Comments on: Facebook Culture http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture On Point is a live, two-hour morning news-analysis program, produced by WBUR 90.9 and NPR. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:29:10 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kristin http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14909 Kristin Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:35:35 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14909 To me, Facebook is basically an address book on steroids. That's all I use it for. I can't imagine that I would ever need to know more than the 50 or so people of whom I truly care to stay in close touch. Just let it be that. To me, Facebook is basically an address book on steroids. That’s all I use it for. I can’t imagine that I would ever need to know more than the 50 or so people of whom I truly care to stay in close touch. Just let it be that.

]]> By: Diva http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14868 Diva Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:45:06 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14868 With Einstein's reference to "standing on the shoulder of giants", one should also take note of the following fact while talking abt Facebook - "...In 2003, as a student at Harvard, the founders of ConnectU had Mavinkurve write code for their then-nascent social network. That group, which included wealthy Olympic-rower twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, then brought on a kid by the name of Mark Zuckerberg to do additional work. Next thing they knew, he'd launched a remarkably similar site called TheFacebook.com, which ConnectU's founders believed was built on their site's code. Lawsuits ensued, which Facebook settled last year for $65 million..." http://tinyurl.com/dgp384 With Einstein’s reference to “standing on the shoulder of giants”, one should also take note of the following fact while talking abt Facebook -
“…In 2003, as a student at Harvard, the founders of ConnectU had Mavinkurve write code for their then-nascent social network. That group, which included wealthy Olympic-rower twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, then brought on a kid by the name of Mark Zuckerberg to do additional work. Next thing they knew, he’d launched a remarkably similar site called TheFacebook.com, which ConnectU’s founders believed was built on their site’s code. Lawsuits ensued, which Facebook settled last year for $65 million…”
http://tinyurl.com/dgp384

]]> By: Facebook Culture- NPR show - rubenzerefolios jimdo page! http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14594 Facebook Culture- NPR show - rubenzerefolios jimdo page! Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:03:53 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14594 [...] Facebook Culture- NPR show Facebook Culture [...] [...] Facebook Culture- NPR show Facebook Culture [...]

]]> By: Emmanuel C. Bourbouhakis http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14511 Emmanuel C. Bourbouhakis Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:55:39 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14511 Boy, what a sophomoric analysis from your guest Grigoriadis: a litany of vague complaints, unspecified yet grave concern, and very little to back it up besides personal anecdotes and now commonplace criticisms about life in the digital age. So much good writing and research on this (e.g., http://www.pewinternet.org/) and we get a conversation ironically typical of a Facebook exchange. Sorry Tom, you guys missed the point this time. E.C.B. Boy, what a sophomoric analysis from your guest Grigoriadis: a litany of vague complaints, unspecified yet grave concern, and very little to back it up besides personal anecdotes and now commonplace criticisms about life in the digital age.
So much good writing and research on this (e.g., http://www.pewinternet.org/) and we get a conversation ironically typical of a Facebook exchange.

Sorry Tom, you guys missed the point this time.
E.C.B.

]]> By: On Point Faces Facebook « The ConverStation http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14476 On Point Faces Facebook « The ConverStation Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:36:54 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14476 [...] wit: Wednesday’s On Point program that featured Vanessa Grigoriadis author of “Do You Own Facebook? Or Does Facebook Own [...] [...] wit: Wednesday’s On Point program that featured Vanessa Grigoriadis author of “Do You Own Facebook? Or Does Facebook Own [...]

