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[CaliforniaPeggy]

This message was self-deleted by its author (CaliforniaPeggy) on Mon Oct 4, 2021, 05:12 PM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[msongs]

1. it's a tool. one decides what one sees and how to use. and get an adblocker lol nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. That is absolutely right, my dear msongs! And I do have and use an adblocker! n/t

[lagomorph777]

16. It is a tool. A screwdriver.

And you are the screw.

[Sugarcoated]

174. Only if you let yourself be

[AZSkiffyGeek]

19. Adblock and FBPurity make it usable

Then just being proactive with managing friends and content.
I have lots of problems with Zuckerberg, but not many with my actual FB experience.

[Johnny2X2X]

34. It's a tool alright

It’s a tool for gathering the most complex psychological profile of its users that has ever existed and selling that to advertisers and political campaigns alike.

Facebook users are the product that they sell.

[dem4decades]

83. How would these people that defend Facebook because it's a tool feel

If I said my gun's are a tool so keep your regulating hands off of them?

[Gore1FL]

106. I doubt you'd get many complaints here when it comes to raising regulations on either. nt

[relayerbob]

115. I use FB all the time and am fine with (and prefer) more regulation

I suspect most FB users feel the same.

You have thrown up a completely false equivalance here.

And ... we should regulate firearms

[mountain grammy]

121. Agree on all points.

Good response.

[soldierant]

162. Pretty much any tool which provides any power to the user

can be misused, and needs to be regulated to prevent harmful misuse.

In other words - there's always that one person who ruins it for the rest of us.

But regulations should probably be such as not to interfere with the use of the tool by a person of common sense, good will, and empathy for others who may not be like them.

I have never been on Facebook and never will. The only social media I have ever used was LinkedIn. And when I retired, I stopped using that.

[seta1950]

154. Exactly

Thank you

[certainot]

136. facebook is getting a bad rap. compare with rw radio, which is a 95% monopoly. who needs algorithms

when those stations are the only politics, news, weather, traffic reports, and sports around. it's a captive audience in most parts of the country - who needs algorithms?

facebook would be smart to spend some bucks monitoring rw radio with AI and comparing the effects. i'll bet most of the conspiracy theories and lies that are impactful and blamed on social media and facebook bounce off years of rw radio repetition, like fox does.

Q-anon came along 10 months after limbaugh started setting up the story of the liberal deep state - clintons obama, soros etc - social media just added some pedophelia and canibalism to appeal to abuse victims and a younger audience

[NullTuples]

170. Once people are locked in (see OP's list) FB is a de facto monopoly

[NotHardly]

175. Using Facebook is a Disillusion Paradise for the unschooled

... that's it.

[Jon King]

181. This is by far the worst thread ever on this forum.

It does not matter what YOU use Facebook for. You are adding revenue that allows them to expand.

Their algorithm is tailor made to spew hate. It is perfect tool for those who want to destroy democracy around the world. That is what it is being used for.

So keep track of high school friends, while providing more revenue that allows them to destroy democracy.

Never thought that I would see such utter ridiculous thinking on this forum.

[Orrex]

191. I refuse to use it because doing so satisfies my need to feel smugly self-righteous

It also lets me pretend that I occupy some moral high ground entitling me to look down on all the thoughtless drones who use the platform.

[FirstLight]

3. same...

I reconnected with many old friends at our HS reunion a few years ago, they live on my FB
My writing group meets up there
...and that group has expanded into several friendships from all over the country and even in the UK


I am mostly private and friends only posting, and I ignore the ads etc.

so yeah, I get it!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. I'm really glad that you get it, my dear FirstLight! ♥

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. It's how I talk to my 2,000 miles away family.

And my friends in different states.

I am not even aware of the bad stuff.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. I do that too, and with friends overseas. I rarely see the bad stuff. Thank you for responding! ♥

[dem4decades]

6. Facebook is a cesspool that needs to be cleaned up.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. You are more than entitled to your opinion. n/t

[SheilaAnn]

7. Yay Cal Peggy. You'll take FB from my cold dead hands and my FB friends (from high school and some

from my court reporting days). I keep in touch with family since I'm in Florida and they're in Jersey. I get to "go to weddings
and graduations" and thoroughly enjoy it. I also play the Criminal game and love it! Thank you Peggy (I used to be Monmouth4)...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. Thanks for the cheery thoughts, my dear SheilaAnn! Right there with you. ♥

[Aristus]

9. Same here.

Think of Facebook as a hammer. You can build the Sistine Chapel with it or use it to bludgeon someone to death.

If one proposes to reply that Facebook is comprehensive and interactive far more than a simple hammer, I would say that the person you bought the hammer from earned a profit from you. The people who benefit from the things you built with the hammer are better because of what you did with it.

The person you bludgeon to death with the hammer no doubt had friends and family that will experience pain and anguish because of what you did with the hammer.

