Wrong again!

[i_kender]

Zoe Williams from The Guardian claiming that social networking sites are rubbish and a complete waste of time because It's Better in the Flesh  *shakeshead* She's right about one thing though: Facebook is rubbish.

Comments

[lisekit.livejournal.com]

Zoe Williams has been consistently full of shite. I think she mistakes "provocative comment" for "uninformed, unsupported ranting". She made me really angry recently with a column full of snide remarks on the working party looking at the fashion industry, managing to totally misrepresent what the committee were actually doing and adding for good measure some views on the causes of anorexia that were not only moronic but dangerously so.

She is not my favourite columnist.

[i_kender]

Um... "True dat".

[nightxade.livejournal.com]

It seems to me that she's trying to "intelligently" tackle major issues, but only has a small space in which to do so. I won't reiterate what I posted below, but I want to add that I do like this line: "Meaningful communities are still small in scale, built on time, effort and contact. Gangs of 200 people saying hello to each other are just so much landscape."

It sums up what I said... too bad it doesn't sum up what she said. Her writing here shows me a significant lack of research into what she's discussing. She's lumped any and all social online communities under the ilk of Facebook and MySpace. I know us LJ people are elitist (damn right, yo!), but for the most part, I can find a lot more meaningful discussion and general insights -- even in posts just about someone's life -- than I can on Facebook or otherwise.

Yes meeting in person or chatting on the phone has it's merits, and I would certainly expect it of people who live next door to each other, but you can't deny that the Internet has opened up the world and therefore the means of communication it has provided have to be given creidt (or discredited) in a different way.

[nightxade.livejournal.com]

I mentioned in my LJ when I was first learning about Facebook that articles refering to the online social communities tend not to even mention Livejournal, and if they mention blogs, it's only in passing. Blogs, while being narcissistic, really (I'm posting this! Come read my words and comment!) and not necessarily fostering discussion the way a discussion board might, are far more useful tools. One of the industries I work for (PR) is all about promoting their members' blogs because the information presented in them is insightful for others in the industry -- especially when certain situations arise. I actually linked to one a while back that had info I was interested in.

As for Facebook. I admittedly got caught up in the obsession -- for about a week. I am happy to have renewed contact with long lost friends and it's been interesting to see what has become of people I knew. But once the initial *weeee* is over with, I'm all... now what?

My friend says it and MySpace are good for bands to alert their fans and friends to events and releases and such. I have one aquaintance who does that and I can see that it certainly is quite effective for event postings and such. Otherwise, beyond saying the occasional "Hi!" or "I'm wishing you happy bday because Facebook says it's your bday," it's very "So now what?" The latest fad is people adding these stupid little applications.

Now that said, it sure is better in the flesh. That's undeniable. However, I can't up and see you and buddleia this weekend, now can I? So I will settle for and enjoy this mode of amusing communication and sharing, along with emails and IMs (which again, she doesn't mention).

[i_kender]

Well said, you. Yes, I was the same with Facebook... in fact, I haven't even bothered replying to a few people, which is naughty. For me it seemed very similar to Friends Reunited, with the bonus of being free to contact people.

However, I can't up and see you and buddleia this weekend, now can I?

Probably for the best, it's supposed to rain. How's the following weekend for you?

[nightxade.livejournal.com]

Well it's not raining until next Wednesday here if you'd like. Oh and the Strawberry Festival is on the 23rd. Let me know. I must kick the cats out of the guest room.

[murraynz.livejournal.com]

I'm caught in the Facebook vortex.

[i_kender]

Mostly, I hate the fact you have to enter your real name.

Also strongly dislike that people you can't stand from the past can look you up!