]]> By: euonymous http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14449 euonymous Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:40:15 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14449 Not only was that a great On Point session, the comments are fantastic and make for great research. I don't do Facebook personally but I do advise certain clients to do so, depending on their goals. I agree with so many comments that a lot of social networking is a complete waste of time (and it's indicative of the general state of unemployment right now). Like kids addicted to video games, social networking enables one to zone out while feeling like you are "doing something." On the other hand... we are social animals. We reach out. That's what we do. And we use the net to SEARCH on areas of interest and for solutions to problems. If you want to market yourself or your product, recognize the zeitgeist and get yourself onto the social networking space. Cold calls to sell me something do not work as well as having your product show up when I search for a solution. We are in a time of transition, guys. My field is marketing and marketing is all about trying things you think should work, and seeing if it does. The smarts come in figuring out what should work, for whom, and when. Transitional periods make it much more interesting. Not only was that a great On Point session, the comments are fantastic and make for great research. I don’t do Facebook personally but I do advise certain clients to do so, depending on their goals. I agree with so many comments that a lot of social networking is a complete waste of time (and it’s indicative of the general state of unemployment right now). Like kids addicted to video games, social networking enables one to zone out while feeling like you are “doing something.” On the other hand… we are social animals. We reach out. That’s what we do. And we use the net to SEARCH on areas of interest and for solutions to problems. If you want to market yourself or your product, recognize the zeitgeist and get yourself onto the social networking space. Cold calls to sell me something do not work as well as having your product show up when I search for a solution. We are in a time of transition, guys. My field is marketing and marketing is all about trying things you think should work, and seeing if it does. The smarts come in figuring out what should work, for whom, and when. Transitional periods make it much more interesting.

]]> By: millard-fillmore http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14433 millard-fillmore Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:29:17 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14433 Josh, it means we're lazy. Josh, it means we’re lazy.

]]> By: Micky http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14428 Micky Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:45:11 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14428 I'm part of the over 35 crowd recently joining Facebook. I've connected with old friends, heard new music, seen photos of weddings and children and other positive things. Also experienced the TMI of Facebook and had to hide some friends because I really don't want to know that much about their personal lives. What I find annoying - inane quizzes, plants and safari items and peeps and other gifts I don't want, people who post hundreds of photos that take up my news feed, status updates "I'm thinking" or "watching tv".... I’m part of the over 35 crowd recently joining Facebook. I’ve connected with old friends, heard new music, seen photos of weddings and children and other positive things.

Also experienced the TMI of Facebook and had to hide some friends because I really don’t want to know that much about their personal lives.

What I find annoying – inane quizzes, plants and safari items and peeps and other gifts I don’t want, people who post hundreds of photos that take up my news feed, status updates “I’m thinking” or “watching tv”….

]]> By: Josh http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14425 Josh Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:55:59 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14425 I find it interesting that people say that they are able to be in contact with so-and-so that they never thought they would be in contact with again. What does this say about us individually? I offer a flip. It seems that this mentality reflects our individual needs to feel important. Perhaps it is not so much that I am in contact with all these people, but that these people are in contact with ME. I find it interesting that people say that they are able to be in contact with so-and-so that they never thought they would be in contact with again. What does this say about us individually? I offer a flip. It seems that this mentality reflects our individual needs to feel important. Perhaps it is not so much that I am in contact with all these people, but that these people are in contact with ME.

]]> By: paul http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14424 paul Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:40:58 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14424 it's just a tool like any other tool and it is what you make it. if you find the tool useful, use it. if not, don't. it’s just a tool like any other tool and it is what you make it. if you find the tool useful, use it. if not, don’t.

]]> By: Therisa http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14423 Therisa Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:37:21 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14423 After several tries at therapy and a degree in psychology, I have found that my (not unreasonable) time spent on FB has been much more helpful than either of them. I was suspicious at first, but eventually filled my info page with sincere responses. Those responses do not have to be intimate to be meaningful. I have in some sense "claimed" myself, and continue to do so with my status updates. Keeping track of my friends seems like an extra benefit that I don't want to do without. After several tries at therapy and a degree in psychology, I have found that my (not unreasonable) time spent on FB has been much more helpful than either of them. I was suspicious at first, but eventually filled my info page with sincere responses. Those responses do not have to be intimate to be meaningful. I have in some sense “claimed” myself, and continue to do so with my status updates. Keeping track of my friends seems like an extra benefit that I don’t want to do without.

]]> By: millard-fillmore http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-2#comment-14422 millard-fillmore Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:20:02 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14422 Oh and if you unfriend someone and they send you an accusatory email, you also have the option of blocking them - your profile won't be visible to them, and they will be unable to send you any message. I had to use this option for a neurotic female ex-friend and it gave me great peace of mind. Oh and if you unfriend someone and they send you an accusatory email, you also have the option of blocking them – your profile won’t be visible to them, and they will be unable to send you any message. I had to use this option for a neurotic female ex-friend and it gave me great peace of mind.