So, it's definitely a good analogy. Go with it...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. I was so glad when I found you there, my dear Aristus! Your analogy is spot on. n/t

[Aristus]

23. Thanks, CalPeg.

The "I don't use Facebook" crowd is starting to sound an awful lot like "I don't watch TV; I don't even own a TV. I read!" crowd.

As if the two were exclusive. I watch TV. I watch a ton of TV. I also read. I read more before I was twelve years old than most people read in a lifetime...

[femmedem]

11. Me too.

I keep my page mostly apolitical. I keep up with friends and family, learn what events are going on around town, and publicize events hosted by the nonprofit I work at. We raise several thousand dollars a year from donations via Facebook--a large amount for a small organization. Facebook has allowed me to find homes for maybe a dozen stray cats and kittens.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. Those are great ways to utilize FB! ♥

[lagomorph777]

13. And everything about you, your family, and your friends has just been sold on the dark web.

I assume you've heard about the latest hack?

But even without all the hacks, setting something to "private" is meaningless at Fascistbook. Zuckerberg sells all your data, and makes it easily searchable to those he sells access to.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. Yeah, I know. n/t

[durablend]

24. Got news for you

The credit reporting agencies already gave the dark web your information!

[lagomorph777]

41. I haven't had a credit card for 20 years or more.

For that reason, among others.

And the credit reporting agencies don't know what I ate for breakfast, who my friends are, etc.

[monkeyman1]

172. ol 'saying - don't have the money for it , don't need it !

[Pinback]

46. Please post evidence

that Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian have given our information to the Dark Web. That's a new one!

[LanternWaste]

61. You've just described the vast entirety of the internet.

But I'm certain you'll assert no one has any of your information... unless you want them to of course.

[USALiberal]

150. Lol, parody? Nt

[Skittles]

184. they DO.NOT.CARE.

Nope.

[Murphyb849]

14. I too use FB for good and not evil and it is priceless to me for

Daily contact with dear friends across the pond

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. You've got the right idea! ♥

[Kaleva]

17. I like Facebook. Those who don't shouldn't use it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. That is absolutely right. ♥

[lamp_shade]

25. For me it's a godsend. I'm from a very large family scattered all over the

country... some I don't see for years at a time. With FB I get to watch all the children grow up (and adults grow old).
It's my #2 go to (after DU).

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. It is all that, and it fills a large hole in distant families. Good for you! ♥

[ChazII]

26. Thank you for starting this thread and for sharing

your nuggets of wisdom. For me it where my brain tumor friends are and now we are also a grief group. Like you, I find it annoying to read the negative stuff. Your post has made my day a bit brighter.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

28. My dear ChazzII! I am honored that I made your day a bit brighter!

[relayerbob]

29. Thank you

I guess for some folks, never mind the millions of disabled people and shut-ins who use FB for communicating with their friends and family, nor the tens of thousands of businesses that use FB for their interactions with customers. Fuck them (us, really, since I fit into those categories), I guess?

For those of us who use it right, it's not some sort of problem - and frankly, that seems to be the vast majority of the users I know.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

35. You're very welcome, my dear relayerbob!

I have disabled friends there as well, and it's a lifesaver for them too.

[Tetrachloride]

44. Several ++

[Hoyt]

30. Like it too. I'm into musical instruments, bourbons, bands, hiking, etc.

There are numerous groups for the things I like. And it’s a good place to start when I want to learn something new.

I’m also likely to post pointed replies when some mandola player drops a positive reference to trump, racism, etc. About once a week I post something like, “Too bad you couldn’t just photograph your new acoustic guitar without the damn confederate flag on your wall.” Usually, about 60% of the group agree with those responses.

Honestly, I do not believe people are as swayed by white wing, GOPer messaging as some here think. One doesn’t get indoctrinated into that crud unless they lean that way anyway. And itself pretty easy to spot disinformation and lies.

Also, like hearing from people I haven’t seen for decades.

Most importantly, if you don’t like FB, then don’t use it. It ain’t mandatory.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

38. Yes indeed! There are lots of different groups there, for many different interests.

And it sure as hell isn't mandatory.

[Tetrachloride]

36. because some DU members want to shut down a lifeline to our family and friends

[dixiechiken1]

50. I'm pretty sure it's not something anyone on DU can control, one way or another.

It wouldn't break my heart if it never came back online, but I think we all know there's too much $$$ involved for that to ever happen.

Don't worry, you'll have your lifeline back soon enough.

[lamp_shade]

77. It's back up.... mine is anyway... partially.

[paleotn]

104. What did you do before Facebook?

Whatever it was, do that.

[Tetrachloride]

114. i did. the airplane tickets were not as inexpensive as FB.

new apartment, new language, new bus routes, new pharmacies .

the good news is not a single existing friend of mine had Covid for the past 10 months.

[spike jones]

116. See post 110 below. n/t

[Gore1FL]

119. I didn't interact with people from my past.

I guess I could do that again, but I am unclear as to the harm in staying connected to them.

