Social Networks

[BreakABone]

At this point, sure most everyone has shared their Facebook on this site at some point, but curious if folks are into any other social media?

Twitter?
Google +?
LinkedIn?
GetGlue?
FourSquare?

And you can share your links or should.

[Angrist]

I'm on a few, but I only add people I know pretty well.

[Teuthida]

I have a Twitter account but I don't tweet. Just follow a couple comic book folk and I rarely ever check it. That's it.

I can find better ways to waste my time than being constantly bombarded with the stupidity of people.

[Angrist]

I tweeted for half a year or so, then I suddenly grew tired of it. I got flooded by retweets of morons about stuff I wasn't remotely interested in. Then I realised I only added people out of courtesy and not becuase I was actually interested in anything they said.

Except for Marit Larsen, who stopped tweeting around the same time.

[Vampyr]

Mostly Facebook. I check google plus every now and then, and skim through tweets of people I follow occasionally.

I also participate over at github, which is a place to host code and has a lot of social network stuff built in.

[The Germanator]

We have an @SpintoBand for twitter, which I write sometimes, but I haven't found a use for a personal one yet. Couldn't find a reason to get a Google+ either..

Of course I'm on Facebook as some of ya'll know

[Typhoid]

I've been using Facebook less and less as I get older, which bugs me - because the people around me apparently use it more and more. I've legitimately missed out on a couple events because I hadn't checked facebook for a week, and people don't reeeeally use phones to tell people about shit anymore.

[KillerGremlin]

I still find social networking to be inherently creepy and big brother-ish.

What I find appalling is that the younger generation does not seem to grasp the sensitivity of their personal data. People nonchalantly throw up their personal info, raunchy photos, and information on the Internet. And then they act surprised when other people see that picture.

"OMG my naked picture got leaked on the Internet."

Yes...a risk inherent with sending digital pictures of your snatch to your boyfriend.

I love studying human behavior. My observation is that the social technology bubble has expanded faster than humans can keep up with it. The younger generation hasn't been properly educated on security, and the older generation hasn't caught up with the rapid expansion in social technology.

Back in my day we didn't post personal shit to websites. And if you want to see my wang you come to my house and close the door.

There are going to be immense social repercussions with social networking.

[Teuthida]

^Exactly. I can't tell you how glad I am that my early days as an internet user were under anonymity. Most of those sites I posted under are dead too, further hiding my young stupidity.

[Typhoid]

Back in my day we didn't post personal shit to websites. And if you want to see my wang you come to my house and close the door.

There are going to be immense social repercussions with social networking.

That's probably because when it was first introduced they pounded the whole safety thing into us hard; Same with "Never talk to strangers". [Who the fuck actually says "don't talk to strangers" anymore, considering the internet is fullovum'.] But we didn't have time to educate the younger generation on it because by the time we got to the age of having small children that need to learn about the safety of the internet, the internet moved beyond chatrooms and emails to video phones, camerachats, facebook pages, and the 35 second Youtube sensation-of-the-week video. But this creates an even bigger problem because our parents generation is still treating the internet like it's what it was when it first caught on, and the younger generation has no idea what the fuck that is because they never experienced the 'first incarnation' of the internet.


Rabble rabble.
Bring on the end of North America.
I've played enough Fallout and Left For Dead to get through an entire societal collapse.

[KillerGremlin]

I think we need to integrate social networking in K through 12 education. "Do not talk to strangers" is okay advice. "Do not trust strangers" is better advice. Would you go into some strange man's home?

People seem perfectly okay with giving Mark Zuckerface all their photos, contacts, friends, personal info, and whatever. That's a lot of trust to put in a stranger.

I don't think there is anything wrong in talking to strangers on the Internet....trusting strangers though? That's why you have good practice, like bring a friend along when you meet someone online. Or only friend people on Facebook you know in real life.

But other subtle stuff...like protect your pictures. People still don't grasp that a digital picture can be saved, reproduced, and once it reaches the Internet it is public data that is forever "out there." Think twice before you sext someone, or post any information you want to be kept private.

