In reading over the comments from last nights post, I find it interesting that so many have deleted their profiles from Facebook.
I read that more and more people are doing it. I'm guessing there's a lot of concern over privacy, but for me, one of the main concerns is that it could turn into a huge drain on a commodity that's more valuable and scarce than money -- which is my time.
I've had a Facebook account for a few years now and I check it in the mornings to see if there are any birthdays. Sometimes I'll post one of my weird photographs, and Jilda and I normally put notices out when we're playing somewhere, but that's about it.
As far as privacy, I think it's an illusion in the electronic age. Obviously there are things you can do to help keep your information private, but with every new advance in computer/technology/data mining etc. the curtain of privacy becomes a little more transparent.
I think the only way to protect yourself is to get off the grid. Move to the sticks as far away from mankind as possible and grow your own food and barter for the things you can't grow or make yourself. Or you could move to a third world country. But even these places are becoming rare.
I'm not sure what the answers are, but walking away from Facebook is probably a start.
I read that more and more people are doing it. I'm guessing there's a lot of concern over privacy, but for me, one of the main concerns is that it could turn into a huge drain on a commodity that's more valuable and scarce than money -- which is my time.
I've had a Facebook account for a few years now and I check it in the mornings to see if there are any birthdays. Sometimes I'll post one of my weird photographs, and Jilda and I normally put notices out when we're playing somewhere, but that's about it.
As far as privacy, I think it's an illusion in the electronic age. Obviously there are things you can do to help keep your information private, but with every new advance in computer/technology/data mining etc. the curtain of privacy becomes a little more transparent.
I think the only way to protect yourself is to get off the grid. Move to the sticks as far away from mankind as possible and grow your own food and barter for the things you can't grow or make yourself. Or you could move to a third world country. But even these places are becoming rare.
I'm not sure what the answers are, but walking away from Facebook is probably a start.
I don't understand the current fascination with being constantly "in touch". People are glued to their cell phones and addicted to facebook, twitter, etc... Why are we so afraid of spending a little time with ourselves?
ReplyDeleteNever have been impressed with FB. However, that's where my child posts everything he is doing so I set up an account so I could see what he was up to. I don't think I've posted anything on my wall for about a year.
ReplyDeletefacebook is in the overhaul stage of annoying us all with their changes.
ReplyDeleteI like facebook because it keeps you in touch with people you dont get to see too often.
This technology is ruining the human bonding and interaction experience. I have to admit that.
I totally agree the privacy is an illusion. Everything is out there somewhere. Even what we buy at stores is kept on file. When that big egg recall happened, I got a letter from Costco telling me I needed to return eggs that I bought since they were part of the recall.
ReplyDeleteThe grid is so big, you'd have to get rid of your driver's license and hide your money in a mattress.
I didn't mention it yesterday, but I'm one of those who deleted her Facebook account. I wanted it just as a way to keep in touch with family but other people kept inviting me to be their friend and I got tired of saying no so I left.
ReplyDeleteI've got two 15 year old daughters and neither of them are remotely interested in it,which saves me the worry of wondering whether I should be on there watching out for them.
I'm all for upping sticks and living in the wild with my cat!! Oh who am I kidding?!?! I'm too hooked on the internet!! I need help!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Take care
x
Blogging is enough reaching out for me. I tried facebook, not for long but long enough to know I did not care for it. My hubby has tried facebook a few times and each time would end up deleting it. I could happily live out in the sticks growing my own food and just do blogging.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comment here by mybabyjohn/Delores.
I kind of agree with you - I hear pros and cons. I have a face book - but I am definitely a blogger. sandie
ReplyDeleteI'm 80 and have never felt the need to drop everything and rush to the phone as soon as it rings. So I'm not too excited by capabilities like Facebook and Twitter. I like the old fashioned ways of communicating that involve listening to another human's voice. I understand your and Jilda's way of announcing your gigs, and give you full credit for a common sense use of the electronic media. If I lived in Alabama, I'd be on Facebook every day to find out where to go to enjoy your music. When will you be in my neighborhood?
ReplyDeleteOur privacy is at risk everytime we log into our computer. With todays high tech hackers, nothing stops them. Facebook is issues for sure but common sense is not to put up anything personal that you don't want known. That's my 2 cents!!
ReplyDeleteNah, just better management is all we need. Consolidating media feeds and just using common sense when going online. Keep your private world private, and treat your public world like a child who doesn't know better.
ReplyDeleteThere are platforms that will fetch your tweets, FB posts, blog comments and everything else. When you do an update it can farm the content back out to all of these outlets as well. So you have one tool to use that controls the others. A lot of time can be saved by using the correct tool.
I had deactivated my facebook account, but I need to build traffic for blogs so that's the sole reason of facebok these days. Nothing more, nothing less.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Chintan
I have been on FB for about a year and accept that my info is out there. I never sign up for one of the games, or the coupon deal in "my" town mostly because I don't need the rash of ads that would generate.
ReplyDeleteI'm OK on FB and will upgrade my meager page here eventually.
Change happens and it can be unsettling. I enjoy the contact FB allows with friends & fellow writers. I have found a wealth of good writing ideas of Blogger by roaming around. I may be quiet here, but I'm doing a lot of thinking. Life 101 implies there is Life 105 later in the catalog.
This is what I read about FB in one of the blogs:
ReplyDelete' Awful experience. I was contacted by people I spent 20 years to avoid".
Another blogger wrote in one of her posts that she had found her boyfriend on FB and he dumped her for another woman on FB.
( I thought it served her right. No woman should be that desperate as to date a guy with some 300 female friends on his FB).
This is a good discussion. I hope I didn't come off as
ReplyDeletebashing FB because like a lot of technology, it has great features. Barb hit the nail right on the head in that you really have to use common sense.
My main point is that if you use modern technology, you sacrifice some privacy.