Facebook must die

[Masamune]

Why not treat Facebook like any other website? Would you put personal photos or other information on a public website for a search engine bot or anybody else to snoop? Maybe Facebook should be treated the same way? No info like relationship status, age, sex, poltical/religious views, no personal photos, just a place to share important information and network.

Take away the from Facebook the one thing that they want from you - your personal information. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak. I know there are several people on my friend's list who have really expanded their views on health, politics, "paranormal" or other many topics that I post links to. I think Facebook is still a worthwhile tool for that even if it has become overtly evil like Google et al.

Just my $0.02.

I agree with RyanX. I think that we could just treat facebook like this forum or any other site if we would like to have more privacy. We could change to a false name, use an alternative email address, remove all pictures of ourselves, and put no personal information on our profiles. We could still then share news articles and links with our friends, like and comment on articles, and get the information out there without giving out all our personal information.

I am not an expert on these privacy issues though and I don't know what information is being collected about our web browsing habits, web purchases and such that they don't tell us about but I think that getting the information out to our friends is very important too. I guess we could just log in to share a few articles and then log out when we are done.

 

[Guardian]

Well, I already gave them a fake name, birthday, address etc. and don't have any pictures or personal info to delete ...but I'm with you guys in spirit :D

 

[Navigator]

Well, I already gave them a fake name, birthday, address etc. and don't have any pictures or personal info to delete ...but I'm with you guys in spirit :D

The main reason I have never had a FB account was that it was odd for me to watch everyone I know give their true name in the first place while in the rest of the web a screen name is somewhat preferred. How about deleting everything then rejoining with nicknames?

 

[Andromeda]

Why not treat Facebook like any other website? Would you put personal photos or other information on a public website for a search engine bot or anybody else to snoop? Maybe Facebook should be treated the same way? No info like relationship status, age, sex, poltical/religious views, no personal photos, just a place to share important information and network.

Take away the from Facebook the one thing that they want from you - your personal information. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak. I know there are several people on my friend's list who have really expanded their views on health, politics, "paranormal" or other many topics that I post links to. I think Facebook is still a worthwhile tool for that even if it has become overtly evil like Google et al.

Just my $0.02.

I think that these are all very good points, RyanX. This is really how I've always thought about it, anyway. I would not provide them with any details that I feel are too private. Personally, I don't really mind if everyone knows my sex, age, political views, what I look like, or even my religious beliefs. I suppose it could be different for some individuals.

 

[anart]

That is the only thing keeping me there right now. Several friends have changed their diets and done a lot of good work in that area for their small children. (vaccine refusals etc.) So I'll see.

Me too, I'll see. I have had the chance to recommend EE. I have networked with people I never thought would be open to the information we share.

Yes, I think it's a tool we can use to help and reach more people - and I hate facebook! I don't think deleting our fb accounts will affect fb privacy settings. I do think that if there is even a small chance that we can reach more people using this tool, we should do so. fwiw.

 

[Josi]

I would be very reluctant to delete my profile at this time. I have had recently some really good feedback from people I wouldn't have expected any interest. I have seen some sharing of sott articles to there friends

I have also found it to be a good resource of information coming from non-forum friends. Hopefully we can succeed using FB as a tool in different way then was intended and make a difference even if small.

my2c

 

[Cyre2067]

I can't tell you how many of my friends tell me how much they like the posts I throw up. I find a useful networking tool to reach out to other people that haven't made their way here yet. I see it as just another weapon.

That said, I hate Facebook (the company) and everything they represent. I'm thoroughly excited about the diaspora project (_http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/11/diaspora-nyu-students-dev_n_571632.html) and when that gets off the ground I'm probably going to 'move' to that medium for all things social networky.

However, since that won't be up until August I've decided to maintain my facebook profile for the time being.

 

[Laura]

It seems that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages so far. Okay, let's keep on keeping on and not cut off our nose to spite our face.

 

[JEEP]

I have also found it to be a good resource of information coming from non-forum friends. Hopefully we can succeed using FB as a tool in different way then was intended and make a difference even if small.

I can't tell you how many of my friends tell me how much they like the posts I throw up. I find a useful networking tool to reach out to other people that haven't made their way here yet. I see it as just another weapon.

Several friends have changed their diets and done a lot of good work in that area for their small children. (vaccine refusals etc.)

I have had the chance to recommend EE. I have networked with people I never thought would be open to the information we share.

