by Peter Joseph Swanson
Member since:
April 13, 2007

Face Book is a fad?

May 19, 2012 09:58 AM UTC
views: 0 | 9 people recommend this | comments: 28

I saw some people on the news last night saying that Face Book is just a fad. They could be sour grapes, or maybe not. I've seen things come and go on the internet.

I started my social life (telling everybody to read my novels, LOL) on the internet at Yahoo groups. There was lots of those. Spam totally ruined that.

My Space was cute. But it got too busy and cluttered and I quit them when it got to where every time I logged in I got a warning that my password might have been stolen, or whatever it said, exactly ...

When I started Gather I thought this would be the next biggest thing ever. People could "chat" here. It got to where some articles really had a lot of back and forth in hot debate, and that was fun. When you could comment on comments (that function wasn't always there from the start) it even better at encouraging debate! Face Book doesn't have that and it needs it.

When I started Face Book I rarely went there because I didn't know what to do with it. People just poked each other, and threw sheep at each other, and totally dumb stuff. It used to be really dead over there a few years ago.

I think Gather was ruined by what made it great... debate. The last presidential elections pushed that too far, here. The nastiness that came out of that started such fighting that people got kicked off, or left in disgust. Before then, Radicals and everybody else chatted without knowing they were left or right in that way, LOL ...

Face Book is a very good place for fan clubs. My Joan Crawford club from Yahoo groups moved to Face Book, and lot of pics have been posted! There's a marvelous Dark Shadows group there, great pics there too! I started a group to Vampire Novels but few joined, LOL

 

(my vampire novels face book group, if you want to join it)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/148010748625978/

 

I'm always waiting for Gather to make a comeback. It's still the best place to post poems (there used to be so many poems here) and articles to CHAT about it. People have proposed marriage here, and had weddings here, even! LOL

It's a great place for author chats!

Unless a new better/busier place opened up that I missed out on ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments: 28

Debbie W. May 19, 2012, 10:04am UTC
I can hardly stand FB. Now that there are so many ads, it's even worse. And, it will only get more cluttered if Zuckerberg has his way. Gather has changed so much in the 5 yrs I've been on here. But, I actually have more interaction w/ people here than on FB!
Peter Joseph Swanson May 19, 2012, 10:07am UTC
I don't mind ads as long as they stay in their areas. For the internet to be free for us there has to be ads.
Peter Joseph Swanson May 19, 2012, 10:09am UTC
That said, nobody goes on the internet thinking, "I want to go look at ads now" ... so the ads had better stay in their place!
Ms Lee P. May 19, 2012, 10:22am UTC
I'm not a Facebook fan. I pop over there occasionaly to see what my children and grandchildren are doing and that's about all. I do love Gather, it's a fun place to play. I joined Gather in the heat of the last election and there really were some mean words being passed around. I can't understand why people do not realize that "name calling" never changes anyones mind about switching their vote from one canidate to another ... LOL. It sure wouldn't change my mind it usually makes me feel sorry for the name caller and wonder if all the other supporting voters are as hostile as the name caller is. LOL! I did join one of your Facebook groups but I don't think I've ever clicked on it. I wouldn't even know how to do this ... LOL ... I'm not very computer savy.
Ms Lee P. May 19, 2012, 10:25am UTC
Oh, I almost forgot to comment on the ad thingy. I actually do click on some of the ads here on Gather. Sometimes out of curiosity and sometimes the ads are "just what I've been looking for". Ads want to sell us stuff and sometimes I want to buy stuff.
Peter Joseph Swanson May 19, 2012, 10:30am UTC
For me Face Book is great for keeping in touch with my sister, old school friends from grade school, high school to two colleges, and even old summer camp counselors from a YMCA camp I worked for in 1981. Everybody is there!!!

I'm even in the habit of contacting my publisher over there, instead of an email.

