Finally happened: sick of Facebook

[Stranger]

I don't see anything wrong with any of it. Maybe I am missing something here. If you sign up for free social media then you are subject to such things. Now if they use the information gleaned to control the minds of the masses one day then okay but studying emotional patterns and influencing emotional patterns is not that big of a deal for me. Most of what is posted on there is meaningless dribble anyway and you can choose to step away at any time.

"If we understand the mechanism and motives of the group mind, is it not possible to control and regiment the masses according to our will without their knowing about it? The recent practice of propaganda has proved that it is possible, at least up to a certain point and within certain limits."

"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. ...We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. ...In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons...who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind."

Propaganda, 1928
Edward L. Bernays

 

[snackdaddy]

Hahaha yup.......do you remember saying to a friend as you were rolling around on a Friday night "hey pull over there's a phone booth I have to make a call, got a quarter on ya?"

I was watching an 80's movie and a woman was being chased by a bad guy. She ran into a building looking for a phone. My mind was telling me why doesn't she use her cell? Then I realized how old the movie was. Just like watching a cop show from that time. I expect them to take a pic of the crime scene and send it to someone. We're so indoctrinated to the new technology we forget how it was. And sometimes it was better.

 

[RhodyRams]

Funny story from the dinner table that I just couldnt wait to share with you guys.

My wifes best friend went to see a psychic the other day, and was raving to my wife about how the psychic knew all about the rough time she has been having finding a job she liked, raising 2 autistic children, coping with not getting to say goodbye to either her mother or father when they passed because it was so sudden blah blah blah blah and my wife was laughing the whole time she was telling the story. Every thing the "psychic" had told her was basically on her Facebook page for at least 2 weeks.

 

[Angry Ram]

1 year later and it's gotten worse.

Since today is super Tuesday (primary votes), I've seen nothing but and endless stream of ugh....."seflies" of people pointing to their "I Voted" stickers. Since when is voting something that needs to be bragged about?

Also, what is extremely creepy is seeing random people you never, ever met or known show up on your news feed. Who are these people? People on your own friend's list "liking" or commenting on someone on THEIR friend lists. These people either a.) have no idea this happens or b.) don't care. I find both really disturbing. You have no idea who is seeing your picture, or a picture of your kids.

To me, the only thing I really use facebook for is to see the new movie trailers or movie news that come out. Then I go to youtube and watch it there. Ha.

 

[HeiseNBerg]

Since today is super Tuesday (primary votes), I've seen nothing but and endless stream of ugh....."seflies" of people pointing to their "I Voted" stickers. Since when is voting something that needs to be bragged about?

People will brag about anything and everything -- even the most insignificant trifling little non-detail like "Kirsten is at the Dog Hut stuffing her face with corn dogs."

This gem from Despair.com sums it up:

 

[Dieter the Brock]

I was in London last month or so and took a few phone pics to send to the wife and kids, but I started getting annoyed by it cause while I was taking these shots of historic places like Big Ben etc I noticed I wasn't actually looking at the thing - and I looked around and hundreds of people were taking photos as well and it got me thinking -- so I put away the phone and started looking and I swear it felt good to actually look with your eyes!!!
It was comedic to see everyone experiencing the sites through their phone. I mean back in 1982 when you had that kodak camera it was cool take a few shots - but when there are now 1 billion shots a week of tourists posing in front of the London Bridge what does it matter anymore?

Then I saw this and had to take a photo -- some chick with a selfie stick posing - hahahhahah

 

[Angry Ram]

I was in London last month or so and took a few phone pics to send to the wife and kids, but I started getting annoyed by it cause while I was taking these shots of historic places like Big Ben etc I noticed I wasn't actually looking at the thing - and I looked around and hundreds of people were taking photos as well and it got me thinking -- so I put away the phone and started looking and I swear it felt good to actually look with your eyes!!!
It was comedic to see everyone experiencing the sites through their phone. I mean back in 1982 when you had that kodak camera it was cool take a few shots - but when there are now 1 billion shots a week of tourists posing in front of the London Bridge what does it matter anymore?