]]> By: millard-fillmore http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-1#comment-14421 millard-fillmore Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:16:10 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14421 Logan Parsons, I hear your dilemma - I face the same issues regarding friend requests and some friends who are more like acquaintances. Here's what I've found useful: 1. You can unfriend a friend and they won't be notified of your action. So, unless they are the compulsive types who check their friends list regularly, or keep note of the number of friends, they won't notice as long as they're not sending you messages on a regular basis. 2. You can "hide" a particular friend, and then you won't see their updates etc. appear on your page and in your feed. Hope that's helpful. Logan Parsons,

I hear your dilemma – I face the same issues regarding friend requests and some friends who are more like acquaintances. Here’s what I’ve found useful:

1. You can unfriend a friend and they won’t be notified of your action. So, unless they are the compulsive types who check their friends list regularly, or keep note of the number of friends, they won’t notice as long as they’re not sending you messages on a regular basis.

2. You can “hide” a particular friend, and then you won’t see their updates etc. appear on your page and in your feed.

Hope that’s helpful.

]]> By: I'm not paranoid; they're really out to get you http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-1#comment-14420 I'm not paranoid; they're really out to get you Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:36:49 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14420 I was disappointed at the lack of attention paid to the privacy implications of the data Facebook collects. Facebook users voluntarily create dossiers about themselves more complete than even the wildest dreams of the totalitarian governments of the 20th century. The Stasi, for all their legendary thoroughness, didn't know as much about East German citizens as Facebook knows about its users. People say, "but what I do isn't interesting," and "who would bother searching for me". That may be true, but computers change the rules. What you put on Facebook might not be harmful by itself (or it might be - what repressive government wouldn't want a list of its critics and everyone they know?), but it could be very harmful when combined by a computer with the other massive piles of data collected about you every day. When a computer can search through millions of records in a day, or an hour, or a minute, you don't have to be big-time to be worth searching for. I was disappointed at the lack of attention paid to the privacy implications of the data Facebook collects.

Facebook users voluntarily create dossiers about themselves more complete than even the wildest dreams of the totalitarian governments of the 20th century. The Stasi, for all their legendary thoroughness, didn’t know as much about East German citizens as Facebook knows about its users.

People say, “but what I do isn’t interesting,” and “who would bother searching for me”. That may be true, but computers change the rules. What you put on Facebook might not be harmful by itself (or it might be – what repressive government wouldn’t want a list of its critics and everyone they know?), but it could be very harmful when combined by a computer with the other massive piles of data collected about you every day. When a computer can search through millions of records in a day, or an hour, or a minute, you don’t have to be big-time to be worth searching for.

]]> By: Clint http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-1#comment-14419 Clint Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:23:48 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14419 Anne-Marie, it's true that Facebook and Twitter are seperate corporations. But I think Francis Conneely was referring to Facebook status updates, which are effectively the same as tweets. Anne-Marie, it’s true that Facebook and Twitter are seperate corporations. But I think Francis Conneely was referring to Facebook status updates, which are effectively the same as tweets.

]]> By: Logan Parsons http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-1#comment-14418 Logan Parsons Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:03:11 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14418 This was a very interesting discussion. I am a facebook member and often wonder what the cost-benefit ratio is. Ultimately I think facebook is a very useful tool, if you choose to use it as a tool. I also enjoy the sharing of ideas--not the incessant updates of what people are doing, but the sharing of links and videos--just to say "hey, this is worth checking out." What I don't think was addressed in the show though was the social pressures of facebook--for example, there are some "friends" I have on facebook that I no longer want to keep in contact with, not because I don't like them, but because I have moved on and want to let the past go. Only, I worry that removing a friend on facebook could be seen by that person as a social slight--it's hard to explain that you just don't want to know someone anymore! This was a very interesting discussion. I am a facebook member and often wonder what the cost-benefit ratio is. Ultimately I think facebook is a very useful tool, if you choose to use it as a tool. I also enjoy the sharing of ideas–not the incessant updates of what people are doing, but the sharing of links and videos–just to say “hey, this is worth checking out.” What I don’t think was addressed in the show though was the social pressures of facebook–for example, there are some “friends” I have on facebook that I no longer want to keep in contact with, not because I don’t like them, but because I have moved on and want to let the past go. Only, I worry that removing a friend on facebook could be seen by that person as a social slight–it’s hard to explain that you just don’t want to know someone anymore!