[paleotn]

126. Kind of like wearing a mask during a pandemic....

a minor inconvenience for a greater good. A good like...you know...freaking DEMOCRACY. Fact is, Facebook is a Joseph Goebbels dream come true that helped usher in the age of Trump. But hey, we can connect with old high school chums, liberal democracy be damned.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

45. Why do *I* feel the need?

Funny you should ask.

I didn't actually count how many negative posts there are about Facebook today, but there are more than a couple.

I just felt it was time to show the good, the productive, the useful sides of Facebook.

[left-of-center2012]

51. Because some people want to shut it down

That would deprive those of us who go there for friends and family from being able to connect with them.

For those who hate Facebook there is one simple solution.
Don't go there!

[dixiechiken1]

53. Just curious, how did you connect with them before FB?

[left-of-center2012]

85. Thank you for your question

If you don't know how people communicated before Facebook,
Searching that question on Google will give you a better answer than I could.

"How did people communicate prior to Facebook?"

Why not share your results with us here?

[Tetrachloride]

101. i got a passport and flew to Europe. One died before i could arrive.

it was expensive but i did it.

[meadowlander]

193. I didn't.

I live overseas and if my sister-in-law didn't post on Facebook daily my relationships with my nieces would basically just be exchanging Christmas and birthday presents.

My brother is hopeless about remembering to call and email people and my sister-in-law has a ginormous family so it's just not practical to expect them to keep up regular bespoke communications for each person in the family. But with Facebook it's easy to check in and see videos of music recitals, camping trips, etc.

Other than that, I pretty much never use Facebook and certainly wouldn't rely on getting my news or any other information there.

At the end of the day you do control what information goes on there and what doesn't and what information you choose to consume from there.

If they had better moderation and stronger policies about shutting down fake troll accounts it would be fine.

[dixiechiken1]

62. I actually *don't* go there...

And it's not my business who *does* go there. I'm not trying to stir up any shit, I'm honestly curious why you (and others) feel the need to explain yourselves on this?

Seriously, who cares what anyone else thinks? You do you, man.

[NYC Liberal]

137. Yeah, except even if you "don't go there"

you are still being tracked by Facebook. Even if you never set up an account, never even go to their website, Facebook creates a “shadow profile” of you based on the sites you visit that include Facebook ads or tracking pixels and when other people allow them to access their contacts in which you are included.

So “just don’t go there” doesn’t work.

[left-of-center2012]

160. Seriously?

Where in the world did you hear that?

Sounds like an old Twilight Zone episode.

[left-of-center2012]

54. "a scourge on society"

Oh my God

[relayerbob]

60. No, it's not

It needs to be fixed, but a blanket statement like that is an insult to MILLIONS of disabled people who need it, or some non-existent equivalent, to stay in touch. Your have the right to NOT use it, but what gives you the right to insult everyone else who does???

[dixiechiken1]

66. Relax...

YOU are not FB. I didn't say YOU were a scourge.

Lighten up.

[relayerbob]

75. Thanks, you reminded me I can block people here too

[dixiechiken1]

135. Ignore is a beautiful thing, indeed.

[LanternWaste]

63. I'd imagine for the same reason so many feel the need to explain their distaste of it.

"Why do you feel the need to explain yourself?"

I'd imagine for the same reason so many feel the need to explain their distaste of it. Sometimes, six of one really is a half dozen of the other.

[dixiechiken1]

71. Fair enough

[USALiberal]

152. Lol, why did you feel necessary to post this? Nt

[dixiechiken1]

159. 😁😁😁

[Sugarcoated]

177. Why do you care?

[Tetrachloride]

32. Ty Peggy

appreciate it.

some other threads are less than considerate.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

48. YW my dear Tetrachloride! I agree with your point of view. That's why I posted this. ♥

[FakeNoose]

33. On FB you have to carefully weed out "friends" who post political stuff

I learned to block certain people who couldn't be "unfriended" for one reason or another. It mostly had to do with my high school class reunion where I "friended" former classmates and found out afterward that they were ChumpHumpers, or ultra-conservatives.

They're the ones who attract the weird political BS posts. Once they copy/re-post that junk, their crap shows up on your feed whether you wanted it or not. (Definitely NOT!) It doesn't help to argue with them or try to convince them otherwise. Just BLOCK them and be done with it.

I learned that the hard way.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

56. Oh yes, I learned that the hard way too! Thank goodness for block.

[Beartracks]

151. OMG, yes. Same: after a class reunion. Holy cow...

... there are some unhinged anti-Democrats in the group. I was shaking my head in dismay at some of their posts recently, and my spouse asked why I didn't just block them. I thought a) well, this way I can keep tabs on what "those people" are thinking, and b) I might see a Jan 6 photo or something and be able to turn one of them in. LOL

But does their BS in my news feed really attract more BS when at FB itself, or even elsewhere as I surf the web? Now I'm wondering if, ultimately, that's the reason I recently got mail from the NRA as a "past supporter" (Um... that's a hard NO). I had thought it was because I live in a red state and they just send those to EVERYbody here on the assumption it's more applicable than not (cheaper than doing the research to weed out the Dems), but now I wonder if maybe it happened due to the FB grapevine.

