Topic: Social media and suchness

[GMLovlie]

I was wonder… how many here are registered at facebook? myspace? twitter? google+? I know there are others out there too, with weird names… I'd guess that about 98% if not more is present at one or more of the aforementioned sites… I know there are statistical outliers that are not there, either because of their age (statistics show great variation within age groups, however arbitrary those groupings might be) or some other reason. What I'm about to show you, might make you change your mind about having an online presentation of the self.

Now, I'm not about start a big debate or discussion about the corporate nature of these sites, how the use or don't use your personal information as a capital good… they are pretty open about it if they do and how they do it… and in this economic system its their right (if not duty) to offer us such services… (although this is a very interesting debate!)

I was just wondering how many knew about this project?

The Diaspora* Project is an open source, community made project for you, us all. I think its a good project, its meaningful in this day and age of high frequent online "socialising" and presentation of the self (however modified and distorted image people choose to give themselves). Also it lets you stay in control, more so than any of the other sites and services available.

I know many people go: "what do I need another fb, twitter or g+ account for?!" (many of my friends replies like that, fair enough really) … well, you don't need it, unless you share in the notion of individual self-determination and principles of privacy that is at the basis of the Diaspora* Project…

To be clear, I have no affiliation with this project other than having a registered account. I am no software developer and not taking part in the development of the various pods and the project at all. I'm just a big fan of it, trying to spread the goodness.

Anyone here already joined perhaps?

[GrumpyOldFart]

I've managed to avoid most social media, not through informed choice so much as subconsciously and automatically.... kind of comes with the name I guess.

 

[GMLovlie]

Good for you I got hooked early on and is to some extent addicted to pointless and meaningless updates from my friends and acquaintances… you're not really missing anything, social media is overrated, yet I must say I like the narcissism it encourages, its perverted… simultaneously it initiates a stalker in you, a way to perform social terror, which really backfires into a self-inflicted social terror. oh the joy!

Some day, it will be banned, just like cigarettes soon will be… 

[markc]

 I am also not on Soc Med do to privacy concerns. I just get tired of people/companies tracking what I buy and send me stuff via e-mail or mail to buy more of.
 I guess in the future they will give you a very good deal if you wear a camera 24hr/day and 365 days a year. Yes they will record everything but they will not use it in any inappropriate way. Ya right we know how that works out.
MDC

[Fornitus]

I am on facebook but its just a fake ID. probably 5 people on there know who I really am. What I find interesting is they all automatically use my alias on FB without being asked. And while they may post stuff like pictures of their children (with names!) which I disagree about, they never post things that would be a connection with my real life other than to say call me.
Its the fact they do this courteous action automatically that I find interesting.
 

[GMLovlie]

@markc: which is the great thing about diaspora, your information is owned by you, even if you decide to share it through this social media platform. There are no ads or games or "polls"… it can in no way be used by others than you… so the reason for that healthy dose of paranoia is lessened (somewhat) I mean… even if I am paranoid, that doesn't mean that no one is watching me, following me… 

@Fornitus: Fascinating, yet not so surprising. Most people adapt and will refer to online personas as they are presented, even if its a pseudonym… It might be "respect" or something akin to that, but I also think its because it the easiest way… the online persona takes on a different set of associations, due to the alias, level of activity and possibly many more factors, so it is not separate, but still distinguishable from the larger whole, or self, that it is a part of.

[arakish]

I am registered at facebook, but I have no idea what to do with the crap.  Since I can't figure out what facbook is supposed to be, I stay away from all the others.

Then again, I am at that age that I just don't give a fart about those social media sites stuff.  I prefer my social stuff in person.  If I need to contact someone, I use email or phone call, whichever is best at the time.

However, I do make an acception with forum boards.  Before there was such a thing as the World Wide Web, I was a very active member of the FIDONet starting back in 1985, or 1986, until the WWW went up in 1994.  Forum boards are so similar to the Bulletin Boards back then...

But that is the difference in the generations.  Mine was largely "in person" social.  Persons 30 or younger are part of that "computer screen/cellphone" social.

rmfr