I am clueless.

What is the reason, allure, worthiness, point, whatever of posting a line or 2 from a song?

At first, it appeared the person(s) had surprising insight or was giving us a peek into their life or feelings. Then I started to realize they are posting part of the lyrics, without reason. It's not random and it's not 1 person doing this.

Do people really have nothing to post and they resort to this just to have something on there?

dl

I don't get the whole fascination of FB at all...why would you want to put someone on your FB friends list that's a friend of a friend of a friend or something like that? Who are these people and what do they want with ME? HAHA! It's all just stupid if you ask me so I don't have an answer to your question...HA!

I've done that myself. I can't speak for everyone but in my case I was feeling whatever that feeling was and I couldn't say it better than Bruce Springsteen or Frank Sinatra or whoever.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

cr - I am only on there to see photos of my nieces. The whole thing to me, is 3rd grade-ish. Be my friend, don't be my friend, I like you, I don't like you.

I do not post, like, play the games, etc. but this drivel appears on my "wall". Some of the other drivel is unbelievable to me people would write what they do about themselves and others. I would think it's downright embarrassing, but apparently it's in and they are cool. Or whatever the word is now.

I also can't believe the 50ish and older people typing your (when it should be you're) in the same phrase as well as using ur. They can't even be consistent when incorrect.

I won't even get into why would they post photos of kids (possible abduction) and tell all about the dates of the dream vacation (robbery) and such personal details (not working when they should be), etc, etc, etc - all such personal information.

dl

I'll tell you the fascination of FB. Some of us live far away from friends and loved ones. I have lived away from where I grew up for over 25 yrs. With FB I am able to communicate on a daily basis and keep up with what's going on with friends and family all across the country, in Italy and in Canada. If it were not for FB there are relatives of mine I would have never spoken to again simply because our paths would never have crossed. Now I can share pictures with them, play Scrabble with them, contact them immediately, etc.
Grandparents keep in touch with their far away grandchildren. Companies and non profits use it as a link between employees and clients and employee to employee contact. You can post a page with your business and all of a sudden you have millions of potential new customers. You can use it to get free items, discounts, coupons, and I have won many cash prizes as well as items just by clicking once.

Couponsrock as far as becoming friends with your friends' friends, FB is like a big networking web. If I have 25 friends/relatives who are friends with you and we comment on their posts and realize we have things in common why not be friends?

There is nothing juvenile about keeping in touch with people you like and love. To talk to each one on the phone even once a week I'd have to quit my job. This way I can keep up with everyone in a few minutes a day.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

We actually had a store in the local news about this exact scenario recently....Local law enforcement believes that the only reason the house/family was targeted was because they had posted about their vacation plans on FB.

As to the "allure": I am on facebook to keep in touch with old friends and family that are all at least 1600 miles away. Get to have conversations (for lack of a better word) with many friends at once! I get to see pictures of their families. We get to share with each other...we get to still be part of each others' lives.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I would no more post my vacation plans on FB then I would carry thousands of dollars in cash to meet a craigslist seller. That's just plain stupid. When we return from somewhere I always post photos and update everyone. Now if I'm traveling for work I'll post it because my husband is still here. Also we live in a small rural community and are close with our neighbors. They know when we're leaving who the house/cat sitter is and to take some action if there is any suspicious activity(small rural town=a firearm in almost every home as the closest law enforcement is 30 minutes away).

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

We are retired military and have friends all over the world, and family all over the USA. Keeping in touch is a priority and yet it doesn't have to be on a daily or even weekly basis.

Essentially, email does the same thing, privately, to "keep in touch" or send photos.

I still have it rooted in me that friendships / relationships are worth more than writing a few lines from a song or writing a few lines whether drivel or an event. If we don't have time or make time to pick up a phone (geesh cells make that so much easier) and call, write a letter, write an email then what do we have?

Reading how busy people are being busy is a fallacy and very much over used. It's easy to know why morning comes so fast when you have line after line on fb and the last one is around 2 am because you didn't go to bed. It's easy to know why you feel lousy when you were drinking the night before. Your kids can't be angels all the time.

This frenzy is called social and I think we will see it makes us even more anti-social. Human touch vs. human technology. We still need that touch.

dl

Before FB, friends and family would email me photos, now nothing, just have to go to FB to see them. I think it's very impersonal and I for one am not a big fan!

I see people telling everyone with their 1000 friends when they are all out to eat and when they are all out of town. HOW STUPID CAN YOU GET! I'm really surprised they haven't come home to a cleaned out house!