============

[CurtEastPoint]

37. Among other things: I would not have gotten to know C-Peggy and my friend in Raleigh (Ms. B)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

65. And how much I would miss you and Ms. B, my dear CurtEastPoint! ♥

[hlthe2b]

39. It is a choice like so many things in our lives. Fortunately, my family decided long ago to use

other private online means (secured website private to all but those with secured password access that allow photos, video, and real-time messaging) to stay in touch-- which has worked out very well. The cost is minimal, rotated each year by family "group" and was really not hard to set up. We can link to things we see online directly, thereby sharing the same kinds of content we might ordinarily do on FB.

There are a lot of harmful things that we have to negotiate in life. So, like my carbon footprint that I try hard to minimize, but undoubtedly fall short, I do what I can with a Prius. Others might go for the EV. We do what we can on all things that have potential "downsides."

[CaliforniaPeggy]

67. You chose to use this instead of FB, and good for you! It is a Choice! ♥

[KatK]

173. hlthe2b: I am wondering ...

Wondering if you'd be willing to say if you're using a platform such as Wordpress for your website and if so if there's a Wordpress theme or template that I could use to set this up.

Or, if it's through some sort of outfit that provides the basic set up for a fee, would you be willing to say the name of the provider?

I've been looking for something exactly like you describe.

Thanks for considering.

[hlthe2b]

179. Well a cousin originally designed ours with several of us adding features, but this article includes

several websites that can make it very easy (they weren't around when we were setting up ours).

https://www.aarp.org/relationships/family/info-12-2009/goyer-creating-family-website.html

Per the article, "sites such as Groupsite.com, Shutterfly’s Nexo and Qlubb include family as a type of group but may go beyond your needs. They cater more to other kinds of groups, such as sports teams, professional clubs, or schools. Other sites, such as myfamily.com, FamilyLobby.com, and MyGreatBigFamily.com focus on groups of kin. I found the simple features offered by the family-focused sites to be more useful for my family’s needs."

I have some neighbors who used MyGREATBIGFAMILY.COM and liked it.

There are other social media apps and set-ups that mimic facebook but with better protections and use of data policies. I think the article talks about them too.

I hope that gives you a start.

BTW, the cousin who got us started on our process was VERY CONCERNED when FB first came out that what has happened with it would happen. (He was quite prescient, but also was worried about those in the family with security clearances. I'm just glad he got the ball rolling so that we could have an alternative).

[PCIntern]

40. Exactemunde CP...

I live on a street that has Trump signs and flags. I don’t hate my home or avoid inviting people over.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

69. Thank you so much, my dear PCIntern! ♥

[left-of-center2012]

42. I agree with you 110%

I wish people who hate Facebook would just stop going there.

I don't read the politics or news on Facebook.
The haters seem to be unable to stay away from the politics and news on Facebook.

They should just pull the plug.

But then what would they have to b**** about?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

72. I wish that too........but we have no control over other folks. That's how it is. n/t

[treestar]

43. Yes, I don't see that the nonexistence of it

would make trumpers more liberal. And there are political groups of all kinds. There are several liberal groups there.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

74. That would never happen, I suspect! Lots of liberal groups that I belong to. n/t

[Srkdqltr]

47. I know Facebook is a money making operation. Everything exists to make money. Pick and choose wha

what you want to watch and leave the rest of us alone.

All my Quilting friends are gone!!!!!!
All the beautiful pix of quilts.. ideas.. helps.. HELP!!

Pix of my Great Grands two total huggables.

Pix of my Grands who I don't see enough of.. Call your gramma!!!

Pic of my Cousins far and wide who I would not see forever!!!

Hate Facebook if you like but not me.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

78. WORD! ♥

[sakabatou]

49. It helps me connect to other people who like the same shows as I do

Hell, I run two fan pages.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

80. That's great, my dear sakabatou! Have a great time with them! ♥

[sakabatou]

86. I do

Hopefully it'll be back up soon. I'd hate for the fans to note get a good crossover.

[flamingdem]

52. Thanks Peggy!

Facebook is a miracle for many with family and friends scattered around the USA and the world. The real question is why people haven't learned to be more discriminating and analytical. Social media awareness should be taught in school!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

81. YW! And I agree about social media awareness being taught. ♥

[budkin]

55. It might be great for you but it's terrible for the country

That's a fact.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

82. OK, so be it. n/t

[paleotn]

111. Screw democracy so you can....do what?

[StarryNite]

57. I agree.

I primarily use it for a project I am working on. Without it awareness on an issue I am passionate about would be mostly lost. I also like FB to learn about things I'm interested in such as gardening in my location, rock hunting, etc. It's been very helpful to me. I have also lost some friends because I learned things about them that I probably still would not know. People who don't like FB are not being forced to use it. I am not a fan of Next Door so I have not joined. But I sure wouldn't be one to judge others who are on that site and say the site shouldn't exist when it does have merit for a lot of people.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

84. Thank you! ♥

[Mike Nelson]

58. I agree...

... agree with all... especially about the games. I know people like them, but they are where a lot of trouble brews. I have a FB https secure, so I have games and certain apps turned off... if I have to play one, I have to "allow" and then go to security and delete it later. I did that last when they had a thing where we could put ourselves in a "Charlie Brown Peanuts" cartoon. I know there are problems, and I hope they fix them to make it safer... but really, the media should Clean Up Its Own Back Yard, like get rid of Tuckums. That's disinformation!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

87. Your awareness is helping keep you safe! That's great. n/t

[ColinC]

59. If Facebook is indeed gone today, or in the near future, I hope you are able to find

A bastion that feels just as safe where you can stay connected to your loved ones.

