Facebook.......love it or hate it?

**WV_mom_of2** · 02-08-2010, 11:05 AM

If you have a Facebook account do you love it or hate it? I have both feelings lol.

I love that I can stay connected with people I know. That I can put updates and pics in one place and everyone see them. That I can find people I used to know. I found my best friend from elementary school recently on another friend's page and it's like we never lost touch!

I hate that people can find me LOL. I hate that feeling of "uh oh so and so found me and wants to be friends, now what do I do?" when someone sends me a friend request and I don't want to accept. I have one of those this morning. It's someone I was friendly with in high school. Not friends really, but friendly. Someone I see in town a couple of times a year and speak to but don't really want on my page ya know? If I don't accept her she will know it and that's awkward. And a mutual friend will probably say something about it.

I also hate people using it like it's a popularity contest, trying to see how many people they can add just to have them.. I have people trying to friend me that I don't even know. They see that I'm friends with someone on their friend list and send me a request. Ummmmm no! If I don't know you I'm not accepting!

How do you feel about it?

**Pemberleyan** · 02-08-2010, 11:12 AM

I definitely don't love it, but I haven't gone as far as canceling my account. I don't get the whole thing about adding as many friends as you can. I mean reallywho has 300 friends? I don't like the awkwardness of being "friended" by people I don't know or do know and don't want to know my private business, etc. I think we've become far too comfortable with our private lives being public -- I have my settings set as privately as possible, of course, and have no photo of myself on line.

**stinkbug** · 02-08-2010, 11:20 AM

There's a whole group from our graduating class that act like they are still in high scholl.....30+ years ago. dumb. I don't have pictures posted either and have very limited info. I have caught up with some extended family I rarely see....that's about it.

**spyzvixxen** · 02-08-2010, 11:21 AM

It's a love/hate relationship for me. I love being connected to those whom I WANT to stay connected with but cringe getting friend requests from people who barely gave me the time of day. I also hate that I get so caught up, I find I've wasted the day away instead of doing housework.

**spyzvixxen** · 02-08-2010, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by stinkbug

There's a whole group from our graduating class that act like they are still in high scholl.....30+ years ago. dumb. I don't have pictures posted either and have very limited info. I have caught up with some extended family I rarely see....that's about it.

Yes, it's also a great tool to see how people turned out. I also have found that most of my graduating class have never grown up. So sad.

**Samigirl** · 02-08-2010, 11:23 AM

Yep...I feel the same way you do WV mom. There are some people whom I don't want to befriend online; but it would feel awkward to ignore their request. I had a great high school experience, but I don't necessarily want to relive the "glory days" with people whom I no longer have much in common.

**2ndGenGranola** · 02-08-2010, 11:25 AM

I love it!

I've been able to find friends that I had "lost" when we were moving around at the same time.

I don't really see Facebook as an intimate little gathering of close friends as some do. I see it as a way of keeping in touch of people that you know -- even those who are most "distant". I don't see any problem with an acquaintance requesting friendship. I don't friend complete strangers and use caution with people I know to be "troublemakers" (I've blocked my IRL troublemakers long before they thought of finding me).

**nodmicks** · 02-08-2010, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

I love it!

I've been able to find friends that I had "lost" when we were moving around at the same time.

I don't really see Facebook as an intimate little gathering of close friends as some do. I see it as a way of keeping in touch of people that you know -- even those who are most "distant". I don't see any problem with an acquaintance requesting friendship. I don't friend complete strangers and use caution with people I know to be "troublemakers" (I've blocked my IRL troublemakers long before they thought of finding me).

I agree with you 110%

**Neeley** · 02-08-2010, 11:54 AM

I absolutely love it. Several of my childhood friends I have a couple of cousins I don't get to see often and it makes it so much easier for us to keep in touch. An added bonus are their great games - not Farmville or Mafia Wars type games. But the puzzle and logic games like Bubble Shooter, Same ball, Slingo, etc... It is my number one favorite website. I spend 90% of my online time facebooking.

**mama2James** · 02-08-2010, 12:08 PM

I really enjoy facebook. It helps me keep in touch with my family and friends. There really isn't enough time to call and chat with everyone as often as I'd like..but this way I get to keep tabs on what they're up to, how they've been etc. At the same time, I get to post updates about what's going on with me as well and share the happy things in my life.

**KeithBC** · 02-08-2010, 12:13 PM

I don't get Facebook at all. I signed up just to see what it was about. I don't like that you can't browse anyone's page. They all say, "this person only shares information with friends". So you can't lurk and see if you would actually want to get to know the person before making contact.

I prefer discussion forums where you can hang out and see the community's style before you participate.

**Inkstain82** · 02-08-2010, 12:32 PM

Absolutely love it. Fantastic for keeping up with family and friends.

**nancycg56** · 02-08-2010, 12:54 PM

I love it for keeping up with niece and nephews, other family members and kids I went to high school and college with. I never post anything personal so no problems there but if it went away tomorrow, I'd be fine with that, too

**miss_thrifty** · 02-08-2010, 12:57 PM

I love it and use it every day. There are some things I block for others to use photos, videos etc that are only for my family and friends. I never put things on it that i dont want others to see on my friends list.
For me its just keeping in contact with mostly people from school and met over the years.
we all have people who try to add us and dont know or have to ask who they are before wanting to add them. otherwise it doesnt bother me if I dont add them. not saying it aint annoying lol

**frugalfriend** · 02-08-2010, 12:59 PM

I have a love/hate relationship with it too! I'm a pretty private person so when someone posts something on my wall that I wouldn't want EVERYONE to know, it is uncomfortable. I've had to delete some stuff on occasion. I definitely don't like the popularity contest that it seems to be and don't go after every friend and acquaintance I've ever known, just so I have 300+ friends on facebook, lol! I kept my maiden name off it on purpose so old boyfriends don't look me up, haha! Don't need to open that can of worms! I do love that I have been able to get reacquainted with some pretty special people that I lost touch with . . . my good friend and roommate from before I got married, a few friends that moved away to other states, a lot of high school friends. It is fun to get a snippet of what people are doing when they post status updates, although I don't understand those who post status updates all day long as though they have nothing better to do, lol!