by Nancy *
Member since:
October 1, 2007

Gather vs. Facebook

November 07, 2009 10:20 PM EST
views: 191 | comments: 54

Pros to Facebook:

  1. Connected to real world friends.  Thus allowing me to stay in touch and know what is going on in their lives with out a lot of e-mail passed back and forth.
  2. Re-connecting to old class mates.  Remembering high school and learning what is going on in the lives of those I hadn't seen in 30+ years
  3. Fun Games... like scrabble.

Cons to Facebook

  1. Posting lengthy content is painful.
  2. I'm not impressed by the way Facebook shares photographs
  3. Lack of response from those I am connected with.
  4. Facebook is easily hacked and there are privacy issues
  5. No points/earnings
  6. Focused mostly on teens/young adults
  7. I can't share what I post to Gather

Pros to Gather

  1. Posting written work, pictures and videos is fairly easy.
  2. Making connections and new friends is easy, encouraged and fun
  3. I know that my posts have been viewed
  4. I get comments/feedback
  5. points/earnings
  6. Mostly adult/older adult community
  7. I can share what I post on Facebook

 

Cons to Gather

  1. Constant "drama" and/or "fighting"
  2. Point system changed causing people to leave the community
  3. System glitches sometimes cause problems.

So weighing out... I like Gather much better than Facebook.  I have the Facebook account to stay in touch with people, but seldom post there except through Gather.  I read the posts of friends, but only to an extent.  If it's not on the front page of the "News Feed"  I don't go back further.  I've chosen the option of being notified via e-mail whenever someone I'm connected to posts on Gather.  I don't have to scroll through 'feeds' which mostly just confuse me anyway.  This way I don't miss anyone I'm connected to and if I feel I need to comment I do.

I will be totally honest here.  I"m addicted to the feedback.  I may not get a lot of comments and that's ok.  But knowing that the things I posts (articles and pictures) are even looked at is what keeps me coming back to gether.