Then I saw this and had to take a photo -- some chick with a selfie stick posing - hahahhahah

View attachment 12351

Yup I've noticed that too. Usually I take a few shots of the place with my phone, and then look at the sight. Maybe a couple family pictures at the end (I ask others to take our pictures).

Also, forget 1982. I went to the same place your standing in 2007, no one was doing this. Granted it was digital cameras but no one was taking obnoxious pictures of themselves.

 

[dieterbrock]

Can there be anything more narcissistic then a "selfie stick"???

 

[FrantikRam]

I don't get this...

You can control what shows up in your feed. Even down to the person...

Not to mention you have 100% control over whether you're on facebook in the first place...

This just strikes me as bitching for the sake of bitching

 

[Angry Ram]

I don't get this...

You can control what shows up in your feed. Even down to the person...

Not to mention you have 100% control over whether you're on facebook in the first place...

This just strikes me as bitching for the sake of bitching

That's not the point. What you are saying is if I'm offended I can block it. I'm not offended. It's those people posting non stop in an effort to get "likes." (yes I'm fully aware of the irony that we including myself "like" posts here).

People posting non-stop pictures of their kids. If I happen to "like" that picture it can show up on my friend's feed showing that I liked it. The one who posted it may not know that person, and If find that extremely disturbing. Anyone could see that pic of your precious kid. The person who posted that pic is either oblivious or doesn't care about that fact. Which is also disturbing to me.

The other point is me not getting why people post things over everyday things, other than an effort to get more "likes" or to brag. Yesterday was a perfect example. Voting is something you should b/c its your duty and civic right, not to brag about it on fuckin facebook by posting a selfie with your "I voted" sticker.

Last, is whenever tragedy hits, facebook becomes a herd of sheep. A barrage of status updates with "prayers" in them. I'm not against anyone's faith if you do such a thing, but it's not gonna do shit when the victims are suffering. Nepal is a shining example of this. Remember the earthquake that happened last year? All I saw was people posting "praying for Nepal" for a couple days. Then it disappeared, no one talks or cares about Nepal now. And there is no way in hell Nepal is fully recovered. The last thing on their minds is if someone posted "oh I'm praying for you" 1000 miles away with 5 likes. Please. Sometimes I want to post a status saying "I wonder if anyone is still praying for Nepal?" But then I'd be the hypocrite trying to get likes. The Paris attacks were the worse. The profile pictures with the French flag backdrop? C'mon, that is sheep mentality at it's highest. N/m the victims or figuring out why it occured, I'm gonna change my profile picture for a week and people are gonna like it, and damnit that will show the people of France we are with them!

If I'm bitching, fine. Facebook was intended to keep in touch (originally just for students) with those you can't easily see. Great concept that's been ruined by drama, bragging, and sheep mentality.

P.S., I'l give you another example. Next month when taxes are due, I guarantee that people will start updating their statuses with "I filed my taxes! #adultproblems". Yeah, well, so does the rest of the country.


-

 

[-X-]

Voting is something you should b/c its your duty and civic right, not to brag about it on freakin facebook by posting a selfie with your "I voted" sticker.

I remember during the Iowa caucus, they showed Donald Trump sitting there with his wife, and MULTIPLE people came up to him asking to take a picture with him, and they were ALL selfies. This one chick even did a gang sign and stuck her tongue out while aiming the camera at her and him. I just sat there thinking to myself, "welp, that's the way it is now. I'm either officially old, or the younger generation is just WAY too self-involved." Is what it is, I guess.

 

[bluecoconuts]

The other point is me not getting why people post things over everyday things, other than an effort to get more "likes" or to brag. Yesterday was a perfect example. Voting is something you should b/c its your duty and civic right, not to brag about it on freakin facebook by posting a selfie with your "I voted" sticker

I actually don't mind that, nor do I mind Facebook having a little "I voted" check-in thing in November, it reminds people to get out and vote.. Especially younger generations, who typically don't go to the polls and aren't involved.