Facebook is a predatory company no better than those pay day lenders and pyramid schemers. It doesn't deserve most of the wonderful people on it, and it regularly takes advantage of them through the information that is provided. That says nothing about the people who use it or the wonderful communities that have done much good on it. Bit the company itself has exploited these things in a way that benefits them and only them. This is being uncovered with more disturbing details very quickly, and as a result it will either no longer exist, or do so in a way that actually does create a net positive for society. Something that unfortunately cannot be done without an enormous amount of pressure.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

90. We shall see what transpires. n/t

[happybird]

64. I had an account for a few months, years ago

It made me feel bad about myself. Seeing all the photos and updates of high school friends, their perfect families, kids, jobs, vacations, money money money ... even though I knew it was highly curated and no one’s life is wonderful ... I still felt like a huge failure. Heavy on my mind was the fact that I could also have all that now if I had not taken a different path back when we were fresh out of school. It was depressing as hell.

Then, I realized if I had actually wanted to keep in touch with these people I would have, through letters or phone calls. Deleted my account and never looked back.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

92. Good for you! You had a choice to make, and you chose wisely. Very smart, and I mean that. ♥

[DownriverDem]

68. So true

You can hide and block what you don't want to see. I have found a lot of left leaners there.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

94. They are there, and I've found them too! ♥

[Tikki]

70. I have only ever used FB to follow the Music Bands I am interested in.

New releases, events and venues and sometimes their current take on the World around them..

Seems as though the newer bands have left FB.

I think FB is now a thing for families and all.

Tikki

[CaliforniaPeggy]

97. A good use for you! That makes it work. n/t

[spanone]

73. It's a lifeline for many people.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

98. Indeed it is! ♥

[relayerbob]

123. Yes, it absolutely is

[Shermann]

76. Only because you directed this at the haters instead of like-minded folk...

...allow this hater to retort.

Most of the positives mentioned here could also be applied to going to church. Friends and family are there. People might stay connected there. Churchgoers may only experience positivity and have no awareness of negative consequences whatsoever.

There are so many benefits, surely these justify the costs? Right?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

100. Everyone has to decide what is justified and what isn't. Not my place!

I've never thought of you as a "hater."

[NurseJackie]

79. Facebook is fun! I enjoy it very much!

The folks who believe that I'm brainwashed, or that I get my "news" and "conspiracy theories" from Facebook are actually as stupid as they falsely believe me to be.

I also believe that this seemingly irrational "hatred" of Facebook is insincere. I think it's all for show. It's a way for people to say "look at me" and "admire me for all the HATE that I have for Facebook" and "I'm purer and smarter than you because I don't use that tool of the Devil".

The phrase "I don't use Facebook" is the 2021 version of the 1999 expression "we don't have a TV in our house". (It's pretty much the same as scolding someone by telling them "I'm smarter than YOU" ... only, a little more judge-y but still being somewhat subtle.)

FACEBOOK FOREVER!

APPLE II FOREVER!

COMMODORE 64 FOREVER!

MYSPACE FOREVER!!

(Something else will come along to replace FB... I'll probably be dead by then, but I just can't get as worked-up with all the FB-hatred as some around here need to do.)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

105. I pretty much see it that way too! n/t

[relayerbob]

131. HORSE AND BUGGY FOREVER!!!

Do you know how much damage the automobile has done to the horse-shoe industry????????

Yes, the self-righeous "I don't do (fill-in-the-blank)" can be truly annoying

[Marthe48]

88. I've used fluff buster for years

Face Book Purity, Fluff Buster Plus. It keeps my facebook page free of ads on the right and if anything comes into my news feed I don't like, I choose the 'don't see things like this' option. I don't play the games either.

Like California Peggy, I use fb to stay in touch with family and friends, who are far-flung, to say the least. Relatives all over the U.S. And we hosted exchange students, and stay in touch with them, friends they made, the families who sent them to stay with us. I am in several antiques groups, politcal groups, and humane society groups.

I also come to DU, and my online time is pretty evenly split between the 2 sites. Don't surf much because of virus and malware.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

108. You know what to do to have a good time and stay safe. That's great! n/t

[pwb]

89. I never used it because I am private

about my shit.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

109. You are doing what is right for you. The perfect choice! ♥

[pwb]

112. Do your own thing.

Man I'm old.

