I am burnt out, too, on Facebook.
I now have close to 2,000 "friends" on Facebook. I let two people come into my network yesterday because they were friends of friends and they both immediately asked me to invest in their start-up or help them with a book project. Can we meet first? Would you do that in real life?
I have the distinct impression that the assumption of some measure of control is wrong.
While deciding whether to leave or stay, I read (among other things) the privacy policy of Facebook. No control there.
And all the clicking to deny things I have never asked for anyway is not worth it any longer, for me. There is little Facebook can offer me as the bazaar Ted points out it has changed to.
So long Facebook
Hi Ted,
I see your point … but ultimately don’t we have at least some measure of control over Facebook? If you only accept “invitations” from people you really want to connect with, wouldn’t you avoid the “vampire bites” and etc.?
Best,
Marty
“I now have close to 2,000 ‘friends’ on Facebook”
That first sentence pretty much sums up your problems. Cut your friends down to people you actually know and alter your privacy settings, and I think you’ll find that the signal to noise ratio will go up.
Best of luck
Yep … I got my account but it takes too much time to be useful. I disabled so many notifications and notices, it’s not funny anymore.
Good stuff, Ted.
similarly, i’m very gratified to know that you, given your track record and experience, share my opinion; and yet sheryl sandberg, the new ceo, is so impressive
In other words, facebook has become the new myspace…
Ted,
You’re right on the money with this one.
As a freshman, I opened an account on Facebook to keep in touch with the buddies I’d made in High School. Sadly,
Facebook is the worst pseudo-relationship I’ve ever had the misfortune to be a part of. Maybe there was a time when Facebook was somehow useful–I wouldn’t know. The fact remains that I have little tolerance for smalltalk and pleasantries in real life, but the virtual world really takes it to a new–more agonizing–state.
If people want to find me, the internet is at their disposal and I don’t need to be going to these facespaces and mybooks…
Amen. Facebook was awesome a few years ago when I was in college. Once they made it more global they also made it too messy. It reminds me too much of myspace now and it’s just a mess.
I had a much smaller footprint on Facebook than you did and got out a while ago. Between privacy issues and the unadulterated crap that has infested it…it simply wasn’t worth the bother. A lot of sizzle…no steak.
Ted-
Trust me, Grumpiness has nothing to do with it. Facebook has millions of applications with .00001% that is useful. It’s very annoying…
Here here, Ted; I just look at all the junk whenever I sign into Facebook, and it just looks like a mess to deal with rather than any kind of meaningful information.
agree 100000%. i use it too see new pictures from family / friends – and that’s about it.
I TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!!!!!
I got fed up and wrote a post as well http://www.pamelaspunch.com/?s=facebook
It is totally out of hand – and p.s. – if one more guy tries to meet me b/c he thinks he knows me on facebook … oy! and CREEPY.
Good point! Although why do you add all the pointless applications if you don’t like them.
You went through this immediate rush to add everything realizing it was mostly bs.
The one app I really like is scrabulous, great scrabble application that can be fun to play.
I of course immediately friend requested you upon reading your posting
As a Facebook user from the “elitist” days when you had to have a college email address and only certain colleges were allowed on Facebook, I completely agree. I liked the days of Facebook before the complexity, and before the days of constant quiz and application requests. It was easier to use and much cleaner.