I've just come off Facebook.
It's been brewing for a while. I only went on it because my friend Woody said it was great for networking and an essential for business (he came off it himself a month after putting me on - ha!). It has irritated me from the start.
There are some great aspects to the site and I have met a few really nice, interesting people through it. I have also made contact with people I haven't seen for years. But too much of it annoys me to bother anymore.
- I don't care if 'Charles' is now friends with 'Anna'.
- I don't care how many books Joel has read (or says he has read)
- I don't care if William is feeling 'cool' or 'edgy'
- I'm quite unhappy knowing that a decent-looking guy who has just 'poked' me is looking for 'random play' or 'anything I can get'.
- I don't want to be Zombiefied, super-poked, slapped or even sent a virtual present.
- I really don't want people writing dodgy things on my wall (not that anyone has yet, but give it time).
- I don't want dodgy messages from dodgy types I don't know who want to make unhelpful comments
Yes, I know I could tighten my privacy settings, and I certainly never put important information in like my mobile number, address or date of birth, but frankly, I just can't be bothered with the trivia anymore and I don't think I'm the only one. In fact, I'm going to stick my neck out now and say that I give Facebook about three months before it implodes. It's too big, too wide, too open and too easily abused.
Time for more of a real social life instead of a virtual one. Time for moving myself out into the big wide world more often and seeing people face to face. I want a real face to talk to, not a facebook.
It sounds like you need the antidote to social networking. Go to bugroff.net - no one can join, and you can't post or do anything! It's great!
Posted by: Gary | September 09, 2007 at 10:10 PM