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Comments: 54

DesertDarlene L. Nov 7, 2009, 10:22pm EST
One thing I've found nice is that you can post your Gather links on Facebook, too. That way, you can share longer content and photos on Facebook, but keep them on Gather where you can get rewarded and not have to worry about hacking and privacy as much.
Nancy * Nov 7, 2009, 10:31pm EST
Yep!
♥Tabitha Cowan♥ Nov 7, 2009, 10:24pm EST
I'm with ya on that one! I am addicted to the feedback on my posts too. It's even gotten to where my friends on Facebook read the posts and comment on there about it.
Nancy * Nov 7, 2009, 10:33pm EST
I find it rare to get feedback/comments on Facebook though it does happen occassionally. I had one reallife friends actually join Gather! Would be really cool if some of my other friends joined too.
Kathy D. Nov 7, 2009, 10:39pm EST
I pretty much agree with you
Nancy * Nov 7, 2009, 10:52pm EST
thanks Kathy
Risa G. Nov 7, 2009, 10:43pm EST
I am not on Facebook altho' I've gotten invites to it. I've heard too many bad things so I just stay here at Gather. I get more out of it. I can socialize, I can post my rants, my pictures, recipes, good discussions and I can get gift cards for doing so. Worth it to me. I won't leave, no matter what they do to change it.
Nancy * Nov 7, 2009, 10:53pm EST
Me either ;)
Monica H. Nov 7, 2009, 10:44pm EST
Sounds just about right. I really like them both though.
phil w. Nov 7, 2009, 10:47pm EST
I don't do Facebook ! Am I missing out ?
Sherry T. Nov 7, 2009, 10:49pm EST
Not in my opinion.
Nancy * Nov 7, 2009, 10:54pm EST
You probably are not missing a thing.
Sherry T. Nov 7, 2009, 10:49pm EST
Newbie to Gather. Facebook left me disappointed. (Is there such a thing as TOO MANY friends?)
Nancy * Nov 7, 2009, 10:54pm EST
I'm not sure... I have more friends (albeit cyberfriends) here than I do on Facebook ... I like it here better.
Sherry T. Nov 7, 2009, 10:58pm EST
Nancy, are they people you already knew like from your town or whatever, or are they new friends??
phil w. Nov 7, 2009, 10:59pm EST
Sherry ,I hope you enjoy your time here on Gather .
Nancy * Nov 7, 2009, 11:02pm EST
Some of folks I know on Facebook are people I know from a town I used to live in (Dayton, OH) and others are people I went to school with verylong ago and also a few friends from Gather. Here at Gather I've met a woman here that lives near me and one is a freind that I knew when I lived in Dayton. The others here are friends I"ve made on line and perhaps some day I'll get to meet one or two more.
Sherry T. Nov 7, 2009, 11:48pm EST
Thanks Phil I hope I do also!!
Sandra H. Nov 7, 2009, 10:58pm EST
I don't do Facebook.....I like Gather and will stay here.
Vicky Duggins Nov 7, 2009, 10:59pm EST
I seem to do things in cycles on the net. Three years ago I was spending 80% of my time on IRC and 20% here on Gather. Now I'm spending 80% of my online time on Facebook and 20% on Gather. Where will I be in another three years? Probably somewhere I've not even heard about yet.
Nancy * Nov 7, 2009, 11:03pm EST
I gave up IRC about 10 years ago or so. I actually like it here on Gather better. IRC doesn't really leave room for "posting" LOL
dee b. Nov 7, 2009, 11:05pm EST
I've had invites to facebook but declined. I have heard from others that it isn't very user friendly and too many virus or hackers out there. I prefer Gather, to facebook, but don't spend as much time here either anymore. The point system, doesn't make it worth it. I read a few post, make a few comments, maybe even put a post of my own up. But the amount of time I spend now is much less than it use to be.
Marsha S. Nov 7, 2009, 11:06pm EST
# I can't share what I post to Gather.....well you can by clicking the share on facebook box when you post :)
Nancy * Nov 7, 2009, 11:40pm EST
When I click "share" it sends it only to Facebook. Where is the Gather option on Facebook? Am I really missing something?
Marsha S. Nov 7, 2009, 11:43pm EST
not that I know of....I don't think you can share here what you post there....I was thinking you meant the other way around
Nancy * Nov 8, 2009, 6:56am EST
Ahh.. .yeah I share stuff to facebook all the time :)
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Nov 7, 2009, 11:12pm EST
I'm on both, but I like to keep the two separate. I knew nothing about facebook until one day I was told...hey...you're doing the company's facebook page.
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Nov 7, 2009, 11:12pm EST
and it, of course, is in the company name.
Kat W. Nov 7, 2009, 11:12pm EST
Facebook is used as a "meeting" place for my family and friends I have had since high school. I like that I can link from Gather to Facebook but I find more interaction here than I do on Facebook.
Angela A. Nov 7, 2009, 11:17pm EST
I didn't spend too much time on Facebook till recently. I found some fun games that quite addictive, Cafe World and Restaurant City.
They are super!
But, I can't share what I write on Gather, on Facebook. Because I mostly write adult content, which they don't allow.
KittyMommy2u W. Nov 7, 2009, 11:22pm EST
I hear bad things about Facebook and hackers on the news all the time. Uh, no thanks.
Sue M. Nov 8, 2009, 12:01am EST
I agree with you completely on the pros and cons of the two, Nancy. I thought it would be great to connect with old "real" life friends on FB, but like you said, not many respond to what you post. I, too, love the feedback here on Gather!
elaine laflamme Nov 8, 2009, 1:46am EST
i prefer gather
Elaine A. Nov 8, 2009, 2:25am EST
I like gather but I also like facebook, my family & friends, and my husband's family are all on facebook
Darin Waugh Nov 8, 2009, 3:21am EST
Good thoughts!
Candice(Candy) E. Nov 8, 2009, 3:39am EST
I Really Enjoy Gather & Totally Hooked on it !!
Smiles" :-D
Marianne R. Nov 8, 2009, 7:22am EST
Not really that indepth. I look at is as connecting with my past versus making new friends.
Digital Diva S. Nov 8, 2009, 7:30am EST
I like Facebook because its easy to contact my family. I know if I need to tell my kids something they will be on there daily and see what I said. I do send my photo essays and my photos (not all of them) to Facebook and I've had good feedback from my Facebook friends. - Not anywhere like what I get on Gather but its nice to be able to share with non-Gather friends and family.
S. M. K. Nov 8, 2009, 7:41am EST
I'm not a facebooker. I figure if i had wanted to keep in touch with people from my past...i would have.
S. M. K. Nov 8, 2009, 7:42am EST
i like the page views feature on gather too! i like to know someone out there is reading what i post :)
Loretta E. Nov 8, 2009, 9:13am EST
I have a Facebook account only because of my children. When my son was at college in Tampa that was the way I was able to see pics he had posted. For me I believe that Facebook is more for college students, so my account is only to keep abreast of what's going on with my kids and their friends. Gather is much more my speed, I enjoy reading most posts, seeing pics and videos. The one con is, I seen at lot of fighting and drama lately. In my opinion if I don't like a topic or where the comments are looking I'll just go read another post. I want my time here on Gather to be an enjoyable one. I'll leave the craziness to others! LOL
flit . Nov 8, 2009, 10:45am EST
Pro to Facebook - FARMVILLE!!!

