Facebook - friend or foe?

Sada · #51 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 09:25

For the dear life of me I can't understand how anyone can spread his/her life all over the net...

Cyrus · #52 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 09:30

It's interesting that mnay people here see FB as a kind of Narcissistic tool, and therefore a bit vain, yet feel free to post their opinions about anything on this very forum, is it the anonymity?

Speaker to Animals · #53 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 09:34

Here's another possible problem with FB:
BBC - Newsbeat - Technology - Facebook users hit by virus

Speaker to Animals · #54 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrus

It's interesting that mnay people here see FB as a kind of Narcissistic tool, and therefore a bit vain, yet feel free to post their opinions about anything on this very forum, is it the anonymity?

Possibly, but then few post things as inane as "I just finished cleaning the bathroom" or explain how fabulous their life is right now and what wonderful holidays they enjoy and how rich and famous people they actually really know and what great private clubs they belong to etc.

If they do post that sort of crap on this forum they'll probably be brought into line by the mass groan or comments thrown back at them. As an example, try the friendly american with the big house and the pool and the bbq.

BigD · #55 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 09:38

I was waiting for someone to compare the two

:

a) your forum posting identity is confidential (anonymous to other users)
b) you are discussing something that is not simply self-centred.
c) It is personal interaction generally with a topic, a direction or thread
d) The links of interest, are the post that you answered, and subsequent answers to your posts.

BigD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrus

It's interesting that mnay people here see FB as a kind of Narcissistic tool, and therefore a bit vain, yet feel free to post their opinions about anything on this very forum, is it the anonymity?

Sada · #56 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 09:39

FB looks like as if people are taking themselves for real
on Forums they seem to be "created characters"

Tilia · #57 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 09:41

Do you mean you're not real Sada?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sada

FB looks like as if people are taking themselves for real
on Forums they seem to be "created characters"

BigD · #58 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 09:43

Although one can create a persona using any unverified web site identity, I would say that the pressure to create a persona is even greater when you think you are being judged by your peers, "friends" and others.

"This FB page is not me, but this is how I want to be perceived. You pressured me into revealing my favourite, movies, music, hobbies and interests and now I feel obliged project a popular cool image"

I reject you are getting "truth" from FB, outright. Because you can't handle the truth.

BigD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sada

FB looks like as if people are taking themselves for real
on Forums they seem to be "created personalities"

Cyrus · #59 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigD

Although one can create a persona using any unverified web site identity, I would say that the pressure to create a persona is even greater when you think you are being judged by your peers, "friends" and others.

"This FB page is not me, but this is how I want to be perceived. You pressured me into revealing my favourite, movies, music, hobbies and interests and now I feel obliged project a popular cool image"

I reject you are getting "truth" from FB, outright. Because you can't handle the truth.

BigD

I don't really understand this viewpoint, how is it not just an extension of your own personal life? Why do you feel the need to project your "cool" image any more than you do in real life, it's only you who feels that facebook is an advertising medium for your other self, whereas it can just as easily be a simple communication tool among friends.

The status can just as easily be a thread starter, your friends list a list of friends and not a popularity rater, your interests your actual interests and so on, as in life, it's a matter of choice how you choose to project yourself.

Speaker to Animals · #60 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 10:03

I'll accept that for some, probably many people, FB is simply a tool used for social purposes. We are possibly projecting a biased view of FB here, I myself have only joined it as I was sent a link by a close personal friend that used FB as a photo-dump site. I haven't bothered to create a profile and I'm not interested in doing so. Whether some use it to promote themselves is open to debate but on the balance of probability it seems likely. People do like to display their colours peacock fashion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrus

I don't really understand this viewpoint, how is it not just an extension of your own personal life? Why do you feel the need to project your "cool" image any more than you do in real life, it's only you who feels that facebook is an advertising medium for your other self, whereas it can just as easily be a simple communication tool among friends.

The status can just as easily be a thread starter, your friends list a list of friends and not a popularity rater, your interests your actual interests and so on, as in life, it's a matter of choice how you choose to project yourself.