Thoughts on Networking sites (facebook, myspace, twitter)

I have accounts on two social networking sites (Facebook and DailyMile -- the later is an exercise-specific networking site) and I use them regularly. DM has no political pages while on Facebook, I may "like" specific political personalities and parties I like to keep up with news from them, I don't take it particularly seriously as a source of objective political info or as evidence of a groundswell of any kind of political momentum. Howard Dean quite convincingly showed in 2004 how online support does not necessarily translate to support in the real world.

I only use Facebook for keeping up with friends and families, and possibly to spread news I find interesting. I never get into political debates over FB, mostly because it's a different environment than a debate forum is. I just don't want to get into heated arguments with my family and friends who I disagree with. That can cause a lot of negative feelings in a friendship and I'd rather not have that.

Twitter is different. I don't think it's a good avenue for debate either - however, I think it's wonderful for the dispensation of information. People can use Twitter to spread news and info from links but with little commentary. The power of Twitter for quick dispensation of info is best seen during the protests in Iran last year. It was vital in getting information of what was happening within Iran out to the world and allowed the protesters to mobilize quickly.

I'm also considering getting a Twitter account and subscribing to the accounts of the Congressmen and Senators of my state. I'd like to know what issues they are concerned with and what issues they want their constituents to be concerned with. Because it provides a great flow of information, I may just do that.

I tend to find those sites boring, but I am not info farming or forming an international mafia.

My daughter lives an hour away, and I would only see my grandbabies once a year if it weren't for Facebook pics.

Soon she will move and I will be able to visit at the same time as they are with her. Right now, there is no space.

As for the rest, how do you promote your books there? Do you advertise, or just have a page?

Groucho said:

I use them for two purposes:

1. To connect with friends, including many old friends from years gone by. It's like an online reunion.

2. To promote my books. In that regard, they are the best and cheapest way to promote yourself!

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Invest in Skype. Does exactly what you would want it to do, even on a cell, for free.

I've Skyped my cousin who is stuck in Qatar for the time being. Of course, I've heard in random places in the Middle East they'll be screwing with cell phones, so I'll wait and figure it out.

I don't use them.

Connecting to previous friends and extended family would negate all my years of hard work at reforming myself.
Plus I'd need therapy with all the drama.

Oh, yeah; I'm thoroughly estranged from a significant portion of my vipers. Did I say scorpions? I meant to say 'family'.

Harry Guerrilla said:

I don't use them.

Connecting to previous friends and extended family would negate all my years of hard work at reforming myself.
Plus I'd need therapy with all the drama.

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BDBoop said:

Oh, yeah; I'm thoroughly estranged from a significant portion of my vipers. Did I say scorpions? I meant to say 'family'.

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Viper and scorpion are perfect descriptions. :2razz:
The only person I'm interested in talking to is my grandpa but to do that, I'd have to interact with my parents, sisters, aunt, etc.

I love the man but it's not worth it because he, unfortunately, believes their lies.

The only blood member of my family I keep in touch with is my 5 year old niece.

Here's hoping they don't turn her.

I shouldn't joke on that front. Seriously.

Anyway, I'm down to one sister. We're of an age where our children are grown, so at least we have them and their offspring. If I ever see my youngest sister again, it will be too soon. I may not even attend my mother's funeral (she is dying of Lewy Body Dementia) simply because we had a mostly horrific relationship, and I already said my good-byes.

Harry Guerrilla said:

Viper and scorpion are perfect descriptions. :2razz:
The only person I'm interested in talking to is my grandpa but to do that, I'd have to interact with my parents, sisters, aunt, etc.

I love the man but it's not worth it because he, unfortunately, believes their lies.

The only blood member of my family I keep in touch with is my 5 year old niece.

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BDBoop said:

Here's hoping they don't turn her.

I shouldn't joke on that front. Seriously.

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She's being raised by her father and step mother, so it's all good on that front.
She's an incredibly wonderful child.

BDBoop said:

Anyway, I'm down to one sister. We're of an age where our children are grown, so at least we have them and their offspring. If I ever see my youngest sister again, it will be too soon. I may not even attend my mother's funeral (she is dying of Lewy Body Dementia) simply because we had a mostly horrific relationship, and I already said my good-byes.

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Don't you hate that?
My grandfather has kidney disease and I'm not sure how long he will live.
He's a really good man but I don't think I can wade through the dumbassery of my parents and sisters to go to a funeral, if he dies.

My older sister isn't bad, we've never been close mostly because she's my half sister and we're about 12 years apart.

My younger sister is the scourge on the world.

I do hate that. But my youngest sister married a rattlesnake (again with insulting animals <G>). They accused my daughter of check theft, fraud, and forgery. Damn near broke her. I got to say things I'd never said in my life like "Tiara has an alibi". "Tiara is going in for questioning." Over a ****ing $40 check that I KNOW youngest sister signed herself, and THAT'S why it looked just like her signature.

Sorry, I'm raging again. Sometimes I think if I ever see BIL I will punch him so hard, .... yeah, then I'd be in jail. Still. What an unmitigated prick.

Facebook you say?

Harry Guerrilla said:

She's being raised by her father and step mother, so it's all good on that front.
She's an incredibly wonderful child.



Don't you hate that?
My grandfather has kidney disease and I'm not sure how long he will live.
He's a really good man but I don't think I can wade through the dumbassery of my parents and sisters to go to a funeral, if he dies.

My older sister isn't bad, we've never been close mostly because she's my half sister and we're about 12 years apart.

My younger sister is the scourge on the world.

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BDBoop said:

I do hate that. But my youngest sister married a rattlesnake (again with insulting animals <G>). They accused my daughter of check theft, fraud, and forgery. Damn near broke her. I got to say things I'd never said in my life like "Tiara has an alibi". "Tiara is going in for questioning." Over a ****ing $40 check that I KNOW youngest sister signed herself, and THAT'S why it looked just like her signature.

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Geesh, that's why I warn coworkers to never, ever loan family money, cosign or put your butt in the hot seat, for a family member you don't absolutely trust.

If they are flaky, they won't bother to screw you to save their asses.

BDBoop said:

Sorry, I'm raging again. Sometimes I think if I ever see BIL I will punch him so hard, .... yeah, then I'd be in jail. Still. What an unmitigated prick.

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Raging is ok, it lets the pent up anger out.
The day after my grandmother died, my sister and mother were at my grandfathers house trying to take all her jewelery.

I begged my grandfather to leave all his money and possessions to charity instead of letting any of us inherit it.

BDBoop said:

Facebook you say?

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More like face punch. :2mad:

Greed combined with toxicity = estrangement.

Harry Guerrilla said:

Geesh, that's why I warn coworkers to never, ever loan family money, cosign or put your butt in the hot seat, for a family member you don't absolutely trust.

If they are flaky, they won't bother to screw you to save their asses.



Raging is ok, it lets the pent up anger out.
The day after my grandmother died, my sister and mother were at my grandfathers house trying to take all her jewelery.

I begged my grandfather to leave all his money and possessions to charity instead of letting any of us inherit it.



More like face punch. :2mad:

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I'm fine with it. I embraced it long ago.

I have accounts in the three aforementioned websites, but they're under an assumed alias. Classmates is the only place where I use my real name. I haven't been to any reunions, so I haven't seen any of my classmates in 37 years.

There's only one classmate I'd want to be in contact with and she's on Facebook. I'm not with Classmates because it's not free.

Facebook has actually been around for awhile people!