Why you should deactivate your Facebook Acct

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

LOL. I actually get asked in interviews why I don't have a personal Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and so on account.

"Ah, so you've tried to find these accounts, and probably also searched Google?"
- "Yes, of course."
"That is the exact reason why I don't have these accounts. What happens in my private life is my own business, and you don't need LinkedIn to read my resumé as I've mailed it to you as requested."

Mostly, the answer is something akin to: "Hm... uh... yes. Moving on...."

Sometimes I get asked: "So, don't you frequent any forums, about your hobbies, or about computers, with regard to work?"

Then the answer is: "Yes, I do, actually. However, my nickname is not the same on all forums. On some, it is. But even if you know one or more of them, you won't find any information that is of use to you. Everything you will be able to find, be it under my name or my nickname, is stuff that I'd tell you right here, too."

I have observed that some people actually seem to regard such answers as hostile, as if you have something to hide.

I however, see it as just being a private person. I do not put anything on the internet that I don't want you to know. As said: even if you know my real name, or one or more of my nicknames, you can only find stuff that I'd tell you right on the spot if there's a reason to.



In that case, the friendship would be over for me. You can contact me in more than one way:

1, 2: Mobile / SMS (same number for almost 15 years already)
3: My (very old) provider's e-mail, that I still forward.
4: Private e-mail on my own domain
5: On MSN Network (yes, still)
6: Use a PM, on a whole bunch of forums
7: If you have to, you can write a letter. I will answer it. And yes, I'll use a fountain pen to do it.

On MSN, only one person is still regularly online. Maybe we'll both replace that with GTalk. (Not that anything beside the login data is filled out in the MSN profile...) I refuse to add any other way of communication. 6 ways to be reached is more than enough. (7 if you count the letter, but the last person to do this has been years back.)

Since 1998, I can be directly reached in at least 3 different ways at all times. Before that, you could reach me in only two ways, and one of them was indirect: by talking directly to me, or hoping I was at home when you called my parent's landline.

The reason that I don't add any other ways of communication is quite simple: I don't trust them.



If I actually finish the book I've started someday, and then get around to publishing it and awe-ing the entire world with my genius in creating literature (*cooouuugh, choke*), then I'll probably create some social networking accounts as, the author of the book... being "John Smith" or "Jan Janssen"

Yep, definitely a psychopath!!!!

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

The UAE authorities seem to be more upfront about their 'surveillance' than other countries who are no doubt doing the same thing - just not making an open disclosure about it.

Though the thing that interests me is if the private or select group of 'friends' communicating to each other can be monitored and how that is happening. It's one thing for the open to all chats to be able to be publicly followed - another for the invite only or private chats. I'm not singling out the UAE on that issue.

I'm sure they are monitored or can be quite readily. For that matter, FB doesn't even keep things private that it says it will. My "birthday" was private as in "only me" yet my age showed up under my posts on another site with no input or agreement from me. The government wouldn't have any trouble getting access.

[teh603]

I'm not too worried. It isn't like I know the secret Business Major handshake that gets you a successful interview, or my employer is willing to give me a recommendation I can count on. All the damn school district will give are sealed ones, and for all I know they're saying I'm an alcoholic with six illegitimate children.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by teh603

I'm not too worried. It isn't like I know the secret Business Major handshake that gets you a successful interview, or my employer is willing to give me a recommendation I can count on. All the damn school district will give are sealed ones, and for all I know they're saying I'm an alcoholic with six illegitimate children.

You are?

[teh603]

Originally Posted by kennyc

You are?

If I was, my parents wouldn't still be demanding grandchildren.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by teh603

If I was, my parents wouldn't still be demanding grandchildren.

.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I checked my Facebook page about four days ago. Thinking about checking it again in a day or so in case any of my twelve "friends" had anything to say lately. Oh the horror! I feel terrible about contributing to the decline of civilization, but what can I do? I'm hooked... I. can't. get. out. The horror!

I see this as 'not using'. I have friends that organize dinners and trips and while they have Facebook accounts, and most of their friends have Facebook accounts, they make exceptions for me and a couple of other people that don't and contact us by email. If I would make an account and I would let my friends know, then I would have to check it at least daily.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I see this as 'not using'. I have friends that organize dinners and trips and while they have Facebook accounts, and most of their friends have Facebook accounts, they make exceptions for me and a couple of other people that don't and contact us by email. If I would make an account and I would let my friends know, then I would have to check it at least daily.

Or use it on the phone so you get notifications when something relevant happens.

Facebook is extremely useful for certain things like events and communication about events. It is also very useful to keep in some kind of contacts with hundreds of acquaintances.