[Marthe48]

125. Hardly any of the items on my profile are filled in

I have the secruity set so most of anything I post can't be seen.

[Tommy Carcetti]

91. I'm actually far less political on Facebook than I am here or Twitter.

Where I use pseudonyms for my screen name and focus almost entirely on political content.

Facebook I use my actual name, and I only have family and friends I communicate with. No strangers, and most of my posts are kept private.

While I do occasionally post about news and politics on Facebook, it's far more rare and--more often--I post about family, sports, movies, TV and other mundane bullshit. During the Trump years I'd occasionally post something if the Former Office Occupant did something that was so incredibly outrageous, but for ever story I posted there were about 10 that I decided weren't urgent enough to post and would just clog up my timeline and annoy apolitical friends of mine.

Not everyone uses Facebook for primarily political reasons.

Also, I'll add that Facebook was my primary means of communication when I was overseas a couple of years ago and needed to tell my family that I had arrived safely. I didn't have a phone package but I was able to get to Facebook messenger when I got Wifi.

[Butterflylady]

93. No disrespect,

But if anything destroys our democracy it will be with the help of wastebook.

[Kid Berwyn]

95. SWMBO in my life agrees with you.

Me, I got a problem with concentrated Authority. Will always love you, CaliforniaPeggy!

[Liberal In Texas]

96. I'm with you.

Only "friends" I have are my kids.
I'm in a couple of groups for hobby interests that are very valuable to doing the hobby.
I'm in a local Democratic group.

I do not take those stupid quizzes asking what your favorite this or that is because I know it's data mining.
I don't see all the "news' stories people get up in arms about as I don't see something and hit "like" generating further similar stories.
The few offensive things (usually RW or some religion) I've ever seen I've alerted on and haven't seen since.

It is just a tool, and like many tools should be regulated. And because of it's influence, severely so.

[paleotn]

99. What did we do before Facebook?

I remember what it was. Do that.

[Tetrachloride]

124. Lets see. Climb 5 flights of stairs, no elevator, put mask on,

wait for 97 year old great grandmother of my friends to not be on bed pan.

one more thing. they are 400 miles away and some are unvaccinated due to medication, fear and too young.

[paleotn]

130. So instead, we give the Reich Wing a platform to take down liberal democracy...

one brick at a time. Seems like a fair trade.

[Tetrachloride]

142. They already have Fox, Newsweek, ghosts of Limbaugh

In Facebook , i present science, human rights, animal rights, environmental restoration, family news.

Many friends have never used email, chat rooms, Mathematica, an airplane, drive a car, know how to swim, been to the Great Pyramids , know what sushi is, know what carrot cake is, climbed a mountain.

12 hours ago, i met face to face a FB friend of 2 years and 8 months for the first time. She has only 1 kidney and is a Covid survivor.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

158. Totally agree with all your comments in the trade off not being worth FBs existence in its

current Wild West lawless form as guardian of hate.

[leftstreet]

102. Interactive social media is the peoples media!

I don't do facebook but I support any and all media that allows people to interact

Social media flips the bird to the handful of corporations spewing one-way "news" and commentary at us 24/7

DURec

[paleotn]

113. I think you've got that backwards....

Might want to do some "Facebook research" on that topic.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

169. Also I would add to your thoughts, social media should not be conflated with informational news.

[bluestarone]

103. I DO NOT do face book, My wife does occasionally

My thoughts are, I believe the people HERE know exactly how to use Facebook. Used properly it's an AWESOME way to communicate! NOBODY should try to control others that use Facebook!

[spike jones]

110. You can do all that you mentioned with email, and emailing list of your family and friends.

Write your comments once, copy and paste to everybody.

Before FB, that was what we did, plus instant messenger and chat rooms. Groups had internet sites with access for all.

Before that we used the phone and regular mail. Before that we used regular mail, telegraph, and word-of-mouth often at meetings, etc. Before that we used…

[relayerbob]

127. We also used horse and buggy

And smoke signals.

[Swede]

117. I see your poems and photos on there all the time.

Like others have said, it's a tool.

[IronLionZion]

118. Because authoritarian countries block access

since their people use it for organizing events, protests, and general communication with each other.

I use it to stay in touch with family/friends who are around the country and world. I never play the stupid games and avoid sharing PII.

Nobody has to engage in discussions with or see toxic hateful people. It can be a good way to keep an eye on them from a distance though if someone wants that.

[paleotn]

139. I wish that were true, but it isn't....

Back in the days of listserv and relatively small, social sites not unlike DU, no one was able to gather the critical mass necessary to create a cheap and very effective mass disinformation and propaganda tool. Facebook changed all that. Not that Zuckerberg is necessarily evil. Just greedy and doesn't give two shits if his toy helps destroy liberal democracy. He got paid. Why should he care?

[IronLionZion]

156. China, Egypt, and others have blocked it periodically

I was in China while it was blocked. They even blocked Google for a bit leaving me without even Gmail.

Countries have blocked internet completely in entire states during some political protest activities.

