Facebook?

[xetog]

Now Christmas is over and we are heading for the new year, I thought it might be the right time to ask whether Facebook was a 'dirty word' on this site?  The reason I ask is because I have so far seen nothing written about it, but perhaps I have not done sufficient research.  I know that it's supposed to be a youngsters thing and is considered a danger to the very young and impressionable, but since most of my family used it, I thought I would dip my toe in the water.  The real reason was that I needed to pass around my holiday snaps (upon request) and e-mail was so laborious what with in-box limits etc, that I decided to put them up on Facebook.  There is no need to identify yourself (the dangerous bit), beyond name, but I have also put on age and employment status (69 and retired).  It also said sex, but for some reason wouldn't accept 'rarely', but it didn't seem to matter! Once on board you can pick from those already on facebook and identify them as friend, close friend or family and only allow access to those appropriate people.  I am still very much a novice and most days learn a little of the possibilities of the medium, but am still a little taken aback by the drivel posted by some of the younger family members.  Anyhow, anyone got any comments on the subject?
M.
P.S.  A very happy new year to you all.

[Papaumau]

Hi again xetog !

Yes, Facebook IS a medium that is much more designed for the young, ( under 50's I might suggest ), and as such it is just far too superficial for me.

I do have a Facebook and a Twitter page but I very seldom visit them as I am often shocked by the number of total strangers that want to "friend" me on them from all over the world.

Maybe I am just too cynical in my ways, but I don't rate it for safe friendships for anyone. That said I do think that it can be a great way for families and really close friends to maintain quick and easy contact with each-other by.

[Lisa]

I use facebook. As most of the family have left home and live in various parts of the world it is a way to keep in touch. I only have the family and few friends that I want on my list and ignore those that I have never heard of unless it is a friend connected to someone else in the family. I play Scrabble and Wordgame with family and friends.  I honestly think if you are careful whom you pick to talk to facebook is  quite OK to use.  A lot of youngsters do put a lot of useless personal remarks on but if they are nothing to do with yourself just leave well alone.

[Rita Postlethwaite]

Hi Xetog, Hope you have had a great Christmas. I think you will find many of us "oldies" are on Facebook but it is usually to keep in touch with family and friends (and for Feisty Fox and myself to keep in touch with old work colleagues) like Papa, I never take on anyone who is not known to myself or another member of my family for obvious reasons. I am not a great lover of Facebook as they are continually changing the set up which confuses me as I am only just proficient on the computer!  I am much happier on this forum where everyone is friendly (mostly!) and no one is going to mock the tings we get wrong!!

[Dottie1943]

I am also on facebook and like to keep in touch with friends and family. I do however find that the language that some of the people use on it rather annoys me somewhat because there is no need in my mind for it.  Also some people live their lives on facebook, telling everybody what they have done in the last half an hour, do we really need to know that?

It good for some things and not for others.

[Oldtimer]

I am on Facebook for family contact.
I recently came into contact with a cousin who I had last met when he was six years old he is now
Fourtyeight.
It does have its uses with family and friends but some of the Younger element must be very lonely if they can only seek to add there every thought and waking moment (SAD)
You useualy find they do not have much to say?
I love the contact and uptodate photos from friends and family.
One of my Daughters uses it to promote her business she is  a PR manager for House of Fraser?
So it has a lot of possibilities for Differrent people when used wisely.

[fiesty fox]

Hi
Yes myself and Rita are on facebook, you just have to be very careful, I find it good for keeping intouch with groups and clubs etc that I am a member of. Dont like the photo uploading,I use Flickr for that.  Just had a friend request from an old work friend from the 70s who now lives in Canada.
Cheers
Jeff.

[Maisie]

I'm on facebook, and use it to stay in contact with friends and family, some of whom are oceans away. But I'm careful about who I allow as 'friends'. My niece, age just 16, has over 500 friends (that's not a typo!) and I think that is downright dangerous.

[Rita Postlethwaite]

I so agree Maisie, the younger members of our family can see no wrong and all have HUNDREDS of so called "friends" and it is frighteningly worrying.

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I joined F/B to help keep in touch with what my family are up to (I’m rubbish at communicating), but then it seemed everyone I knew wanted to be my ‘friend’.
I’ve found that it’s not just youngsters that post “drivel”, most of my ‘friends’ are adults, and if I want to know what’s going on, I have to wade through all sorts of rubbish.
I would ‘de-friend’ most of them, but then I’d have to explain why when I meet them in the street, so I just don’t post, or make replies, unless I have to.....Cop out or what

[Maisie]

I know just how you feel Puff. When it all gets too much for me and I realise how much time I am wasting I deactivate my facebook account - but somehow I always get sucked back in. (I'm guilty of posting some rubbish myself, I fear).

[Oldtimer]

I think the worst part is the Family tree where they say that these people are possible relatives.People you don't know or have never heard of.
I was quoted 236 possible relatives?

[Maisie]

I think the worst part is the Family tree where they say that these people are possible relatives.People you don't know or have never heard of.
I was quoted 236 possible relatives?

Slightly off topic, but I have had this problem with Ancestry.com. I have been researching my family history, on and off, for several years now and frequently get messages that I may be related to people living in far-flung locations. Also, I know someone who, as a hobby, researches family history for her friends. She usually manages to come up with a connection to somebody famous - ranging from Sir Lawrence Olivier to Elvis Presley! (I suspect that her research methods may be flawed).

[Papaumau]

"Hmmmmmm....interesting !"

I can remember my old Irish grannie, ( yes, her again ), telling me that her "maiden" side of the family are connected to Lord Nelson. Her maiden name was Nelson. Mind you "Nelson" is quite a common name in Northern Ireland.

To tell you the truth, I don't really trust all or any of those genealogy websites as they are just too "good" at it for me to believe in half of what they say.

[xetog]

My sister is an avid ancestry researcher (mind you she lives on the Isle of Lewis, so there is little else to do there).  She has apparently found out that George Bush is a cousin.  I am not sure that I wanted to know that!
M.