Comments on: I have mixed feelings about Facebook. http://snarkmarket.com/2010/6437 The stomping grounds of Tim Carmody, Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson. It's a long-running conversation about media, journalism, technology, cities, culture, design, books, music, movies, the future and the past. Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:20:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Matt P http://snarkmarket.com/2010/6437/comment-page-1#comment-17828 Matt P Mon, 06 Dec 2010 06:20:44 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=6437#comment-17828 Actually, I wonder if the change will go the other way -- a generation of young people who consider it normal to have at least one compromising photo in circulation, and wonder at the prudery of those who don't. Actually, I wonder if the change will go the other way — a generation of young people who consider it normal to have at least one compromising photo in circulation, and wonder at the prudery of those who don’t.

]]> By: Andrew http://snarkmarket.com/2010/6437/comment-page-1#comment-17750 Andrew Sat, 04 Dec 2010 19:00:12 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=6437#comment-17750 I've had similar long trains of thought about Facebook Photos. The tyranny of the the new transparency. The night the Giants won the World Series I saw this young college girl, extremely drunk, decide to disrobe and pose for a photo. Where in the recent past that shirtless photo might have only served to block her access into careers in elected office, these days you have to expect that they could cast a critical light on her interviewing in just about any field. I asked myself - Is there a generation of young people, in high school and college today, who will see their careers limited by the lack of widely-understood ethics for online/in-life recording/distribution? Are they learning the lessons their younger siblings will later see as second nature? (I'll leave off my distrust and annoyance with Facebook the company, no need to write a comment longer than the original post.) I’ve had similar long trains of thought about Facebook Photos. The tyranny of the the new transparency. The night the Giants won the World Series I saw this young college girl, extremely drunk, decide to disrobe and pose for a photo. Where in the recent past that shirtless photo might have only served to block her access into careers in elected office, these days you have to expect that they could cast a critical light on her interviewing in just about any field.

I asked myself — Is there a generation of young people, in high school and college today, who will see their careers limited by the lack of widely-understood ethics for online/in-life recording/distribution? Are they learning the lessons their younger siblings will later see as second nature?

(I’ll leave off my distrust and annoyance with Facebook the company, no need to write a comment longer than the original post.)

]]> By: Howard Weaver http://snarkmarket.com/2010/6437/comment-page-1#comment-17740 Howard Weaver Sat, 04 Dec 2010 15:09:37 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=6437#comment-17740 Matt's thoughts come remarkably close to precisely mirroring my own. I once read that the FB business model was "to take your friends hostage," and it always has that slightly malevolent feel to me. I use it I a measured way, don't trust it, don't like it. But I use it. Matt’s thoughts come remarkably close to precisely mirroring my own. I once read that the FB business model was “to take your friends hostage,” and it always has that slightly malevolent feel to me. I use it I a measured way, don’t trust it, don’t like it. But I use it.

]]> By: Matt P http://snarkmarket.com/2010/6437/comment-page-1#comment-17699 Matt P Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:50:54 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=6437#comment-17699 Facebook's unofficial mission statement is "to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected." Interestingly, Google's mission statement is about organizing something that already exists: the world's information. Your proposed mission statement for Twitter is about creating something new: a commentary layer for the world. Facebook's statement is about changing the world. Make the world more open and more connected -- whether it likes it or not. Facebook’s unofficial mission statement is “to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.”

Interestingly, Google’s mission statement is about organizing something that already exists: the world’s information. Your proposed mission statement for Twitter is about creating something new: a commentary layer for the world.

Facebook’s statement is about changing the world. Make the world more open and more connected — whether it likes it or not.

]]> By: Mark http://snarkmarket.com/2010/6437/comment-page-1#comment-17695 Mark Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:25:27 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=6437#comment-17695 For me, Facebook's only value is its users. There are so many people whom I cannot conveniently contact except through that particular walled garden. Email goes unchecked, phone calls are a pain, and they don't know the difference between instant messaging and a hole in the ground, but Facebook is a cunning psychological trap for its users which ensures that they'll be reachable whenever I need them to be. I'm going to drag my family into the digital age if it kills them. Or me. For me, Facebook’s only value is its users. There are so many people whom I cannot conveniently contact except through that particular walled garden. Email goes unchecked, phone calls are a pain, and they don’t know the difference between instant messaging and a hole in the ground, but Facebook is a cunning psychological trap for its users which ensures that they’ll be reachable whenever I need them to be.

I’m going to drag my family into the digital age if it kills them. Or me.

]]> By: Jaime http://snarkmarket.com/2010/6437/comment-page-1#comment-17694 Jaime Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:16:33 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=6437#comment-17694 I too am ambivalent about Facebook. Yes, I get warm fuzzies from reconnecting, but the more I reconnect, the more I have to mange these connections and monitor my actions. Sometimes, reconnecting exposes you to very raw narratives of despair. Failed relationships, kids with cancer, animal abuse -- floodgates of grief come crashing in without warning. Sometimes, friends use their posts like a teenage diary -- every slight and nuance over analyzed for sympathy and attention. As a private person, Facebook feels very noisy and nosey. I feel trapped at a party full of guests over-sharing their deepest darkest thoughts while the host is watching the event from a panic room in the basement. If I want a drink or a turn at Rock Band, I have to give away more of my privacy. But, this is Facebook at it's very worst. There are moments of beauty. As a web designer and consultant, I've seen it work wonders for small, start-up businesses. My best friend's chocolate shop offered a narrative of hope. A beloved editor, she took a buyout from our local paper to live her dream. Her updates -- some funny, some discouraging -- offered inspiration to others in the newsroom. When she opened her business two years later, her chocolate shop felt like my chocolate shop. Like a gambler playing the slots, these few moments of triumph keep me coming back to Facebook. Yes, the odds favor the house, but I need pull the lever just one more time. I too am ambivalent about Facebook. Yes, I get warm fuzzies from reconnecting, but the more I reconnect, the more I have to mange these connections and monitor my actions.

Sometimes, reconnecting exposes you to very raw narratives of despair. Failed relationships, kids with cancer, animal abuse — floodgates of grief come crashing in without warning. Sometimes, friends use their posts like a teenage diary — every slight and nuance over analyzed for sympathy and attention.

As a private person, Facebook feels very noisy and nosey. I feel trapped at a party full of guests over-sharing their deepest darkest thoughts while the host is watching the event from a panic room in the basement. If I want a drink or a turn at Rock Band, I have to give away more of my privacy.

But, this is Facebook at it’s very worst. There are moments of beauty.

As a web designer and consultant, I’ve seen it work wonders for small, start-up businesses. My best friend’s chocolate shop offered a narrative of hope. A beloved editor, she took a buyout from our local paper to live her dream. Her updates — some funny, some discouraging — offered inspiration to others in the newsroom. When she opened her business two years later, her chocolate shop felt like my chocolate shop.

Like a gambler playing the slots, these few moments of triumph keep me coming back to Facebook. Yes, the odds favor the house, but I need pull the lever just one more time.

]]> By: RobinJP http://snarkmarket.com/2010/6437/comment-page-1#comment-17692 RobinJP Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:24:06 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=6437#comment-17692 Yes! 'Perhaps Facebook Photos has made my private treasure trove more valuable.' Love the image(s) of a secret stash of photos just for you. Yes! ‘Perhaps Facebook Photos has made my private treasure trove more valuable.’ Love the image(s) of a secret stash of photos just for you.

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