I just joined Facebook. I feel a series of headaches coming on...

[Tom Kitten]

Yes I know I'm a johnny come lately to that place but I felt it had to be done. As soon as I signed up there were several people waiting to be my friends. Now I have several friends, many I haven't seen or communicated with for years. Can I just send them a note saying hi and what's been happening without it becoming part of some public thread?

I don't have a scanner or digital camera yet so uploading pics is a hassle. I have to figure out how the site works but that would mean I spend all my time there...I prefer the old days when I could just send someone an email! Am I supposed to acknowledge being added as a friend? If not is that a breach of ettiquette?

And what about my homepage? It's not done at all. Are people going to cruise by and take a look and think I'm a lazy slacker because there's not much there? I haven't had regular internet accessibility for years and years mainly because I've been poor and I think I've bitten off more than I can chew. Who wants to know I've been poor?

I somehow listed "The Who" as a like but I don't like The Who all that much. So I had to "unlike" The Who and the space is left blank noting that I "unliked" The Who. I don't unlike The Who, I just don't like them that much to "like" them. I mean, I don't need this, really...

To tell you the truth, I don't to like to spend to spend much time typing out words to a bunch of faceless people on the internet. I like to draw and paint pictures. I can post scans of some of my artwork there but they are large (1 MB+)...Plus I figure I'd have to explain what it is, etc.

But now I'm obligated, I guess...like I said, there's a bunch of headaches coming soon!

[ohiosmith]

1. I deactivated my account yesterday.

[Paulie]

2. You'll be shocked on how much it already knows about you

[Tom Kitten]

5. I figure the internet already does

I clicked on a link at Talking Points Memo this morning about new discoveries at Angkor Wat in Cambodia...Later I go to Youtube, there are all these Angkor Wat videos lined up in their suggestion box!

Creepy...

[onehandle]

3. Join Google+ instead.

Nobody will bother you there, because nobody uses it.

[NYC_SKP]

4. You "unliked" the Who????

I'm just ribbing you.

I know, Facebook is frustrating!

Just don't allow permission for any old thing that asks for it, or you'll be sorry.

Also, learn about your privacy settings.

[Tom Kitten]

6. OMG I unlike The Who!

Doubleplusbad, a?

It's just I like several other bands better and The Who weren't The Who after Keith Moon died, he was that essential...Plus there were other things going on musically so I never got into that whole "Face Dances" "You Better You Better You Bet" scene.

And yes, privacy I at least found out about and applied!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

7. Dude...

There is a reason people are bailing.

If you think there is Drama here... Oh you have no idea!

You will lose friends in real life, not only will family relations get strained but you will end up seeing them in a light you wish you never knew!

May Providence have mercy on your soul!

[Tom Kitten]

9. Bummer

My God What Have I Done?

I did notice a couple of my now...let's just call them "friends"...are friends of each other even though I know them from different cities, times of my life, etc.

I wonder if they're plotting against me...

[Quantess]

17. I have only had one person who behaved poorly on facebook.

Everyone on my friend list is nice and generally cool.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. My dear Tom Kitten!

I am on Facebook, and I'm happy there!

I'd love to be your friend there...

I'll PM you my real name...

[MrMickeysMom]

10. Just allow the minimal on FB...

I'm talking like I know the place. Honestly, if I didn't have a digital camera and want to see uploaded videos of others (ex patriots) then, I would have left. I rarely pay attention to it, don't have anything in the way of information outside liking some things and champion certain progressive causes.

It's amazing how much you'll get pinged for not paying enough attention to it. Just be judicious with what you do.

[Arugula Latte]

11. You can send people private messages, just like on The DU.

Go to the page of the person you want to "speak" with, hit the "Message" box, and you can communicate with them without other people seeing it.

[Locut0s]

12. Welcome to the beginning of the end :D...

I used to swear I would never use Facebook but I caved too and find myself using it a fair amount. First thing first. Go to google and "google" securing your Facebook account. The default privacy settings on facebook are WIDE OPEN so anyone and everyone can see what you are doing. You probably don't want this. Lock your account down and things will be much better. You can of course selectively open up privacy settings as you see fit. I would also Google things like how to use groups, the restricted group especially and the like as they are helpful.

One thing I do find pretty neat about facebook is that it DOES help you connect with people you never thought you would ever see, or hear about again. Now most people probably don't care about that but if you do it's neat. Once you have 30 or 40 friends you can start browsing friends of friends etc and find lots of "long lost" acquaintances. I found tons of HS and elementary school kids online that I had forgotten all about. It's up to you if you find this attractive, I can imagine it sounding horrible to many. I just find the ability to find these people interesting in and of itself, you really can't find these types of people easily any other way on the net, yet.

[datasuspect]

13. this is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever need to know about facebook

https://www.facebook.com/help/224562897555674

[a kennedy]

14. Good for you, and I hope you enjoy it......personally?? I'm NOT EVER going to join facebook.

[Prism]

15. Can you send me lives in Candy Crush? n/t

[Quantess]

16. You need to start posting photos of your half eaten food!

Like, if you are halfway done eating your dinner and you want to show everyone how good it tasted --because a half eaten plate of food looks super delicious-- be sure to post it on facebook!

[RILib]

18. I joined to keep up with the younger family members

I never post any significant information, no real birthday, for example. I don't give any apps access.

If you're older, prepared to be shocked at what the kids do nowadays, but the shock wears off.