Facebook Criticized
A couple of recent Facebook articles caught my attention.
Waste of Time
Bob Bly wrote an interesting piece on whether using social networks, including Facebook, is a good use of his time:
…when you join, you get e-mails every day from people saying they have found you on one of these networks … and asking to be added to your list or be allowed to follow you or whatever you call it.
These e-mails interrupt my busy day, and so I don’t reply when I get them: It would destroy my productivity and take me away from the pressing writing deadlines at hand.
But I don’t reply to them LATER, either … because — well, because I am busy, and I have more important things to do, whatever time of day or day of the week it is.
I agree with Mr. Bly that facebook does seem like a waste of time and that is why I have not signed up myself. However, I won’t deny that many people enjoy using the service. Some folks I know do use Facebook and they find that it helps them keep in touch with their friends; I won’t tear them down for that. I would, however, also suggest having low-tech, real visits with friends, such as dinner parties.
Inappropriate Banning of Users?
The Washington Post published an article last week suggesting people are getting kicked off of Facebook, when perhaps they are not doing anything wrong:
“All I was doing is using it to communicate more efficiently, which is what I thought it was for,” said Coe, 25, of Centreville. “I don’t feel like I was violating any code of ethics.”
Others have been kicked off the popular site for adding too many friends at once; sending too many messages; joining too many groups; or “poking” too many friends, a casual greeting on the site. Shunned Facebookers said the punishment contradicts the site’s core mission — to help people connect and communicate.