I'm not too computer savy but I have learned to click on things that are clickable! LOL
Mary Ann Slavcheff May 19, 2012, 10:32am UTC
Face book never worked for me. Too much immaturity. But I recently went back to Facebook. I looked you up, Peter, but could not add you as a friend.
Peter Joseph Swanson May 19, 2012, 11:04am UTC
I wonder why they wouldn't let you add me!
JOHN BECK May 19, 2012, 10:40am UTC
I still only go on Facebook if I get a message.
I'm wondering not only about Facebook and Gather, but the internet in general. The amount of spam and pfishing has become increasingly intrusive.
I remember when CB radio was the greatest thing and it became so successful that its success ruined it. It helped a lot of travelers find their way and find places to eat, etc. It alerted drivers to accidents and construction sites. During one "fuel crisis" it was foolhardy to proceed unless you found out by CB conversation that fuel was available in the next city.
Tessa D. May 19, 2012, 11:18am UTC
personal computers were a fad, too
Juan J Martinez May 19, 2012, 11:35am UTC
As I said earlier in the week, Facebook doesn’t produce or create anything and the mediocre pricing of its stock at the end of the day is a result of this. Facebook like the crapality TV phenomenon has become a part of the fabric of our society but the only people who have and or will become rich from Facebook’s stock offering is its owner, employees and those like Bono who had enough money to buy up huge blocks at the start. This company’s stock will never be a huge money maker.
Juan J Martinez May 19, 2012, 11:37am UTC
PS, I will never be a part of Facebook, it doesn't and more than likely never will.
William M. May 19, 2012, 11:57am UTC
My wife goes to facebook and plays the slots. That is the only thing we use facebook for.
Sue G. May 19, 2012, 12:32pm UTC
I was like you on FB Peter, kinda silly, keep up with my niece & nephew etc, but hardly went in there. THEN, I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (mg)(a debilitating muscle disease, sort of like MS but with treatments & medicines and not a deadly conclusion). I live in a small resort area, there are no support groups, and though I have an okay neurologist, I had no one to talk to or share with. I looked up mg on Facebook and my God there are support groups, national organizations and many, many people to 'talk' to. Now, I'm in a semi-remission (2 years since my diagnosis) after a surgery and medication, but the help, the advice and the wonderful other patients who are going thru the same or worse symptoms, who just talk about this ridiculous situation we find ourselves in, is so comforting. I'm in 5 groups in FB, to help and be helped. I have found out so much about mg and I have learned about new things people are doing to help themselves-which work! Had I not gone into FB on a whim to explore this option, I don't think I'd be doing as well as I am-honestly. Facebook is rather frivolous and dangerous as well, but it can also be an amazing tool to connect to people having a tough time with an issue or health problem and at least get an understanding ear or answers to questions no one else can give you. I like going in there (yes, daily now) and reading comments from newly diagnosed patients. They are sick and scared and want to just connect to anyone else who has this disease.

I like to help and in turn I get help too. So there's a WHOLE different aspect to FB than most people ever think about. I'm grateful to have found it. When I mention FB to people and they roll their eyes, I understand, but I disagree with the 'frivolous' aspect of it now.
Oh and happy belated birthday Peter!
Tim T. May 19, 2012, 1:18pm UTC
We live in the moment.
Steph-in-NE ..... May 19, 2012, 1:40pm UTC
We follow the moment, I just got on FB to track my children now they are grown, I expanded my horizons,, love face book yet can live without it if it Faded away
Susan N. May 19, 2012, 1:59pm UTC
I do check in on FB to see what my friends and schoolmates in Indiana are up to but I like Gather a lot better and USED to be an Official Gatherholic! Gather has changed a lot and I have changed the way I use it too.....I do not think FB did themselves any favors in the IPO but time will tell!

...and I do enjoy seeing what you (PJS) has posted on FB about your wonderful novels!
M L M. May 19, 2012, 2:04pm UTC
Interesting point of view. I got onto FB because a lot of friends live more than 40 miles away and its a good way to keep in touch....gas is expensive and sometimes there's no time to visit or I don't have minutes on my cell....and also when someone moves out of town its a lot cheaper to "talk" online than to write letters.....ok, I'll admit it, I hate writting letters. The only problem I have is convincing some of my friends to purchase a computer, they hate them and refuse to learn. Can't do too much in that case, can I, LOLOLOL.
I do facebook. I try and keep it silly and light hearted. I do post my poems in my notes on Facebook thou. I keep it light cause i have lost of family on Facebook.


I love posting here on gather..if you find another place you like to chat. let me know I will probably follow.
Angela A. May 19, 2012, 5:04pm UTC
I love Facebook because most of my family are on there, and I can keep in touch with what they are doing. And, the games are pretty fun
Vj McMullan May 19, 2012, 8:49pm UTC
Interesting
Ed Da Head Toker May 19, 2012, 11:51pm UTC
I support legalization of medical marijuana and total legalization for adults, yet my space claimed that I supported illegal drug use.
Peter Joseph Swanson May 20, 2012, 9:20am UTC
What idiots!
Roryann O'Rourke May 20, 2012, 12:05am UTC
Peter, what you said here:

When I started Face Book I rarely went there because I didn't know what to do with it. People just poked each other, and threw sheep at each other, and totally dumb stuff. It used to be really dead over there a few years ago.

LOL I used to LOVE throwing things at my kids when I first started. I threw filing cabinets. ;)

The new timeline thing really screwed the whole experience up for me. It was fun finding old classmates and old friends from my neighborhood growing up, but even on FB the old saying "you can't go home" is true. It actually is more depressing when you think about how old everyone has gotten.

I got hooked on Farmville for a while, but gave that up with no side effects.

Geez, one simple idea turned a couple of people into gazillionaires. Why can't we put our creative minds together and come up with something like that?

Good post!
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. May 20, 2012, 6:01pm UTC
Myspace is a thing of the past. I love facebook as I am sure you can tell lol .
Deidre Kent May 23, 2012, 2:34am UTC
Myspace died a long time ago. FB will die within a year. There is no substance. Invest your money in something more tangible.
Deidre Kent May 23, 2012, 2:31am UTC
I could not agree more with the original post and all the replies so far. Everyone here has so expressed my views about Facebook I can't think of anything to add other than to say I don't like Facebook and I only go on to see pictures posted by relatives all over the world. I don't post anything so I guess I am just a voyeur. I think FB is on it's way out and there is something better on the horizon. I do hope no one here invested any money in Facebook. It's like putting money on candy floss!
Tom W May 23, 2012, 11:10am UTC
Making it rain, although a little late for your birthday.

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