]]> By: Margaret http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-1#comment-14415 Margaret Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:39:42 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14415 It has been a good communication tool with me. I live in the UK and most of my closest friends and my family live back in the USA. Also, it is good for work, as I work for an international NGO and meet lots of people through work all the time. We cycle across countries together to raise money for children in Africa and Asia (e.g., www.cycletanzania.com). It's also been good for me to share news (like this story!), music and comedy that I like and read some articles and hear music or comedy that others post. I miss the patchwork quilt of photos on my home page though (not fond of the new format). I think that the trick is to make FB work for you and not be a slave to FB! It has been a good communication tool with me. I live in the UK and most of my closest friends and my family live back in the USA. Also, it is good for work, as I work for an international NGO and meet lots of people through work all the time. We cycle across countries together to raise money for children in Africa and Asia (e.g., http://www.cycletanzania.com). It’s also been good for me to share news (like this story!), music and comedy that I like and read some articles and hear music or comedy that others post. I miss the patchwork quilt of photos on my home page though (not fond of the new format). I think that the trick is to make FB work for you and not be a slave to FB!

]]> By: Ann-Marie http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-1#comment-14414 Ann-Marie Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:01:52 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14414 Francis Conneely wrote:Brian Unger had a very funny bit on twittering (which is one part of Facebook) back on March 24th. If possible, you should play part of that. It was very very funny, and very true. ------------------------------------------------------- Francis, Twitter is NOT part of Facebook. Twitter is a short messaging site where you are limited to 140 character postings to answer the question: "What are you doing now"? www.twitter.com I am a member of both Facebook and Twitter but lack the TIME and WILL to use either. Brian Unger's mocking of twitter was awesome (and true), see the link below: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101619832 Francis Conneely wrote:Brian Unger had a very funny bit on twittering (which is one part of Facebook) back on March 24th. If possible, you should play part of that. It was very very funny, and very true.
——————————————————-
Francis, Twitter is NOT part of Facebook. Twitter is a short messaging site where you are limited to 140 character postings to answer the question: “What are you doing now”? http://www.twitter.com
I am a member of both Facebook and Twitter but lack the TIME and WILL to use either.

Brian Unger’s mocking of twitter was awesome (and true), see the link below:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101619832

]]> By: Helga http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-1#comment-14398 Helga Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:55:32 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14398 I just checked out the Google search and sure enough it gives you the FB of the person and some of their friends. Not that I'm hiding but it seems a bit intrusive .. I just checked out the Google search and sure enough it gives you the FB of the person and some of their friends. Not that I’m hiding but it seems a bit intrusive ..

]]> By: Joanna http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/04/facebook-culture/comment-page-1#comment-14396 Joanna Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:55:39 +0000 http://www.onpointradio.org/?p=14060#comment-14396 I was just listening to part of your program about Facebook. I believe I am the exception to the trend. I am 30, a collage graduate with a degree in Communications, am married and my husband and I are childfree by choice. We live in a very rural, very poor area of the country and are usually the last to hear about anything like blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I have never been on Facebook and could not tell you what their homepage looks like to save my life. I do belong to an online community, one that predates Facebook and My Space, and have off and on for several years. At one point it was not just part of my life, it was my life. Eventually I had to go cold turkey, so to speak, and have just recently started participating again, but not to the same extent. I have just heard of Twitter in the last two months and have no interest in having an account there, or on Facebook or My Space. I realize that this sounds very backwoods-y to a lot of people but it is my life and I have no interest or intention of having the details of my life splashed across the internet for everyone and their cat to see. I was just listening to part of your program about Facebook. I believe I am the exception to the trend. I am 30, a collage graduate with a degree in Communications, am married and my husband and I are childfree by choice. We live in a very rural, very poor area of the country and are usually the last to hear about anything like blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

I have never been on Facebook and could not tell you what their homepage looks like to save my life. I do belong to an online community, one that predates Facebook and My Space, and have off and on for several years. At one point it was not just part of my life, it was my life. Eventually I had to go cold turkey, so to speak, and have just recently started participating again, but not to the same extent. I have just heard of Twitter in the last two months and have no interest in having an account there, or on Facebook or My Space.

I realize that this sounds very backwoods-y to a lot of people but it is my life and I have no interest or intention of having the details of my life splashed across the internet for everyone and their cat to see.

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