How Important is Facebook? Or Twitter for that Matter? - Page 3 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

flaminghomer · 2012-09-04, 04:40 PM

I have a FB account but rarely post anything. I have started using it to keep track of birthdays recently. Other than that, I guess I must have the wrong friends because I'm just not interested in so-and-so's latest high score on Candy Crush, or even worse, all the ongoing political insanity my American friends are obsessed with (I moved here from the States seven years ago to get away from all that!).

I created a Twitter account about a year ago, but have yet to find a use for it. I have tweeted exactly once, just to figure out how.

FWIW: I'm a 48yo business analyst.

57 · 2012-09-04, 04:52 PM

I believe problems arise when something like FB or T takes up so much of your life that you no longer have a real life, only a "social media" one. Also, when it endangers the lives of others while doing something that should have your full attention (driving is an example)

It seems that a lot of people have difficulty moving away from the small (gorilla) glass teat. A while back it was the large glass teat, but today, with portable teats, the sucking seems to never stop for some people.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, people now walk down the street together (ignoring each other) or go to restaurants (ignoring each other and bothering others) and never stop sucking the teat.

I think it also becomes a problem if you complain about not having any spare time, after spending several hours (a day) on your phone or computer...

PokerChip · 2012-09-04, 05:00 PM

I don't have a FB account. Want no part of it, except for the fact that it is quickly becoming its own "web". Seems FB exists in a vacuum somewhat isolated from the rest of the internet. For example, it has become the ONLY way to access coupons and promos from certain companies, a huge annoyance for a non user like myself. Also, more and more services require a FB account to even sign up or sign it, which is wrong IMHO.

I have a Twitter account and experimented with tweeting (perhaps 100 tweets or so). I stopped tweeting (because I didn't think others were interested in what I had to say - and I wasn't really interested in what THEY had to say) and now use my Twitter feed as an alternate news aggregator. I still prefer apps that allow me to enter my own RSS feeds to get up-to-the-minute information.

tandem · 2012-09-04, 05:39 PM

One use I've found for Twitter is to follow an important news event that is unfolding - something that affects a large number of people like a disaster or an earthquake or some such thing. For these types of events Twitter is often faster and more reliable than early reports from the press.

I also check Twitter on a regular basis during political campaigns. Aside from those two purposes, I don't use Twitter at all.

Contrary to Deezeex's experience, I haven't found Twitter replaces my RSS/Atom feeds and feed reader at all. Daily I check four different feed aggregations I've created - one for technical reading related to my work; one for "fun" pursuits; one for general Canadian and world news, and one for politics.

While some of the politcal journalists I read on a regular basis do post their article links on Twitter, most of these same folks engage in endless in-side Ottawa conversations that except for during political campaigns I'm just not interested in. Too much fluff to content ratio, even if the fluff might be interesting. This is where Twitter falls down for me - snippets of conversation and thoughts and the latest fascination of the day are not that interesting to me, normally. I want to read finished articles and then only after I've skimmed the titles and found something worth reading. Twitter doesn't organize content that way - it is "fire hose" or nothing.

Facebook... I'm ambivalent about it. I wish a centralized service like Facebook was not so popular, but it is, partly because it is centralized and easy to create linkages between people, and partly because it is free and has become a popular institution.

I continue to let people know what I am up to via my blog; I only use Facebook as a notification system for those who don't know anything else.

My wife on the other hand keeps up with all our friends et al via Facebook and its a key source of info for her.

Spike4881 · 2012-09-10, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 57

A while back it was the large glass teat, but today, with portable teats, the sucking seems to never stop for some people.

Yeah, some people suck more than others.

2012-09-04, 04:40 PM	#31
flaminghomer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Aurora, ON Posts: 255	I have a FB account but rarely post anything. I have started using it to keep track of birthdays recently. Other than that, I guess I must have the wrong friends because I'm just not interested in so-and-so's latest high score on Candy Crush, or even worse, all the ongoing political insanity my American friends are obsessed with (I moved here from the States seven years ago to get away from all that!). I created a Twitter account about a year ago, but have yet to find a use for it. I have tweeted exactly once, just to figure out how. FWIW: I'm a 48yo business analyst. __________________ flaminghomer Samsung 6000 Series LED \| Bell Fibe 2262 \| Pioneer VSX-919AH \| Panasonic DMP-BD75 \| Bose Acoustimass 6

2012-09-04, 04:52 PM	#32
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,301	I believe problems arise when something like FB or T takes up so much of your life that you no longer have a real life, only a "social media" one. Also, when it endangers the lives of others while doing something that should have your full attention (driving is an example) It seems that a lot of people have difficulty moving away from the small (gorilla) glass teat. A while back it was the large glass teat, but today, with portable teats, the sucking seems to never stop for some people. As mentioned earlier in the thread, people now walk down the street together (ignoring each other) or go to restaurants (ignoring each other and bothering others) and never stop sucking the teat. I think it also becomes a problem if you complain about not having any spare time, after spending several hours (a day) on your phone or computer... __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

2012-09-04, 05:00 PM	#33
PokerChip Veteran Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New house and HT, Shaw Gateway + 4 portals, BB50 Posts: 2,192	I don't have a FB account. Want no part of it, except for the fact that it is quickly becoming its own "web". Seems FB exists in a vacuum somewhat isolated from the rest of the internet. For example, it has become the ONLY way to access coupons and promos from certain companies, a huge annoyance for a non user like myself. Also, more and more services require a FB account to even sign up or sign it, which is wrong IMHO. I have a Twitter account and experimented with tweeting (perhaps 100 tweets or so). I stopped tweeting (because I didn't think others were interested in what I had to say - and I wasn't really interested in what THEY had to say) and now use my Twitter feed as an alternate news aggregator. I still prefer apps that allow me to enter my own RSS feeds to get up-to-the-minute information. __________________ Pics of my Home Theatre Updated May 2013: http://www.flickr.com/photos/6168808...57626366077975

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2012-09-04, 05:39 PM	#34
tandem Join Date: May 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 101	One use I've found for Twitter is to follow an important news event that is unfolding - something that affects a large number of people like a disaster or an earthquake or some such thing. For these types of events Twitter is often faster and more reliable than early reports from the press. I also check Twitter on a regular basis during political campaigns. Aside from those two purposes, I don't use Twitter at all. Contrary to Deezeex's experience, I haven't found Twitter replaces my RSS/Atom feeds and feed reader at all. Daily I check four different feed aggregations I've created - one for technical reading related to my work; one for "fun" pursuits; one for general Canadian and world news, and one for politics. While some of the politcal journalists I read on a regular basis do post their article links on Twitter, most of these same folks engage in endless in-side Ottawa conversations that except for during political campaigns I'm just not interested in. Too much fluff to content ratio, even if the fluff might be interesting. This is where Twitter falls down for me - snippets of conversation and thoughts and the latest fascination of the day are not that interesting to me, normally. I want to read finished articles and then only after I've skimmed the titles and found something worth reading. Twitter doesn't organize content that way - it is "fire hose" or nothing. Facebook... I'm ambivalent about it. I wish a centralized service like Facebook was not so popular, but it is, partly because it is centralized and easy to create linkages between people, and partly because it is free and has become a popular institution. I continue to let people know what I am up to via my blog; I only use Facebook as a notification system for those who don't know anything else. My wife on the other hand keeps up with all our friends et al via Facebook and its a key source of info for her.