All of the above makes it quite clear why these privacy violations have suddenly occurred - the PTB created a monster that's biting them in the butt!!! Their little social control mechanism has morphed into an out of control alternative information source! How best to squash it? Divulge everyone's private information to elicit the "delete your Facebook account" reaction. Solution - don't put private info up in the first place or delete such info yourself. But delete the account? That would give them the victory. Instead, stick with the basic mantra: "Give the lie what it deserves - the TRUTH!"

Perhaps it would make sense to continue even after the August implementation of the diaspora project - not everyone's going to switch and the more people reached, the better. My 2 cents.

 

[jordifs]

I agree with RyanX. I think that we could just treat facebook like this forum or any other site if we would like to have more privacy. We could change to a false name, use an alternative email address, ...

Why a counter action is required? I do care about privacy. Actions are simple: vetoed sites do not collect statistics about me. No site force their users to register. It is their choice, not mine.

Yes, the one thing that makes me stop and think is the fact that we have really gotten a lot of new readers to sott by posting articles and when other people pick them up and re-post them. It HAS made a difference!

I do recognize it as a valuable tool. It helps for communication purposes. Then leaving is not an option. As this action would not help building another one. It is not destroying this tool the best option when facing the enemy.

I vote for SOTT continue to use it. Nevertheless I never ever will use it.

 

[Mona]

I actually deleted my account last week. I got so irritated by being part of this network that I just could not take it anymore. I felt like an idiot being exposed for the whole world to see. I even acted like an idiot. There were a few things that irritated me about facebook, the lact of privacy was one and also the child like behavior of those participating in this global nonsense. I joined not too long ago just to keep in touch with people I met while traveling, and then I was noticing that most of these people communicated with one another like 10 year olds. One would say "oh you look so great, who is your hairstylist?" or "I finally got my oven", that's it, that's all it would say "I finally got my oven". Or "Hey, Dusan are you there?" Hellooooooooooooooo, people! I was wondering if I was expected to be connected to Facebook 24 hours a day, if I was actually allowed to use the bathroom, so that I could keep up with the nonsense that was being discussed. Or maybe I missed something, maybe it was not a discussion, but someone just farted the words out of their mouth. So, I said Adios Amigos, I don't need to be here. I am not the same person I was 15 years ago, or ever a year ago.

 

[eliansito]

I actually deleted my account last week. I got so irritated by being part of this network that I just could not take it anymore. I felt like an idiot being exposed for the whole world to see. I even acted like an idiot. There were a few things that irritated me about facebook, the lact of privacy was one and also the child like behavior of those participating in this global nonsense. I joined not too long ago just to keep in touch with people I met while traveling, and then I was noticing that most of these people communicated with one another like 10 year olds. One would say "oh you look so great, who is your hairstylist?" or "I finally got my oven", that's it, that's all it would say "I finally got my oven". Or "Hey, Dusan are you there?" Hellooooooooooooooo, people! I was wondering if I was expected to be connected to Facebook 24 hours a day, if I was actually allowed to use the bathroom, so that I could keep up with the nonsense that was being discussed. Or maybe I missed something, maybe it was not a discussion, but someone just farted the words out of their mouth. So, I said Adios Amigos, I don't need to be here. I am not the same person I was 15 years ago, or ever a year ago.

I had the same thoughts by the time I joined in and added the obvious or nearest friends at the time, then it dawned upon me that those comments and general BS was actually telling also about me and my relationships as it did about them, then I started adding less shallow minded individuals and using the hide function trigger happy. In the same way one filters in real life networks and friends one has to filter in facebook, the fact that one went to high school with someone doesnt mean one has to be updated with their shopping of the day if one is not interested in that...

I also think is a great tool, if everybody provides just the minimum private info, or that info one doesn't mind to share worldwide there is no reason for concern, there will always be those targeted by the buyers of ad space or data...same as in the streets, only after conscious or unconscious consent.

What can facebook do with my name and age? put an ad in the home page when I open it? I couldnt care less...

R

 

[Z...]

I will not commit FB suicide, for a simple reason FB is a great tool to keep in touch with family and friends scattered all over the world. Its also great tool for advertising and sharing interesting stuff.

I am with RyanX on this one, in fact I am not so concerned with privacy in general, this battle has already been lost once we let computers, mobile phones and internet into our lives - just my 2 c fwiw

 

[tom32071]

I don't really have a problem with FB, they're no better or worse than most other sites you find on the internet. I'm not really interested in "others" seeing what I put up but I try not to put anything on the internet that I don't want the world to be able to access.

No matter how good or careful a site is there is always someone out there that will eventually hack into it.

 

[Laura]

I have unfriended a few people if they never post anything interesting or post stupid stuff. In fact, I purged 6 people today for sharing the Camelot interview with Jay Weidner!