Why are we so open on Social Media sites ?

j.patroni · 07-08-2012, 07:02 AM

Interesting article .
Why are we so willing to share ourselves with Google, Facebook and our government? | Fox News

Upkeep · 07-08-2012, 09:24 AM

It certainly is.

I think, as far as this stuff is concerned, there are essentially two broad kinds of people:

1.) 'Sheeple' who just have to follow the 'latest and greatest' for a variety of personal reasons and will mindlessly give up anything to part of it, and . . .

2.) Those who have a respect for government authorities and would like to believe the government can be trusted. I still hold out hope on this one, but our government here in Canada is proving me a 'chump'.

Facebook, Twitland, Google+, etc, will never be anything I'm involved in, and thankfully, my boss (me) doesn't demand it.

gospodin · 07-08-2012, 09:37 AM

Without reading the article, I can tell you this is a complicated issue...but at the heart of it is the fact that we humans are social creatures. Most of us want acceptance and approval by others, even anonymously. We want to vent and be heard...just part of what we are.

Wingnut · 07-08-2012, 12:37 PM

I am very careful as to what I say on Facebook....We all know who is monitoring it.

Its the very same people that have installed cameras at every intersection. The same people that make sure there is a GPS in every cell phone. Etc, Etc..And GOD only knows what other technologies they use against us.

If you want to share so much info about you and your beliefs on Facebook so be it,. But remeber there is always someone watching and gathering info on you...Facebook knows more about you than your spouse does...

I personally am getting ready to pull the plug on my Facebook account. Its not a social network anymore. Its a massive intel gathering website. Its been proven and documented... Thats my take on the Face book situation..

gospodin · 07-08-2012, 01:09 PM

I reopened my FB account recently after having closed it three years ago. I did so to see if certain people were available to contact, but so far I haven't found them. I log on for two to three minutes, then leave. I have no interest in FB, just one big natter factory. These forums are enough socializing for me.

wu6fiend · 07-08-2012, 01:29 PM

I'm very careful what I post, personal information wise. I'm not a "Big Brother is watching me" type, but I am aware of identity theft, and that criminals can use what is posted against people. I am very surprised sometimes how open people can be, in terms of posting personal information (income, address, vehicles, pictures of wife/children/home/valuables etc). I don't have a Facebook account, and don't intend to. I shake my head when I hear the standard "only my friends can see it" argument; what is posted on the Internet is there forever, and you never know who has access to the information/image/post in the future. I post on a few sites that interest me (this one, various car enthusiast sites, electronics sites), but that is it.

Evil Z06 · 07-08-2012, 01:56 PM

I am probably the only one here that has NEVER been on Facebook or any other social site....So I guess I am anti-social....

doug seeley · 07-08-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Z06

I am probably the only one here that has NEVER been on Facebook or any other social site....So I guess I am anti-social....

Second that sentiment - Steve Zuckerberg offers nothing that I need. Outta here, Doug

plane737 · 07-08-2012, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Z06

I am probably the only one here that has NEVER been on Facebook or any other social site....So I guess I am anti-social....

Count me in too. I have never and will never open up a Facebook or Twitter account. I don't really care who's doing what or what they ate for lunch today, etc.

I enjoy aviation as a hobby and am glad to be a part of this site as well as a few more regarding aviation collecting and spotting.

robertjon5 · 07-08-2012, 05:10 PM

make that FOUR in a row!!! never find me on any of them neither!! too many nutters and weirdo's on there!!

N787BA · 07-08-2012, 06:17 PM

I don't use the Twitter or the Google plus, but I do use Facebook to stay in contact with some friends from High School and stuff, that is what I think it is good for. I really never post anything, and my profile is set to completely private, no one can even find my by searching. lol

BuddyK · 07-08-2012, 08:02 PM

Fox News article ... What does this have to do with the article's title ?
This is factual news ? ... Or speculation ?

...."This means that alerts about storms and other potential disasters (or who knows what) will be broadcast to these devices from the federal government. Users can opt out of the messages from the Amber Alert Program and the Federal Emergency Management Program, but not messages from the president of the United States.
This literally means that Americans on these and other mobile devices can be forced to—at minimum—glance at information that the government wants to convey to them. And at some date in the future, it might certainly be the case that they have to acknowledge having read it. They can instantly be distracted, en masse, at some critical moment. Perhaps they will have to enable their Face Time system to show them reading WEA messages, while they do.
Sound far-fetched? It really isn’t. Google’s Street View system already can image your neighborhood and your house. " ....

A little news mixed with a large dose of FEAR ....

Buddy

arctic9048 · 07-08-2012, 08:14 PM

So this guy is also afraid of filling prescriptions online? As if a local pharmacy's computer is 100% secure? The majority of the people I know on Facebook post basic information such as what school they went to. If you were sitting on a plane and the guy next to you wanted to have a conversation, stuff like where you went to school and what you do for a living are probably going to be discussed. It's really not that big of a deal.

MarinerOne · 07-12-2012, 08:53 PM

I'm a very casual FB-er ... I don't reveal much of anything about myself other than an occasional funny photo of my dog or some juicy burger I'm about to chomp into.

But what really cracks me up are the few (the minority) who become FB "prima donnas" and feel like it's their right and privilege to "entertain" their audience of friends and family. They even like to have pity parties and such, and make it their priority to make sure that everyone knows all the details of every aspect of their lives. Kinda sad if you ask me.

hpennell · 07-12-2012, 10:08 PM

I don't mind it so much. I like talking to my friends, most who actually are my friends and have talked to them way before FB ever came along. Some have their own agenda, but don't we all!!, but you listen to them anyway.
I'm not afraid of what I say and to whom I say it to, I'm not afraid of big brother(whoever that might be) or any one else for that matter!

Lufthansaboy · 07-13-2012, 04:30 PM

I de-registered because I got fed up with reading such crap as what people had for dinner and what new shoes they had bought, etc. What a load of b*llocks.

MarinerOne · 07-13-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lufthansaboy

I de-registered because I got fed up with reading such crap as what people had for dinner and what new shoes they had bought, etc. What a load of b*llocks.

The stuff you're talking about is nothing really. You should read what I'm privy to ... it's almost like an online diary at times ... it is what it is ... I just ignore most of what doesn't appeal to me, which is about 90% of it

Bangkok Lady La · 07-13-2012, 10:37 PM

I axed my FB account about 6 months ago. I found I had nothing really valuable to add and the way some people posted what they had for breakfast or big noting themselves actually started to annoy me so I just called it a day.
To be honest I have not missed it since.
But each to their own.

love em MD-80 · 07-14-2012, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.patroni

Interesting article .
Why are we so willing to share ourselves with Google, Facebook and our government? | Fox News

Scary Right or wrong? Facebook uses technology to spy on private chats

Upkeep · 07-14-2012, 09:09 AM

Well, forums are one of the original forms of social media, so those who say they aren't going to get involved . . . you already are.

Further to that, after all this chatter about the light-weight chaff on Facebook, I'm going to be expecting a higher calibre of posts from all the 'critics' here.