[alfredo]

120. FB has been down all day. I really don't miss it

[flying_wahini]

122. I am with you Cal Peggy. Yes, I still have an acct. on FB.

My sister lives out of the country and it is easy and free to talk so I keep it.

If you think FB is the only one checking you out then you haven’t been online very much.
Our health history is out there. Any bills you pay online, out there. Tickets to a concert? Yup.
Amazon clicks and purchases? Retirement acts? Online banking? Storing anything in the cloud?
If you think you are a ‘under the radar’ kind of person, you have been duped, too.

Not being disagreeable about it. I think everyone online knows that it is part of the risks we take.

[mountain grammy]

128. Thanks Peggy.. I agree

I found my high school graduating class when we had our 50th in 2015 that I couldn't attend, but it's been great catching up with them.. We're having another reunion in 2022 and that one I'll go to if I'm still around.

[GusBob]

134. What does "patentic"

mean?

[TNNurse]

132. My husband celebrated the demise of FB all day.

I however am intelligent enough to know to not be influenced by idiots. I see photos of friends and family. I am in a couple of liberal groups. I see funny things. I am not influenced by false information. It is not my source of information and politics.

But apparently idiots are influenced wherever they are.

Is it a source for lies and disinformation? Yes, but I am not worried I will be caught up in that.

[The Fifty Stateman]

133. I don't dislike Facebook

I hate it. Without a doubt, THE most destructive website in the history of the Net!

[radical noodle]

138. I have good experiences there too

While there is plenty of crap there, I have family and friends and many groups that I visit every day. I am certainly not opposed to them being regulated, though.

[kellytore]

140. I left FB after finding out about Cambridge Analytica

and how FB turned the other way when the scandal broke. Most of my family are Trump supporters so I don't miss it at all.

[NBachers]

141. Thanks Peggy - you and I are of the same mind. I just ignore the hateful Facebook Bludgeoners.

Smile emoji

[HelpImSurrounded]

143. Where's the laugh like on here?

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[reACTIONary]

144. "never play the games..."

RE: ALSO, and this is really important, I never play the games where they are trying to phish for data.

Very important! I have a FB Friend (a relative, btw) who does that and then "shares". No way am I going to get into that.

[polmaven]

145. It includes me as well!

I am astonislhed that so many consider it a bad place.

[H2O Man]

146. Recommended.

[snowybirdie]

147. Well stated

FB keeps me in contact with family and old friends. Invaluable as Covid stretches on.

[Bear Creek]

148. Messenger

Allows me to call my family members who are out of minutes on their phones.

[randr]

149. All that you like is available without the invasive algorithms that drive the commericialism

of what was once a true public community space. It was OUR internet. Even before the privatized on ramps such as AOL and MYSpace et al. The profits that are taken out of the public trust are perverse. They only come as a result of the usurping of our private information.
A few profiteers saw the opportunity and made the laws bend to their whim. If anyone is deserving of the profits made by the marketing of our collective consciousness it is the citizens who create the data so successfully used for marketing purposes.
Facebook would be fine well regulated and taxed.

[seta1950]

153. That is the reason

Why I got a Facebook account long time ago, for my family around the world and the U.S. , but I couldn’t stand the shenanigans any longer, whether I want to or not they would be making money because of my account, I refuse to do that , now I just FaceTime which is better.

[Mosby]

155. Statement from Facebook

Link to tweet

[Pinback]

167. LOL

[meadowlander]

190. Haha. I totally don't rely on Facebook to remember peoples' birthdays.

[HAB911]

157. thank you Peggy!

well stated

[C Moon]

161. I'm on FB all the time but I have no issues with those who are critical of it.

It was nice this morning being on Twitter again.

[yourmovemonkey]

163. I don't understand why so many people hold this hate for Facebook

I've been on there for over 10 years. I use it mostly to catch up with family and see what all of my artist friends have created. I weeded out all of the meme-reposters a long time ago. I used to be a professional musician, and my friends list is filled with creative people: poets, photographers, painters, sculptors and other music people.
I would never be able to attend that many readings, gallery openings or live shows. Especially during the pandemic.
I rarely see political posts or ads, just a stream of brilliant creativity from my incredible friends.
It is what you make it.
For my mother, who is in poor health and in her 80s, it provides an opportunity to connect with family that she can no longer travel to visit, and who can only rarely make the trip to see her.

[634-5789]

164. Never used it, never happier.

[elleng]

165. Ditto Ditto Ditto, as you know, Peg.

(and it's BACK, so today's sunset has another place to go!)

[easttexaslefty]

166. I agree

Facebook has allowed me to connect with other grieving moms, life-long friends I had lost touch with and connect in a personal way with liberals all over the country.
Those friends helped me keep my sanity thru some very dark times.

[Mr.Bill]

168. I have never used Facebook, so it's sort of like not missing

what I never had. My wife uses it, for many of the same reasons as you, Peggy, and it doesn't bother me at all. She also does genealogy and it's a valuable tool in that area.

