Comments on: Facebook is teh (right wing) evil, apparently

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:02:49 +0000

11, which was me. It’s MySpace I’m on, not Facebook. But I still can’t log on despite having a site. I suppose all that says something. eh?

By: John

John — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 04:46:26 +0000

A bit late but I think he is on to something.
From the content of his article and my own prejudices I would say the Facebook is:

Beavis and Butthead, Big Brother, and the tiity-tainment of Brave New World all rolled into one.

And that the emotional intelligence of the people behind is the same as Beavis & Butthead.

What makes them truly scary is that they have leading edge technology to dramatise their adolescent mentality all over the planet—and (their stated goal) to refashion human culture into their own benighted image.

By: Ben Griffin

Ben Griffin — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:56:48 +0000

As of yesterday, Pail Theil threw US$80 Million at the campaign for small government Republican “Ron Paul” (presumably the offspring of L. Ron Hubbard and Sean Paul):-

“In our time, the government has become a reactionary force — preventing the growth and innovation America will need to be free and prosperous in the 21st century. I support Ron Paul because he is the only significant candidate who is a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem.�?

[link]

By: boynton

boynton — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:24:53 +0000

Facebook Distilled
(via Making Light)

By: Pavlov's Cat

Pavlov's Cat — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:47:54 +0000

Late to the thread and OT with it, but now I really really want to know more about Enrico and Stephanie.

By: FDB

FDB — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:45:37 +0000

“I am a bit disturbed by Facebook’s pigheadedness on some things - the fact that they only accept American options for people’s politics.”

You can write whatever applications you like though (or get a friend who knows how), and as long as they run they’re in. My mate’s Election07 app was lots of fun, and allowed all the local parochial politics you could ask for.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:38:45 +0000

I was recently invited to sign up as a “friend” on Facebook. As the invitation had come from an old friend, I went through all the crap to be a friend, but quite frankly found it was a complete waste of time. I wrote a message to my friend and left the site, never to return, as I have no idea what password I used.
If I want people to know what’s going on in my life, I’ll get in touch personally and actually listen to their voices on that communication dinosaur, the telephone.

By: feral sparrowhawk

feral sparrowhawk — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:31:30 +0000

I’m certainly not happy that some of the profits from Facebook go to such nasty people, but the emphasis is on some. After all some of the money is ending up in the Bill and Melinda Gates fund as well.

I am a bit disturbed by Facebook’s pigheadedness on some things - the fact that they only accept American options for people’s politics. You can’t be Green or Social Democrat, let alone Socialist. Even more concerning is that their ban on breastfeeding photos (probably not enforced much). This is both misogynist and a boon for the baby killer companies such as Nestle.

That said, for someone who’s not particularly technologically literate it makes for an easy way of combining a lot of things I wouldn’t get round to otherwise because the specialist platforms are too intimidating, and most importantly I have refound friends I had lost touch with years ago, something which I think undermines Thiel’s goals. Still, it would be nice if an equivalent came along without the nasty aspects.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:55:02 +0000

Btw, the LP Facebook Group has 310 members - I know some of those are our own bloggers who aren’t particularly into FB - but a lot are people who are - my impression is that the membership largely reflects the university origins of FB - lots of honours and grad students.

[link]

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:46:32 +0000

It has its uses in that it does bring a wide variety of things together in one place - ie photos, blog posts, links, bio, blah. And I honestly have found it useful for both getting back in touch and keeping in touch - it’s much easier to keep friends interstate and overseas in mind when their status updates are appearing rather than sitting around thinking “who shall I email a sheep to today?”… I’ve also found that I’ve got to know people I knew slightly better - it’s easier to interact in the FB fashion than writing AN IMPORTANT EMAIL.

I suspect there are personality differences in those to whom it has an appeal, and those who don’t find it appealling - and that’s just an observation not a value judgement. Like any other social technology, it falls far short of the utopian claims made for it, but unlike some it has a genuine use for some people.

Anyway, I kinda like it, so I’m sticking with it! Great procrastination engine too.

And I reckon youse are all just jealous because your FB Vampire isn’t as powerful as mine!

By: Liam

Liam — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:15:59 +0000

L, I agree entirely. Facebook is mediocrity universalised. As an email client it’s rubbish, it can’t hold a candle to flickr or gallery2 as a host for photos, there are a million superior XML updaters like twitter, for broadcasting it must be great for those illiterates who really can’t use a free blogging client or an RSS reader, and as for its “value” in bringing into contact people who’ve lost touch, what’s the point of losing touch if you can’t stay out of touch?

By: Chris (a different one)

Chris (a different one) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:45:21 +0000

Even as a member, you cant see people’s profile, it seems, until they make you a friend - whereupon you can “chat and file exchange with them�?

I think thats useful to have a certain level of privacy. People are willing to share more personal information (eg mobile phone numbers) if they know only their “friends” can access it.

Well, guess what: I can do already with friends, via a futuristic cutting edge program known to initiated poindexters like me as “email�?.

Not getting it!

I find it useful for those broadcast sort of messages. Eg here are the new photos of the kids etc. You just upload them to the photos area and all of your friends automatically get notified. It may be via email if they prefer that sort of notification or they may just get told next time they log into facebook. Also great for finding old friends who you no longer have up to date contact details on.

I agree there’s a lot of crappy applications on facebook - just have to learn to say no to invitations to install new apps.

Apparently these sorts of sites are also great for organising parties. But beware, 500 of your closest friends may turn up and trash the street

By: Lefty E

Lefty E — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:43:28 +0000

I must admit, I’ve never felt a strong compulsion towards the ovine hurling arena.

But its nice to know its there

By: L

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:37:14 +0000

“Lefty E, you can’t throw sheep by email!”

Yes, you can Mark. “Hi Enrico, I’m throwing a sheep at you, kind regards, Stephanie.” cc’d to all your pals if you so desire.

By: L

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:35:42 +0000

I’m sure this is a thoroughly unoriginal observation but Facebook strikes me as the online network equivalent of Starbucks - a bland, safe, predictable version of something which is appealing but too difficult for the majority to navigate for themselves. It shits me how everything on fb is multiple-choice. You can do x,y, or z to your friends and that’s all. Like Lefty E says, it’s got nothing you can’t do without it and the only difference is it’s streamlined and enclosed.

By: Tony D

Tony D — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:15:06 +0000

Viral not direct marketing Helen

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:52:32 +0000

That’s not a fisking

Like I said, John, I’m not claiming to have fisked the article. That’s SL’s claim.

Lefty E, you can’t throw sheep by email!

By: Lefty E

Lefty E — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:47:01 +0000

Yeah, I couldn’t care less about the political economy of facebook - I just dont get the point of it.

A friend from the US sent me their profile, which I couldnt access without joining. So I joined -rather perfunctorily I admit - and….. wow! still couldnt access it. Yawnometer went through the roof.

Even as a member, you cant see people’s profile, it seems, until they make you a friend - whereupon you can “chat and file exchange with them”

Well, guess what: I can do already with friends, via a futuristic cutting edge program known to initiated poindexters like me as “email”.

Not getting it!

LE
Keating Towers

By: John Humphreys

John Humphreys — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:27:46 +0000

That's not a fisking. A fisking involves quote, answer, quote, answer, quote, answer, etc.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:50:53 +0000

Fisking the thing would have taken forever - so many words, so few points made.