Why I hate facebook

oh and of course I should add my rebuttal on behalf of facebook as an avid user ;)

Friends

Well I touched base with my previous comment, but more towards your other point, if it wasn't for facebook, I wouldn't have gotten back intouch with long lost friends I left in Durban and other friends that moved overseas! So its great! yeah, we did try the whole phoning thing - too expensive, we also tried the penpal letter thing - waaay too long and some never got delivered, we tried emailing, but also found trying have chat just wasn't instant or interactive enough :)

Activism

Good point, except I remember the last time you went out, you almost got totalled from an angry mob!! I think facebooks version is WAY more safer and way more networked!! it's all about the speed my friend - oh and by the way, I know a single newly divorced mom who started her business as just an idea through a group on facebook, and now a few months later, its developed into over a million rand business!!! (and it's to do with activism and networking in a nutshell)

Security

I have never found a problem with the security with facebook, heck a friend blocked me and I have no way of messaging, connecting or even viewing her profile or friends!! It's a long story and it's her personal choice, but thats the point, its as secure as you want it to be...if you're having problems its because of the choices you make or refuse to make, thats all :)

Oh and just use you're old mobile number man, it really isnt that hard to type 10 numbers!! 0761231234 see simple :P

Blogging

I personally think you're being hard on the blogging thing, specially since you make a living from blogging, and it kind of offends you, but facebook blogging has a place in our lives, for one, it introduces ignorant people to the concept of blogging:
it's like learning to ride a bike, for the new kid, he's introduced to the concept by being taught to ride a bicycle with his dad or uncle, then as he gets used to the concept he upgrades to a bigger bicycle without training wheels, then trades up for a scrambler, then eventually competing in superbike races and has a Dakar Traveling bike for the relaxed weekends. My point here is that first you have to learn to crawl before you're speeding down the runway with your kneepad grinding on the tarmac that's moving at over 300kph.

And for another: you already have a huge network, so again, it's faster :) and you most likely know the people so your blogging opinions and points get taken up easier and funny enough initiates word of mouth to other humans in the real world anyway :)

Oh and I find it great to get my point out there and have a large following :) But I guess if you're using Blogging to make a living then facebook blogging is kinda pointless unless it's used as the Dakar Travel bike on weekends :P

Events

What happened to actually TELLING people you have something on over a weekend

Well, again, because you already have the network, it's the best place to let everyone know about an event, besides the great ability to have a basic head count of who's coming, who's thinking about it and who's not! Facebook events is a marketing manager's wet dream!!

instead of sending a stupid message that gets lost between the other 100's of junk little invites and Facebook spam.

Ok again, this is simple, if you're adding every stupid annoying application on facebook, then of course it's going to get lost...but it's all about your choice in the end.

Do I know you?

Ok here, you do make a good point, but to play the so called "devils advocate", I after much annoyance of having people I dont know in my friends list, deleted everyone I dont know, what's left? 284 people I personally know, have met and are on talking bases with them, and see them when ever possible. So not everyone has 100's of friends just because they add random people!!

Another thing is facebook allows me to connect with my clients and not only get more work in and exposes me to new clientèle, but also allows me to create an ongoing feedback as part of my service :)

use your phone to invite people. It might cost more but it means a lot more.

Ok seriously, since you dont have a cellphone, you might've forgotten HOW MUCH more it costs to invite everyone to an event, I tried that once and it cost me 100's of rands!! that's money that can go into the event itself, so facebook regarding events management is alot like Nashua, saving you time, saving you money, putting you first ;)

What is the point?

Actually connectivity IS the point, because as I said before:

if it wasn't for facebook, I wouldn't have gotten back intouch with long lost friends I left in Durban and other friends that moved overseas!.

And as for the artificial friendship behind Facebook thing??? I have know idea where that is coming from, because from my point of view, I've actually gained more friends with facebook that I get to see from time to time for coffee or going out etc...and if there is anyone that is being fake or rude or stalkish, it's as simple as remove/block/report! Simple ;)

So in a nutshell, yes, based on how you use facebook, or the choices you take or what you choose to say to people and how you choose to interact with them, it can be your worst nightmare, or the best thing that's happend to the internet and society from and international stand point :)