Author Topic: Ditched Myspace (and Facebok too!) (Read 7640 times)

FELINEGUITARS · « **on:** February 19, 2008, 11:34:53 AM »

I have decided to drop my Myspace Profile because I am tired of all the emails that get generated and most of those are to inform me that some spammer/attention seeker has tried to put a comment on my page or that I have been added by some 12 year old kid in New zealand who is trying to get to 5000 friends (and even Tom doesn't really want to be his friend)

So if you had a link to my page and wondered why I was gone - it's nothing serious - just trying to cut down on unnecessary distraction /time-wasting in my email in-box. I guess I am trying to simplify my life to allow more time for important stuff like work / real life and forums that have real value (like this one)

I had already ditched Facebook for a few reasons:

1) I'm not entirely sure of it's purpose and there are some very worrying reports as to the nature of the people behind it (not so much Mark Zuckerberg but there is big money and US government agencies at work behind the scenes)

2) Every time someone I know (with too much time on their hands) starts playing around with any of the time wasting activities on there I get a slew of emails telling me about it, which I cant be bothered with ( I don't need to know that Charlie or whoever is good at scrabble or has gone out to buy a pint of milk)

3) Facebook has been linked with a lot of identity theft of late . With some people it sure looks like an easy way to gather enough info to fake someones identity.

I was interested in the whole "Web 2.0" thing and it's content led sites at first but it has deteriated into nonsense in many areas which is a shame because it had such potential. I had found a few cool bands through it but am just tired of all the dross that you have to wade through to get to anything worthwhile.

Wonder if I am the only one to feel this way about it.......

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:16:42 PM »

I despise both of them frankly, the whole corporate feel is just too mind boggling, and since Myspace is now owned by the devil himself, I'm 100 times more likely to pass.

Antag · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:19:26 PM »

I never saw the point of Facebook (other than to deluge my Mrs' inbox with mail - she's had the same experience as you :)) & the idea that it's either safe or sensible to put personal info where anyone/everyone can see it always struck me as daft.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:42:49 PM »

Yes - all iwanted was some profile on there for Feline guitars and what we do - but the downsides were too great.

Facebook in particular was terrible - they also have a lot of 3rd party applications which to me reek of security risk and deluge you with email.

I know Afghan Dave was enjoying using it which struck me as odd - especially with his involvement with the "Say No to ID" campaign against ID cards here in the UK, but I quickly had enough (and they wont let you delete or cancel any of your account - it is just set to deactivated - so the CIA/FBI or whichever agency can keep al your details

For anyone interested there is a fair amount of stuff on this theory:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10456534

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t34949.html

Will · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:51:17 PM »

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

and they wont let you delete or cancel any of your account - it is just set to deactivated - so the CIA/FBI or whichever agency can keep al your details

Can you not send them an email and tell them to remove your data, I'm sure that technically infringes your rights somehow. (but I am no expert)

Personally never used either of them, or the like. Would rather talk to my girlfriend, play guitar, or talk guitar... soo that works out as MSN, GP5, and BKP instead of writing stuff about myself. I'm happy with that :D

Philly Q · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2008, 01:00:55 PM »

I've never got involved in either - I waste far too much time online as it is. Lots of people have good/interesting Myspace pages but I don't get involved in all the "friends" and blogging and sending messages. And I know absolutely zero about Facebook.

I love the internet, can hardly remember how I managed to do anything before it existed.

But I don't see the point of having hundreds of "online friends" you really know very little about and being told what they're up to 24 hours a day. Maybe I just value my privacy.

I never even thought about the "Big Brother" aspects... :?

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2008, 01:06:23 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

I've never got involved in either - I waste far too much time online as it is. Lots of people have good/interesting Myspace pages but I don't get involved in all the "friends" and blogging and sending messages. And I know absolutely zero about Facebook.

I love the internet, can hardly remember how I managed to do anything before it existed.

But I don't see the point of having hundreds of "online friends" you really know very little about and being told what they're up to 24 hours a day. Maybe I just value my privacy.

I never even thought about the "Big Brother" aspects... :?

Online friends isn't too bad - Anyone who plays alot of computer games will know that its possible to make some mates over the web - But there seems to be so little interaction on Myspace between "friends", most people would be very hesitant to make friends over the interweb, but people with myspace accounts whore themselves out completely!

Hell, I even value some of the people on the forum we have here - I'm not sure I'd label you all as good friends - Not enough 1 on 1 interaction, but i would certainly call you all COMRADES!

jt · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2008, 01:36:27 PM »

:D Like a lot of the members of this forum i regard you lot as my fellow forum buddies. If we get the chance to meet up at a guitar show etc then great ! Lets have a beer & a chat. Hell if we get on we can allways arrange to meet up after and have a curry etc. Dont hold with any of this Myspace/Facebook nonsense as it allways struck me as a total waste of time and to be honest a complete load of rubbish. How can someone you`ve never met be your "Friend" ?

You dont seem to have any interaction between them. Here on the boards we all post things, Have arguments, exchange info on gear, bands etc which is a lot more interactive, making you lot feel more like freinds than just putting up a picture and then forgetting about it. Cant see the point.

:D 8)

sambo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2008, 01:40:18 PM »

Well I must confess I have accounts on both myspace and facebook.

I'll use myspace to occasionally send messages/comments to my real-life mates if it's something not worth calling them about or whatever. Aside from that, it has no real purpose or use unless you are a band (in which case it is AWESOME).

Facebook is ANNOYING. The only thing I've ever used it for is to play some free poker-game application which is pretty fun. But I must concur with Feline that the amount of notifications and e-mails that you receive is INSANE!

I also heard about the fact that you can't delete your account which is quite odd. Although identity theft doesn't cross my mind much as I have nothing worth thieving- no credit cards or the like.

_tom_ · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2008, 01:40:56 PM »

I just use them for keeping in touch with my mates, I dont think I have many people who I havent met in person, if I havent then they're probably people off this forum or HC. Dont really like facebook though, but everyone at uni seems to use it as opposed to myspace..

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2008, 01:41:45 PM »

I much prefer the BKP forum
I have made a lot of contacts, new customers and become buddies with quite a few of you. (Never got that at Myspace)
As JT says -it also means we meet up at gigs or guitar shows etc which is cool (Curry sounds good as well)

Ted · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2008, 02:38:41 PM »

I'm on both systems, but cannot be bothered with either.

Its cool to look at other people's photos and drunken photos of the night before...but thats it.

I'm done with virtual friend acquisition.

Oh and yes you can delete your facebook entry!

dave_mc · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2008, 03:07:43 PM »

never got round to either myself. :lol:

blue · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2008, 06:24:37 PM »

i found them both confusing and frankly unusable. does that mean i'm old?!?!

but i am on Bebo, my mates went on about it for months then one of them set up a page for me, so i started using it. but i only have people i actually know on it. it is actually useful for keeping in touch with friends abroad.

Simon D · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2008, 07:17:30 PM »

I use both, although far from extensively. I don't remember the last time I logged into Myspace. For all I know, a bunch of hot Playboy bunnies all want to be my 'friend' and I'm missing out. However, it is quite handy for checking out new bands and hearing a few tracks to judge if they're any good without splashing out money on CDs/downloads.

I have mixed opinions about Facebook. I'm not sure I buy all the FBI/CIA stuff completely, but if it turned out to be true, I certainly wouldn't be surprised. All the BS applications it throws at you are a pain in the ass, but if you just keep it stripped down and simply use it to keep in touch with people, it can be very handy. It's helped me get back in touch with a few people I lost contact with, and it's great for organising parties and events. As for zombie wars and fun walls, thanks, but I'll pass.