For the first time ever, I feel like the technology curve is working backwards. I feel like MY generation knows more about technology than the older generation, but the generation below me knows less about technology. When I grew up computers were advancing but still required a lot of power user skills. Today...computers are streamlined and automated. You just push -> NEXT to install things. Same goes with smart phones, smart music players....the more advanced technology becomes, the less skilled in technology you seem to need to be to use it.

I feel like the generation under mine now has technology that you do not need to tweak or configure. There is not a learning curve. I mean look at smart phones...sure, there is a learning curve...but it is mostly pushing "install" and next. Very little considerations to the tech behind the wizardry.

The generation below us won't grow up without cellphones and social networking. Think about this: I'm the last generation that could "disappear off the grid" for 2 week when I went on vacation. Do you folks remember the days when vacation meant you lost contact with friends? When the big thing was coming back to town and calling people up to get the latest news and gossip you missed during the past 2 weeks. Do you guys remember hand-writing fucking letters? Holy shit! I do.

I'm gonna miss that. Sometimes it is nice to disappear for 2 weeks.

[Vampyr]

Facebook in and of itself isn't really big brother-ish. People volunteer their data freely, and you can provide as much as you want.

You're right, kids just need to be better educated.

Your point about the technology curve going backwards is kind of fascinating. I think it's similar to how generations before us perceive our generation as being able to fix cars or things that break around the house.

[Angrist]

The July and August editions of the Awake! had some articles about how to use social network sites wisely. Good articles, they covered all those points you mentioned and some more (time/addiction, who do you add as friends).

I try to keep my Facebook friends list small. I only add people I really know, and sometimes I'll delete people when I feel we've grown apart.

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Vampyr

Facebook in and of itself isn't really big brother-ish. People volunteer their data freely, and you can provide as much as you want.

You're right, kids just need to be better educated.

Your point about the technology curve going backwards is kind of fascinating. I think it's similar to how generations before us perceive our generation as being able to fix cars or things that break around the house.

Yeah. I can't do shit about cars. I can't even change the oil....

My dad? The guy does plumbing, electricity, cars. I've picked up the fixing things in the house skill. I can do some plumbing. House wiring is pretty simple too. I know how to use a Volt and Ohm meter. I'm handy with wood and have experience with tools. Nowhere near my dad's level of knowledge or expertise, but I feel prepared to fix things when I own a house. I can soder and do basic electronic repairs. I can't fix an engine or compressor, which is something I should learn how to do. My dad just took apart his 20 year old refrigerator and fixed the compressor; I wouldn't even know where to start.

But when it comes to cars? I'm fucked. I have to go to Jiffy Lube. I can't fix anything either. Fortunately I network. I have friends who do the car thing, and they know what a "fair price" is when you buy or a fix a car. So those are the friends I will bring with me to the car dealer or car shop. I'm the tech savvy guy...so I help my friends with their computer stuff. I can reformat, change hardware, install cool software. So it balances out. I don't have to take my car to Rip Off Shop and my friends don't have to take their PCs to the Geek Squad.

But the youth of today....I feel like there is going to be an increasing need to go to Geek Squad. Technology also seems to have a much shorter life. Back in the day, my computer lasted for 5 or 6 years. During that time it was common to reformat, upgrade your OS, change hardware. Nowadays it seems like people get through one technology life cycle with the same OS. How many people these days feel comfortable reformatting, backing all their stuff up, reinstalling all their software, or changing hardware?

It is even worse with phones. That is a forced 2-year life cycle. I'm happy to see a ton of Android support though. Their are custom roms, kernels you can flash, backdoor Linux support. I love the Android development forums.

For me...I am very skeptical with new technology, and I like the long life cycle you get on old technology. I'm comfortable popping open an Ipod to change a battery, or reformatting, or changing hardware. I feel like some of those skills are lost on the younger generation....which may or may not be fine.