It is all a matter of choice. I love facebook and read it for a few minutes throughout the day. I totally enjoy it, and that is all that matters. It is no more a waste of my time than being here, and I enjoy it much more than here. Life is short....do what you like....period! Off to facebook I go.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

dl, I think you're missing the point, and it's probably just a personality issue. FB isn't for everyone.

I don't think having people in your lives with whom you share the 'human touch' and having an extended network of Facebook friends are mutually exclusive states of being.

There are people who are part of my history who are not part of my present. I appreciate the ability to fill in gaps about what happened to people who were part of the path that led me to where I am in deep - and in superficial - ways. I like the window into who *they* have become that Facebook provides.

When a friend - past or present - experiences a tragedy or a joy, I like being aware of it. It's been fun to commiserate with old friends about how crazy busy life with teens is - old friends with whom I shared my own teen years. They are friends who would still be in my life had time and distance not separated us, and the qualities that made us close 'way back then' are still very much a part of who we are as adults. That's neat to see and experience, in a different way.

The song thing? I don't do it, but it certainly doesn't bother me that others do. I think it's just them putting out a little mood barometer for the day. Not a big deal, really...

I've got a few hundred 'friends'. Some are people who were in my 'circles' as a child, others from college, some from church camp, some from my adult life who have moved away, some in my 'current' life... and I GENERALLY don't connect with people I don't really know. The exception to that is people from church. Sometimes I know they are people who are part of a 'wider circle' of mine and that I'll appreciate information they may post. As an example - a couple we're friends with (not just on FB - in 'real life') has a son who is having a serious health crisis. It's not practical for the parents - our friends - to update ALL of their friends on a daily basis. But the mom has one of her especially close friends being her 'mouthpiece' in FB to keep people up to date on their family's situation... so I became 'friends' with that friend as a means to get those medical updates.

FB sure isn't the center of my life any more than THIS board is the center of my life. But rest assured, I feel more 'human touch' there where I interact with people I actually *know* than I do here, where I just get to spout opinions without repercussion in any 'personal' way that might make unnecessary waves with people I care about (but with whom I disagree on issues). :-)

As usual Wow very well put.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Defensive? Uh... no. Just explaining.

I never had a use for MySpace... don't care to have a blog... but I like FB.

Many of my friends would never dream of posting on a message board like this that's full of strangers, but are perfectly comfortable using FB, where you actually know who you are interacting with.

To each his own...

Wow - I completely agree with everything you said!

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

For me personally I agree with both what Dl and Wow said on many points. However for me the whole facebook issue is I am a huge lover of pictures I love looking at them and always sharing mine. I also use facebook to post happy moments and sad moments and I personally fine comfort in the respones I receive on Fb. I would never ever post anything personal or air my dirty laundry like alot of people do, never ever, I also would never post my vacations plans, but I will post proudly my pictures of my vacation afterwards for my family and friends to enjoy. However hands down I would take talking on the phone or seeing my loved ones and friends in person over fb anytime. I guess it comes down to using fb is a personal choice and it is not for everyone. On a final note I decided about 2 weeks to delete so many people both family and friends whom I felt I did not have the connection I thought we did. I would rather have a smaller amount with the people I feel I totally have a connection to. I do not like drama and some people I deleted were posting all negative and rude comments not for me... Peace and blessings to all...Catherine

The majority of my friends on facebook are all people I grew up with. We can share "remember when" stories, and another friend will chime in with "oh yeah, and remember when...." and so on. All in real time--can't do that by mail or email. Probably could do that by telephone, but that would involve some coordinating and logistics.
Recently found out on facebook that my 5th/6th grade teacher passed away. Her students were able to remember when and discuss what a lovely person and good teacher she was--and her family was able to read all those things! Sure, we all could have sent individual emails and/or cards to the family. But one post on facebook set off a string of other posts...

Maybe I don't see it the way you do because I'm still a very social creature with lots of face-to-face interaction with friends and family...and look at facebook simply as an extension of that *shrug*. I don't know.

I do not engage in the farmville, zooworld, etc. games on facebook--that to me seems a waste of time. But, I don't have an issue with those who do.

And all the information I share publicly on facebook, I would have no problem saying to someone if they were sitting in my living room or if we were at a gathering.

Maybe that's why I don't see the issue with facebook...

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Did I miss something? I can't see any post that Wow would be referring to here was it deleted or am I just blocked from seeing it?

