmo. Whatever other people do is up to them. :)

[Tmhearn]

FB serves 2 purposes in my life - reconnecting with people from my past and maintaining a connection with people currently in my life.

 

I connected on FB with 4 half-siblings that I did not grow up with (including one who was adopted). So, I think FB is completely amazing. It allows me to see what is going on in my brothers' and sisters' lives on a regular basis when I wouldn't be able to do that otherwise, because they live far away and maintain busy lives themselves. Incidentally, one of the sibs lives somewhat close to me, so we do see each other every few months. But, he is not much of a phone talker, so I can keep up with his life via his wife's FB page.

 

I also like to see the daily updates and pictures of my friends and family that I might only get a chance to see irl once or twice a year. Heck, even the people that I see every week still amuse me with the updates on FB. However, I don't have a lot of "random" friends on FB. I use it as a communication tool just like phone or email.

[hsmom2011]

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