Social Networking sites and Escapees

[SacremPyrobolum]

It seems to me the after reading this thread here http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.308159-You-Dont-Exist-if-Youre-Not-on-a-Social-Network
the Escapists has a pretty negative outlook on social networking sites. Why? You cant argue how useful they can be. It helped organized the protests in the Middle East, it can help you keep up with friends if you are living in a different country like I am, and is sometimes just an easy way to get in contact with people.
So why the hate Escapists? No reason to bash a product people like using for no more reason than people use it.

 

[Souplex]

I don't like machines meddling in my social interactions.
If it's more complex than an analog phone, I avoid it if possible.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

I hate Facebook because of the lack of privacy it gives you and how little custom options there are (See Google+'s 'Circles'). I hate Formspring because it removed the "Sign in with twitter" option that I used to sign in with and now can't access.

However, I do like twitter, as it's nice to see what people are doing and to talk to them (Or not, if they are super awesome people you look at but must not reply to out of fear of them thinking less of you with their Uber Celebrity status, like LittleKuriboh) and I don't hate Google Plus, which seems to respect your privacy (though it's early yet). I also don't hate Tumblr, but I know such few people on it, that going off and spending time on it is rather pointless.

See, I don't hate everything, and have legitimate reasons otherwise.

Calumon: Facebook says I can't have a page 'cos I'm not real! Meanies!

 

[Verlander]

I do the whole social networking thing. I image the backlash against them is part of the constant attention seeking rebellious streak that "geeky" communities always seem exude, probably in defiance of their members own lack of assertiveness in real life. Another persons opinion on things that I do personally, matters to me very little. I have an active social life, and these tools are useful.

 

[reckoner09]

I don't like machines meddling in my social interactions.
If it's more complex than an analog phone, I avoid it if possible.

Says the person with 22458 posts in an online forum?

I hate Facebook because of the lack of privacy it gives you and how little custom options there are (See Google+'s 'Circles')

Agreed.

 

[Souplex]

I don't like machines meddling in my social interactions.
If it's more complex than an analog phone, I avoid it if possible.

Says the person with 22458 posts in an online forum?

I hate Facebook because of the lack of privacy it gives you and how little custom options there are (See Google+'s 'Circles')

Agreed.

I don't come here for serious social interaction, I come here for goofing off.

 

[Hagi]

I personally don't like social networking sites as I like to keep my privacy online.

I hate websites that require Facebook, Twitter etc.

I don't have anything against the social networking sites themselves, just don't use them myself.

 

[reckoner09]

I have an active social life, and these tools are useful.

I use facebook, and indeed it is a useful tool if only because everyone uses it. I'm really hoping that google+ manages to build up momentum and the privacy settings stay simple and effective.

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

I personally don't like social networking sites as I like to keep my privacy online.

I hate websites that require Facebook, Twitter etc.

I don't have anything against the social networking sites themselves, just don't use them myself.

I know this is off topic but I love how you type double spaced all nice and organized-like. Its very refreshing to read!

 

[Ren3004]

I never liked the idea of social networks, that anyone can see my profile and go to all my friends' profiles from there. I never had any need for them. No, not even to keep in touch with people, I have a phone, if I want to talk to someone I'll call/text them. Honestly, reading the article in that thread made me sick, those kids only give importance to whatever is posted on Facebook, they feel the need to post pictures of everything they do and need to get the most comments or likes to feel validated. If you don't get how ridiculous this behaviour is, imagine that someone came up to you and said "Hey, I was at this party yesterday, here's pictures of me, look, I was having fun! Do you like them? Say you like them! TELL EVERYONE WHO'S HERE THAT YOU LIKE THIS PICTURE!!! AND WHY HAVEN'T YOU SAID ANYTHING ABOUT HOW I LOOK TODAY, EVEN THOUGH I'M EXACTLY THE SAME AS ON ANY OTHER DAY!!! YOU SAID MARY SUE HAD PRETTY EYES, WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME?!!?!??!!??!"

 

[Hagi]

I know this is off topic but I love how you type double spaced all nice and organized-like. Its very refreshing to read!

I'm a sucker for paragraphs, punctuation and spelling.

There's nothing on these forums quite as beautiful as a long well-written post with proper paragraphing, punctuation and spelling. But that's probably just me.

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

I know this is off topic but I love how you type double spaced all nice and organized-like. Its very refreshing to read!

I'm a sucker for paragraphs, punctuation and spelling.

There's nothing on these forums quite as beautiful as a long well-written post with proper paragraphing, punctuation and spelling. But that's probably just me.

English teacher?

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I'll turn to Cracked for this one.

Ding.
Ding.

And for good measure:
Ding.

 

[Blow_Pop]

I enjoy my privacy though I do have social networking sites. And keep the privacy up as high as I can. Mostly, I use them to communicate with people in other countries or in the military. A lot cheaper than having an international phone and trying to call them. I hate that everything now revolves around them but otherwise I'm fairly indifferent.

 

[Hagi]

English teacher?

Nope, just a fan of the English language I guess. Which is kind of weird as I'm absolutely horrible at all the other languages.

I'm a programmer though, so maybe my love for punctuation, paragraphing and spelling comes from that.

Code which isn't properly punctuated, paragraphed and spelled tends to not compile. Which leaves less time for goofing around.

Spoiler: What to do when compiling?

 

[Verlander]

I have an active social life, and these tools are useful.

I use facebook, and indeed it is a useful tool if only because everyone uses it. I'm really hoping that google+ manages to build up momentum and the privacy settings stay simple and effective.

You're not wrong. Google+ has to impress me to win me over though, and it's currently very generic. Also not sure I enjoy the Google monopoly that's going on...

 

[Rawne1980]

My friends have my address, phone number and in extreme cases my e-mail (I say extreme because I rarely read my e-mails, only have the address to register for things).

I have never seen the point of facebook or anything like that.

We didn't have it when I was growing up so i'm pretty sure i'll get along just fine without it now.

I know only 1 of my kids has a facebook profile she hasn't used in over a year.

None of my other kids have ever had one. They prefer going out than online socialising. Their choice, I didn't tell them they couldn't do it.

 

[Ickorus]

I don't like them because of the amount of information they have on you wen you use one.

I still have a facebook though but I don't use it, i'll delete the account when Google+ comes out properly and my friends join it. (Im already on there)

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

I'll turn to Cracked for this one.

Ding.
Ding.

And for good measure:
Ding.

What?! People are saying that a new thing will ruin society as we know it! In all my days on the escapists I have never seen that before...

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

It was something extra to remember and check each day, no one friended me, and if I wanted to talk with half the people I'd just text them or use Steam or Skype.

It was just too much of a hassle for something I never considered using.