This time one year ago I had the civic privilege of serving on a jury on a murder trial. The defendant and his victim were both deaf, as were most of the witnesses. The whole trial was conducted with sign language interpreters. I learned a great deal about the deaf community during those weeks.

Things like Facebook, the internet in general and cell phones with texting have been a life changer for deaf people. It multiplied their communication capabilities exponentially. Both with other deaf people and people who hear. Think about it. half the people in this thread could be deaf and we wouldn't even have to know it. We would still be communicating on an equal basis.

It would be devastating to the deaf to lose Facebook and other sites like it.

By the way, he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. It was basically self defense gone overboard. With time served awaiting trial and time off for good behavior he is already out of jail.

[Heartstrings]

171. Thank you for this....nt

[Jon King]

176. I think you are completely wrong.

Does not matter what you use Facebook for. Facebook's algorithm is being used to destabilize democracies all over the world. It is tailor made to support those evil people who want to feed hate.

By using it you are just providing more revenue to them. So you can keep track of your friends....but the algorithm is destroying democracy? It is literally impossible to separate the good uses of Facebook from the evil uses....literally impossible. You have zero choice but to contribute to the downfall of democracies around the world when you use Facebook and give them revenue.

Wow....just....wow.

[argyl]

180. It has its good points but all in all it's destructive trash.

Messenger and Line are far better sites to post your activities and to see what friends are doing.

FB has caused enormous damage to this and other countries. They keep trash they know are lies, or don't take the trouble to find out, all the while claiming they had no idea how malicious so much of their content is. Just so that grubby little worm Mark Zuckerberg can make a buck.
His company should be torn down, the ground salted where it stood, and Zuckerberg should be stripped of every dime he has and then thrown in prison.
The way he's being sweated in Congress it could happen.
Maybe they could keep the benign aspects of it working but all in all they are a little short of literally being an enemy of the state.

[Jon King]

182. I am baffled that every DUer is not trying to destroy Facebook!!!

Geez, just do a little research. Their algorithm is being used to foster hate and destroy democracy around the world. Instagram is destroying young women.

There is NO way to separate the good uses from the bad. Every user is providing revenue that allows them to expand.

[Skittles]

183. as I have said before

if you love FB, have at it......but FB absolutely disgusts me, and nothing will change that

[Jon King]

188. But when they "have at it" they are helping to destroy democracy.

You can not use Facebook, give them revenue, and not contribute to them expanding around the world and being the perfect recruiting tool for right wing hate.

Anyone that uses Facebook and Instagram might as well be handing out cigarettes at an elementary school.

[Jon King]

185. Time to take another break from DU.

Can't deal with the utter missing the forest for the trees on reply after reply on this thread. Makes me scared that we truly do not stand a chance vs Bannon and the coming right wing take over.

If you folks can not see what Facebook really is, we are doomed. It is the perfect weapon for the right wingers to recruit and foster hate around the world. It should be deemed a threat to the country tonight and regulated strictly.

[Kali]

186. I worry about the disinformation promulgated there and what it does to people

but then I feel that way about television too (yes to the commenters above I am one of those...no teevee for decades LOL)

but honestly my main reason for disliking it is how much time it can suck out of your day once you start. that is why I hardly go there anymore. I miss seeing you and a few others, especially a couple of ex DUers, but in general it was just sucking too much time. I have enough problems with the internet addiction without a site that is actively manipulating me.

[NNadir]

187. I have never used it, so perhaps I'm not entitled to an opinion.

What I hear about it makes me reluctant to use it however. At this point I'd never sign up.

My sons have used it; at a least one of my sons had a high school friend who he is unwilling to unfriend because the guy turned out to be a white supremacist Nazi with a violent streak. He knows where we live and he's scary.

He's stopped using Facebook.

I'm not sure how it works, but I understand that users can see who your "friends" are, and if one of your "friends" turns out to be a Nazi, that's not a good thing for prospective employers to see.

I see it as a kind of walking around naked in a way; I'm naked enough with Google and don't need more of the same. In my line of work Google - in particular Google scholar - is a necessity; Facebook isn't.

[Jon King]

189. Educate yourself, this is what you are doing when you give Facebook your revenue.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/opinion/facebook-democracy.html

[Faux pas]

192. Me too

plus the games keep me sharp at 72.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

194. I am going to lock my thread. First, I'm reposting my opening post so anyone can read it.

It certainly has been interesting, but enough is enough. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

This post is for all of you who dislike Facebook:
I consider it a valuable part of my online life. Obviously, DU is home, but FB is second.

Why?

My family is there.
Many of my real-life friends are there.
My poetry companions are there.
My photography friends are there.
My political friends are there.

We all talk and share regularly, both on and off FB.

Many of the photos I post here, I also post there, since the overlap of people I know is not large.

It's really annoying to me to read all the negative stuff about the site. I avoid those negative places like the plague.

I keep my timeline "friends only" and private.

It's been a great place for me. I can't help it if it's been less useful to others.

ALSO, and this is really important, I never play the games where they are trying to phish for data.

So just be aware that there more than a few people here who value Facebook. And obviously, that includes me.