That being said, our political process is already a joke, so facebook selfies aren't going to do anything to ruin it. We have people who are running to be the next leader of the most powerful country in the history of the world on TV calling each other names and making school yard jokes about their opponents hand. They don't even debate anymore, all they do is go on TV, attack someone else, attack the other party, and then give some pre-written sound bite saying they're going to make everything better... Nobody says what they're going to do or how they're going to do it, nobody demonstrates a deeper understanding of the complexity of issues, it's just trying to make soundbites. My family back in Ireland saw part of a debate and they legitimately thought it was a SNL type spoof. The rest of the world is laughing at us, and it's not because of Facebook.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

I don't get this...

You can control what shows up in your feed. Even down to the person...

Not to mention you have 100% control over whether you're on facebook in the first place...

This just strikes me as bitching for the sake of bitching

So you're bitching about perceived bitching?
Ripe

 

[Prime Time]

I don't get this...

You can control what shows up in your feed. Even down to the person...

Not to mention you have 100% control over whether you're on facebook in the first place...

This just strikes me as bitching for the sake of bitching

I only go on that site because my son and his wife, along with a small group of friends are able to quickly send each other personal messages, videos, etc. If they were all here on ROD I wouldn't need to go on Facebook at all.

There are some features on there that I like. You can hide posts and unfriend people. I use them often.

Btw sometimes there are days when many of the posts here at ROD "strikes me as bitching for the sake of bitching."

 

[RAMSinLA]

Don't do Face Book myself I had an account years ago but shut it down. But I have a friend that found out his cousin died on Face Book before anyone called him. He was pissed. My kids have FB accounts and so do my grand kids. They bug me and my wife all the time to get an account. After reading this thread...NO WAY!

 

[RAMSinLA]

I just sat there thinking to myself, "welp, that's the way it is now. I'm either officially old, or the younger generation is just WAY too self-involved." Is what it is, I guess.

Another thing young people do that totally baffles me is I see them taking pictures of their food before they eat it...yep I'm officially old. And happy for it.

 

[Angry Ram]

I actually don't mind that, nor do I mind Facebook having a little "I voted" check-in thing in November, it reminds people to get out and vote.. Especially younger generations, who typically don't go to the polls and aren't involved.

One of my former teachers is a friend on facebook, and all he did was post something along the lines of "it doesn't matter what you believe, please go out and vote." Simple, to the point. He didn't post an obnoxious "selfie" pointing to his sticker to get likes.

Anyway it was just coincidence that I bumped this yesterday during super Tuesday. And it's just one example.

Another girl I went to hs with recently had a kid. Good for her, but man I get blasted with pictures. I'm taking maybe 5-6 daily. And if she's not posting pictures it's some long post about what it means being a mother. Today she posted nearly a paragraph about how awesome it is to watch him grow and how her life is never the same. Keep in mind I know there's no other feeling like having your own child, but the need to constantly say it on facebook? It's so obvious she and other people similar want to get likes.

 

[Ozoneranger]

I've been on FB for almost seven years. In the early years, I would post pictures, jokes and above all, engage in political jousting. I liked to spar and when I had a mark, really nail his ass to the wall. Predictably, this would evolve into a petty flame war. My wife hated it. Then one day I saw myself in an ugly poster and that was the end of that.

These days, I pretty much use it to post pictures back and forth with my family and friends. And I have reconnected with many old friends, who are mostly good peeps. That's pretty much it, along with the odd joke from time to time. One area that did help was was a grief site I joined after my wife passed. It was a help short term, and I was able to help others in their grief, as well. But that got to be too much- On a site like that, you find out there's always someone who has it worse than you do, like the 35 year old widow with five kids, no life insurance, minimum wage job after her husband dropped dead. Damned depressing.

So mostly, I keep it light, check to see whats happening with close friends and family (spread out all over California). Locked down and unsearchable. I don't take it too seriously, either- the amount of bullshit posted is staggering. The art of fact checking is long gone.

Facebook is like fire- keeps you warm at night sometimes, but you can be burned.

 

[-X-]

Facebook is like fire- keeps you warm at night sometimes, but you can be burned.

That's not very gangster.