Not fan! Never have been, never will be. That place is about as private as a public bathroom with no doors.
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HELP, I'M A FACEBOOK VIRGIN!!
- Thread starter HubbardsFate
- Start date
It is the absolute gutter of society. It is one of those things I despise with all my being. I find people treat others insanely rudely, way beyond anything they would actually say in person, because there are zero consequences of their actions. I'd delete it if I could.
On the flip side, I can find no better way to stay in touch with my family members all across the globe (yes, all the way from the USA to New Zealand) or know what is going on with a few hobbies I have, such as short track racing at the local speedway (because FB is the only platform they use). When it comes to staying connected with things that are important, I can't find a better way. But it comes with every down side you could possibly imagine.
On the flip side, I can find no better way to stay in touch with my family members all across the globe (yes, all the way from the USA to New Zealand) or know what is going on with a few hobbies I have, such as short track racing at the local speedway (because FB is the only platform they use). When it comes to staying connected with things that are important, I can't find a better way. But it comes with every down side you could possibly imagine.
I'm on it (way too much). There are a lot of pitfalls and downsides, I won't argue with anyone who's pointed them out.
If you do go on, DO use the privacy settings (it's not "true" privacy, FB is still recording everything you do on there, but you'll limit who else sees it to some extent). Even so, assume that anything you post is essentially public, so treat every post as though you were publishing it in the newspaper.
Do NOT join "groups" unless it's a specific group of people you know (e.g. my neighborhood has one). Groups really activate the algorithms to push you toward more and more stuff, which tends to get more and more toxic.
Be really sparse about your reactions, especially if it isn't content actually produced by someone you know. "Like"-ing a family photo is one thing, an "angry: emoji at a political meme someone shares will open the floodgates.
Remember you don't have to accept every friend request and you can block anyone that's not conducting themselves appropriately.
If you're using FB marketplace, assume every response is a scam unless they show they're not. Meet in person, cash on delivery, and block anything else. I've gotten all kinds of people running around with "I can't meet you but drop it off here with my cousin, and you need to get this particular venmo thing or this app..." BLOCK.
If you do go on, DO use the privacy settings (it's not "true" privacy, FB is still recording everything you do on there, but you'll limit who else sees it to some extent). Even so, assume that anything you post is essentially public, so treat every post as though you were publishing it in the newspaper.
Do NOT join "groups" unless it's a specific group of people you know (e.g. my neighborhood has one). Groups really activate the algorithms to push you toward more and more stuff, which tends to get more and more toxic.
Be really sparse about your reactions, especially if it isn't content actually produced by someone you know. "Like"-ing a family photo is one thing, an "angry: emoji at a political meme someone shares will open the floodgates.
Remember you don't have to accept every friend request and you can block anyone that's not conducting themselves appropriately.
If you're using FB marketplace, assume every response is a scam unless they show they're not. Meet in person, cash on delivery, and block anything else. I've gotten all kinds of people running around with "I can't meet you but drop it off here with my cousin, and you need to get this particular venmo thing or this app..." BLOCK.
I don't know what others are talking about here. I have my FB on total lockdown. The five people on my friends list are all family members and that's how we keep in touch. Nobody else can see anything I post* unless I change the setting for that particular post to "public" (I've only done that once.)
Nobody can send me a message and I ignore friend requests (I've only gotten 1 and I think it came before I went total lockdown)
I joined several bass player groups but then I quickly left because they are nothing like the civilized world of TB.
If I didn't have family worrying about me being "an old man living alone" I would have nothing to do with it.
*my profile pic and cover photo are both visible but nobody that's not on my friends list can comment, or even see if others commented
Nobody can send me a message and I ignore friend requests (I've only gotten 1 and I think it came before I went total lockdown)
I joined several bass player groups but then I quickly left because they are nothing like the civilized world of TB.
If I didn't have family worrying about me being "an old man living alone" I would have nothing to do with it.
*my profile pic and cover photo are both visible but nobody that's not on my friends list can comment, or even see if others commented
I forgot about that. Credit where it's do and my neighborhood group has been a good thing.
One more thing . . Beware of pretty girls asking you to send a friend request. . . those are all scammers and hackers
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,796
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- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
FB is a horrible awful evil place that should be destroyed. It causes incredible amounts of damage and suffering, it’s highly addictive, hate flourishes, and relationships get ruined. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
If you join facebook, your belief in mankind will quickly dissipate, Facebook is a sewer!
Hi, Facebook divorcee here...I know next to nothing about using the platform, how much a guy can 'tweak' settings to his liking/stay as private as possible, etc. Anyone want to help out a Facebook virgin here?
If you have a common/generic name, just don't put anything visible in your privacy settings which would make you easily identifiable among others with the same name, and use an avatar instead of a profile picture. If your name is rare or unmistakable, consider an alias, it used to be possible but I am not sure if now Facebook has a stricter policy on that. For example, I know for sure that some people on my friends list used a nickname (visibly not a possible real person's name) and were forced by Facebook to change it... but others who used a real-sounding name (just not their real one) are still using it.
Then, it will be you contacting others you really know and want to connect to, and not the other way around. You can choose to make everything on your profile page to be private and invisible to anyone outside your friends list. And I think it should be also still possible to set specific friends as favourites, so you can even accept someone's invitation but not let them see anything if you give permissions only to favourites. So you can pretend to accept the request but you'll basically look like you're not using Facebook much at all.