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Recently when it was my wedding anniversary I put up one of the many wedding photos I have on fb and then put the picture with our wedding song which was the power of the love by the original singer Jennifer Rush it was wonderful to see our wedding photo and then to hear the music behind it. Also I do not engage in any of the games they are not my cup of tea at all..To each his own... Btw Anna I miss ya at fb hope all is well sweetie. Peace and blessings to all... Catherine

all is well Cathy I hope so with you too

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Thanks Anna I gotca on fb no problems I sent you a message glad all is well, hugs and peace to a very nice friend here on the cafe...Peace and blessings to all.... Catherine

I also love FB! I don't play any of the games or post lyrics to songs. I do use it to post messages for Food Bank reminders and for church related activites, to post about what I'm doing or what's going on in my life. Sometimes I just don't have time to pick up the phone and call everyone and FB is a good way to keep in touch and post pictures of family, etc. If your account is private not just anyone can read about if your gone or what is going on, just your "friends". So unless you have friends that are going to come and steal from you that's probably not going to happen. I have only a handful of "friends" that I don't actually know in real life.

I also sell Avon, in addition to my merchandiser job, so I use it to contact customers and send reminders about when it's time to order. Customers use the IM feature to contact me to make orders or to ask questions (if they see me online) and use the regular message feature to send orders.

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visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

This is the issue right here....people have all these 100s or even 1000s of friends and most/many of them they don't even know who they are. Especially someone who is using it for business as you say. How do you know some Avon customer you sold to isn't going to rob you!? Most robberies are committed by people that know you anyway! At least most that I hear of, ends up being the neighbor's drug addicted kid. Or their kid's drug addicted friend.

Unless someone is advertising that their home is going to be empty nobody is going to rob you. And people think I'm paranoid. You have total control of who your friends are. If you choose to have zero friends or one million it's your choice. It's kind of like the lock on your front door. You can let anyone in your home but it's your choice and if you're dumb enough to let the wrong person in then maybe it's you not Facebook with the problem.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Exactly! My facebook friends always know when I am planning a trip, and they see pictures of my grand baby..they are not going to rob me or take my baby, any more than they would if I told them on the phone. I am really not afraid. Either way, personal choice.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

I agree--

And I don't have 100s of friends. I have about 125. I know each of them PERSONALLY, and not one of them is going to rob me, steal my kids, etc.

I have my account set to the highest/toughest security setting. My profile and what I post is not viewable by just anyone.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

It has it's place for me. I'm "friends" with relatives, current friends, and a lot of folks from high school who weren't really friends back then. But, I went to a small high school, so it's interesting to catch up with folks and see where they are now.

If I have no clue who someone is, I don't "accept" their friendship. That's only happened twice though. I have no friends of friends friendships.

It was terrific in helping me find my best friend from HS that I'd been searching for over the past 10 years. I had a copy of her wedding announcement from our home town. It turns out she didn't have a copy. So I was able to mail it to her.

There's only been one person who's been annoying and I just put him on my blocked list. He has no way of knowing I've done it, so it's not like I've snubbed him. It keeps me from having to read his drivel.

My privacy options are locked down tight and I don't post information about my personal plans in case it gets hacked. It is what you make of it.

(I have a FB account for my cat that I use to "Like" things for freebies. My husband always laughs when stuff comes in the mail for the cat. When some web site requires me to pick a title of "Mrs, Mr, Ms," or the like, I choose "Dr." or "Professor" for her.)

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I also forgot to point out how much FB means to people who are housebound. They were once isolated from all forms of socializing. Now they can socialize with friends and family near and far. Some of my FB friends have tons of health issues and I even have a few friends who are agoraphobic.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I can see the benefits of Facebook. However, I am actually with deddlastt on the theory that Facebook may very well cause anti-social tendencies in people...

The majority of posts seem to be "announcements" to a group, rather than portions of a conversation...I get the feeling that most people are talking AT me (and anyone else that's considered a "friend") and not so much TO me...

Hence, people can become accustomed to these types of exchanges...eventually what can appear to be group a conversation is merely an announcement (talking at a group) followed by various feedback responses, and then possibly some additional information supplied by the original statement-maker.

When big news comes up and someone says "You didn't tell me that!" I've all too frequently heard in response, "Well, I mentioned it on Facebook..."

Facebook is easily part of the reason that many personal conversations never happen anymore.

Apparently it doesn't have a noticeable effect on many posters here, but be on the lookout...it DOES happen.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Yes, I agree absolutely. I have family members who use this as their only way to keep in "touch". I even had one family member get upset that my DD did not accept her friend request so they could keep in "touch". They NEVER pick up the phone to call the kids, either.

Personally, I like FB to see pictures of family and friends. I am a very verbal person, so still pick up the phone, and encourage my children to do the same. Sadly, they think texting is "the next best thing to being there".