I loves my farm.
pamela r. Nov 9, 2009, 8:23am EST
ME TOO!!!
Jennifer R. Nov 8, 2009, 10:50am EST
I like both. I like Facebook for the reasons you listed above -connections to people I know

and I like Gather for all the obvious reasons - meeting new people electronically, and posting my writing.

thanks for posting to my group.
Melanie S. Nov 8, 2009, 11:10am EST
I like some of the silly games on Facebook. Other than that and getting to peek at what my daughter is saying, I just really don't care for Facebook all that much.
Chelle M. Nov 8, 2009, 11:54am EST
I personally don't post anything but some pictures on Facebook. For me it's a way to try and stay in touch with real world friends (mostly people I went to school with.) Gather is where I share my writing and some of my photography. Plus it's my place to find new and interesting things to read (most of the time, hehe.)

My Facebook and my Gather are pretty much two separate worlds with maybe only one or two overlapping people, and I like it that way.
Steph-in-NE ..... Nov 8, 2009, 1:14pm EST
I love both, FB is for my high school friends and other to keep in touch with, and gather is for writing and reading,
about the hacking
my son tell me as long as one sign out on everything then it is harder to hack into anything, I do this and have not one problem
Christine G. Nov 8, 2009, 6:21pm EST
I first got facebook to keep up with some of my favorite artists. There are some games I like playing on there. I really like gather because of the recipes that people share.
Peter Joseph Swanson Nov 8, 2009, 6:24pm EST
admit it - Gather drama can be fun ...


te he
Nancy * Nov 8, 2009, 8:30pm EST
OK we will put that in the Pro's column LOL
Vikki M. Nov 8, 2009, 8:32pm EST
I much prefer Gather, myself. I do use both, but only check out Facebook once in awhile and don't miss it when I don't go. I always miss Gather. :)
Dana F. Nov 8, 2009, 8:34pm EST
Both here.
pamela r. Nov 9, 2009, 8:25am EST
I agree with all your pros and cons.....I have both and love the games and FARMING....so much easier on a cyberfarm =D
FB has become a way to send out a quick hello, pix are deff easier to do here....and the points aren't to shabby eather =0)
dreama e. Nov 14, 2009, 4:15pm EST
I really only like gather

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