And the privacy problem is solved by just assuming that everybody can read everything you write.

To me some of the negative opinions here sound like the opinions that ebook readers are bad just because you cannot bath with them and so on. It is objections from none or very little use of the tool.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I see this as 'not using'.

Huh?

So let me get this straight: "users" are those who make daily--almost habitual--use of it ... non-users are those people who either don't have accounts, or who only use their accounts in a casual--sometimes infrequent--manner? I did not know that. That's a pretty handy (re)definition.

[jehane]

Originally Posted by tompe

To me some of the negative opinions here sound like the opinions that ebook readers are bad just because you cannot with them ans so on. It is objections from none or very little use of the tool.

I have no problem with the existence of Facebook or other social networking tools. I *do* have a problem with people telling me that there is something wrong with me or that I must have something to hide because I don't use it. It's not just the article linked by the OP, I've had people say that to me directly.

[Teknikal]

I was recently quizzed/interrogated by the police who among other things went through my phone photos and wanted to see a Facebook account I do not have. It was a pretty serious accusation made against me that eventually turned out to be because of someone making a joke at my expense over a year before.

Terrible experience and I'm sure they never did believe me about not having a Facebook account or as others said decided I must be a crazy for not having one.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by jehane

I *do* have a problem with people telling me that there is something wrong with me or that I must have something to hide because I don't use it. It's not just the article linked by the OP, I've had people say that to me directly.

And those people are stupid. It's just important to remember that there's stupid people using every service/app available. There's also stupid people NOT using every service/app available. The thing to take from all this is that use/non-use alone says very little about individuals. In fact it says almost nothing.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by tompe

Or use it on the phone so you get notifications when something relevant happens.

You are assuming that I have a phone that can get notifications.

Originally Posted by tompe

Facebook is extremely useful for certain things like events and communication about events. It is also very useful to keep in some kind of contacts with hundreds of acquaintances.

Yes, it is useful if you are planning events, and keeping contact, and playing games, and checking on people without having to say hello, and logging in on websites where you don't want to remember another password. But if you are doing all of that it makes it more difficult to deactivate the account.

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Huh?

So let me get this straight: "users" are those who make daily--almost habitual--use of it ... non-users are those people who either don't have accounts, or who only use their accounts in a casual--sometimes infrequent--manner? I did not know that. That's a pretty handy (re)definition.

Actually I wasn't commenting so much on the frequency of your use, I was commenting on how little of the possibilities of social networking you are using. Not all of the aspects of social networking are addictive, and if you are only using it to occasionally check on a few friends, it's easy to quit.

I was under the impression that your post was commenting on what I wrote in post #72. I had said "I think that social networks can create dependency. Obviously this isn't a problem if you're not using your account, but if Facebook is at the core of you social life then you can't just quit it." and you made a sarcastic comment that occasionally checking if any of your "twelve "friends" had anything to say lately" has you hooked.

Also I think that there is a difference between being a user (i.e. having an account) and using (i.e. making use of your account) when it comes to social networks, emails, forums, etc.

The thing about the frequency of use has to do with my habit of checking my phone and email accounts on a less than daily basis.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Facebook is a tool. It can be use or abused. Posting every time the baby poops with vivid descriptions, or telling the world that you've just took a shower might be considered abusive.

... but I've meet distant cousins that I never even knew existed, found ex-lovers or co-workers that I hadn't seen in 30 years. ...... It's up to the individual. The medium is not to blame.
Stitchawl

I agree 100%. Though I don't use it, or twitter, or the any of the other ones mentioned, FB seems to be helpful and fun for most other people in my extended family. ....and almost everyone under 50 at work. So I'm definitely in the minority in my circles.

I don't think the sky would fall if i used FB; just it seems very boring. When i have spare time, I really enjoy mobileread. Most of my family would definitely find mobileread boring - different strokes.

I assume nothing is private, anywhere on line, and that applies to mr as well.

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by Teknikal

I was recently quizzed/interrogated by the police who among other things went through my phone photos and wanted to see a Facebook account I do not have. It was a pretty serious accusation made against me that eventually turned out to be because of someone making a joke at my expense over a year before.

Terrible experience and I'm sure they never did believe me about not having a Facebook account or as others said decided I must be a crazy for not having one.

Dreadful experience from what you've recounted.

So the Police actually asked you for your Facebook account details? Does that assume that they would have required a warrant to view your internet activities if you hadn't given 'permission'?

And I'm guessing that anyone who doesn't give that 'permission' is viewed as quite the crim who's got something to hide, eh!!