I have some friends and family who have over 500 "friends" on their list. Um, WHY???

Also, I have my privacy settings very high. You can't even look me up on FB.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

All my Avon customers that use FB are personal friends or I know them personally. I live in a small town population 1200, I know most people in town, if I don't know them I can find out about them. I run the Food Bank, I'm on the School Board, I'm the Youth Director for my church, I'm on the Community Association, I just come into alot of contact with alot of people through volunteer work.

The only people I actually don't know on FB that are "friends" are a couple of "friends" that my husband knows from high school that live 1500 miles away, a couple of local news and weather people so I can get the latest updates, and a couple of other people from another message board that I belong to that live 1600 miles away.

I only have 341 friends, not 1000's or anything.

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visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

I understand what you're saying, but in my life it actually has the opposite effect.

I'm apt to read something on Facebook, and it's something I wouldn't have known otherwise. Then it becomes a conversation starter when I see them later.

"Hey! How's your sister's new baby? That's so exciting!"

"Are your kids over that nasty flu bug?"

"Your daughter's prom dress was so pretty! Who was that guy she went with?"

etc... :-)

From my perspective, though... those things are not mutually exclusive scenarios.

I keep up with my friends and family in real life. But... well... as an example...

I have a group of neighborhood friends I walk with in the mornings. We chit-chat. We see each other in the front yard and holler hello across the driveway. Our kids are friends and that results in occasional party planning, etc.

Those same friends are also on Facebook. I interact with them in all those venues - both the 'real' ones and the 'cyber' ones. When we're out and about the neighborhood one will tell about the play her daughter was in, and another will tell about her daughter's latest sporting event. Then I'll stumble across the picture they shared from their phone on FB as the daughter was crossing the finish line and winning the track meet, etc. It just adds more 'color' to a story I already knew.

I have lots of people I still consider 'friends' even though I never see them anymore because we live in a different location. It's not practical for me to keep ALL of them in my life at the level that would involve picking up the phone or writing an email. But they are people that have at one time or another been close friends, and are people who, were I to see them at a school reunion, I would sit down in a comfy chair with and chat for hours as though we were picking up exactly where we left off fifteen years ago.

I have friends who had babies at the same time I did - friends I spent the first few years of my children's lives hanging out with in the park, swapping nursing horror stories and teething remedies with. My current 'real life' is full enough that I don't have time to communicate with all the people from my past like that... but for those friends with whom I bonded over 'young mommyhood' who have moved away, the ability to see how those babies have turned out now that they are graduating from HS, etc... it's heartwarming.

None of *those* hit-and-miss Facebook interactions with *old* friends prevent me from interacting with my current local friends any more than posting on this message board does.

It's really not a one-or-the-other deal here.

I kind of view Facebook like a big party where all the people I've ever known are hanging out. Well, not ALL of them... but many, many of them.

I can be in the midst of a room full of people and carry on a conversation with one person, or I can be in the same room and pick up the microphone and announce to every last one of them, at the very same time, that my daughter just broke her leg. Sometimes I'll overhear some gossippy tidbit that I wish I had never heard, and sometimes I learn that a friend's cancer is in remission.

Facebook really is like that for me. I just took a peek at my news feed. My friend Amy needs a sub for her card party tomorrow. My childhood friend Ang. just posted an old photo of some people I know. Somebody else is talking sports smack like they did when we were kids.

I also spent three hours visiting with my sister-in-law in my kitchen tonight, going to lunch with my husband at noon, chit-chatting with a friend from church for an hour when we dropped our kids off at church camp, and another hour chit-chatting with a friend and co-worker I ran into after church.

All of those people are also on my 'friends' list.

It's entirely possible to enjoy connecting with people on Facebook *and* to have people you reach out and touch in a personal one-on-one way.

ETA: I was actually trying to also quote DL's post that aia quoted... but it didn't transfer into my post...

When the phone became commonplace, people lamented the loss of letters and face-to-face conversations. But, the phone is here to stay and so are social networking sites, I suspect.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Wow, obviously you consciously use Facebook in a healthy way. Healthy use of FB is probably more likely among people who have learned to establish actual person-to-person contacts in real life before they ever ventured onto FB (well into adulthood).

I just see so much abuse of it (among both younger people and *our* generation (I tend to think that you're in my agegroup - LOL!), and I think the ramifications of the deterioration of basic social skills for these people are unfortunate.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Mid-40's here. :-)

And I do see people who fit the profile you're talking about. I think by and large, they were people who already had 'emotional holes' in their lives, and they had issues in 'real life' before FB even existed. FB just makes it more obvious! lol