Marketplace is not something I would recommend. At least a few years ago it became full of scams. You post something for sale and within hours you get many messages from fake profiles trying various tricks, even worse if you post that you are looking to buy something. Better to use moderated local groups, but in any case I would never buy or sell anything remotely.
For your own sanity, never post comments or participate in discussions with people you don't know personally. Stick to talking with those who know you in person or at least have known you in the past.
I basically stopped using Facebook years ago when I noticed that the majority of the stuff appearing on my news page was not from my contacts anymore, but all from "suggestions" and commercials.
I don't do social media - other than TB, which I mostly used as a resource for years before I became more of an "participant".
We've avoided FB for 20 years, with nieces, nephews, etc.
I started using FB a few years ago for Marketplace at the advice of a friend, and, down the road, to connect with other "local" musicians.
Frankly, I don't get it at all .
The one thing we try to use it for are the local restaurants and venues that have live music.
Clearly, it is not designed for that; there is no way to sort chronologically.
We almost skipped our favorite restaurant on Valentines Day, because it said "no reservations available" - until we realized that post was from last year. What's the point?
I go to a page (or at least thought I did,) and one of those stupid staged videos starts playing....
We've avoided FB for 20 years, with nieces, nephews, etc.
I started using FB a few years ago for Marketplace at the advice of a friend, and, down the road, to connect with other "local" musicians.
Frankly, I don't get it at all .
The one thing we try to use it for are the local restaurants and venues that have live music.
Clearly, it is not designed for that; there is no way to sort chronologically.
We almost skipped our favorite restaurant on Valentines Day, because it said "no reservations available" - until we realized that post was from last year. What's the point?
I go to a page (or at least thought I did,) and one of those stupid staged videos starts playing....
Now you tell me!
Sounds like music business....
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You will only find thieves, fake accounts, blind political fanaticism, scams and one-night stands with people who don't quite convince you. It's been a long time since it stopped being a useful place.
I had a Facebook account, on and off, for a few years.
It was good for keeping in touch with some friends and family who just couldn't seem to stay in touch via phone call, email, or letters.
In the end, I cancelled out my account.
The madness, the petty BS from friends of friends, the spam, the misinformation, and the egregiously-dishonest politics just drove me mad.
Cancelled it, and closed it out.
Never, ever again.
It was good for keeping in touch with some friends and family who just couldn't seem to stay in touch via phone call, email, or letters.
In the end, I cancelled out my account.
The madness, the petty BS from friends of friends, the spam, the misinformation, and the egregiously-dishonest politics just drove me mad.
Cancelled it, and closed it out.
Never, ever again.
my band uses FB for ads/commercials/marketing with success, so i'm engaged on the platform. my biggest thrill is keeping up with kids and grandkids (and relatives and old friends).
i'm not too bothered by the FB BS.
i'm not too bothered by the FB BS.
FB was around for years before I signed up and the only reason I did was because other musicians convinced me that it would be in my best professional interests to have an account. Meh. I’ve closed and reopened my account several times and the only reason I’m still on there is for Messenger and Marketplace.
I honestly believe FB is one of the worst things to happen to society in a very long time, and I think humankind will look back on it one day with an extremely unkind eye. One thing is virtually guaranteed: if you scroll through your feed (which you inevitably will) you’ll end up liking people less. Even family and friends will likely drop in your estimation as you become privy to their most asinine thoughts and self-righteous posturing.
I honestly believe FB is one of the worst things to happen to society in a very long time, and I think humankind will look back on it one day with an extremely unkind eye. One thing is virtually guaranteed: if you scroll through your feed (which you inevitably will) you’ll end up liking people less. Even family and friends will likely drop in your estimation as you become privy to their most asinine thoughts and self-righteous posturing.
To paraphrase Dr. Gonzo: Facebook is a cruel and shallow money trench... a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.
On Facebook, YOU are the product.
On Facebook, YOU are the product.
This. 100%There is absolutely nothing about f'book that is geared toward "privacy." It is an eavesdropping, data-mining/collating/reselling, and advertising platform, pure and simple. If privacy is something you value, that site is something to avoid, full stop. Go over to Ars Technica, and read up on f'book's practices, just for starters.
People will says, "Yeah, but..." and make all manner of excuses for using it, but none of that changes the nature of what kind of platform it is. Know that before you go in.
Good luck with the move, in any case.
Run away.
I have a Facebook page that I mostly use for communication with my bandmates and for promoting upcoming shows. I rarely post other than that.
And I don't know about anyone else, but I have no problem with declining or ignoring friend requests that I don't want.
And I don't know about anyone else, but I have no problem with declining or ignoring friend requests that I don't want.
Same exact thing happened to me. I joined only to buy a Peavey Fury listed for $100. I was banned before I could make contact.
This is pretty much how I use it. I keep in touch with cousins and reconnected with classmates. I’ve joined groups for RV advice and fans of certain instruments. I’ve bought half a dozen basses from FB posts. I don’t accept all friend invites, and if users are posting stuff I don’t agree with, I block them.
Let’s face it, computers, WWW, FB, AI have been a blessing and a curse. Just like automobiles, nuclear energy, and religion. The potential for abuse is there, and it’s abused every day. It’s part of living in the modern world. Short of living in a cave, there’s not much you can do to avoid them.
