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Life without Facebook - have you tried it ?

28th Dec 2015
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Last week I chanced upon a Tweet involving Lord Sugar and I delivered a Tweet to him that somebody favourited , which made me realise that perhaps when it comes to Facebook I am not the only person on the planet who manages without it . My short message stated that there is life without Facebook. I know what it is and my business partner has a corporate one but as for myself I have never had one and can't see the point of it.

It is intrusive and breaks down some of the social barriers that are necessary to maintain a sense of order and privacy . Privacy ? Yes it does still exist , just about.

I do wonder whether it is a generational thing or is it perhaps my background in accountancy that makes me flinch in the face of such intrusive technology , often with its lack of dignity and professionalism. 

Are any of you fellow beancounters out there Facebook users or am I on the wrong planet ?

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Replies (24)

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By cheekychappy
28th Dec 2015 16:45

The irony of criticising one social media platform by posting on another.

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Richard Hattersley
By Richard Hattersley
28th Dec 2015 16:45

New Year's resolution: Facebook detox

I use Facebook like I am peering over the neighbours' fence. Have a quick nose of what new is happening and then ducking away before they catch me. It’s a good way of keeping up-to-date with folks without having to engage in any chit-chat.

I find snooping strangely addictive. The result of this is forgetting to live your own life. Anyone automatically loading up that Facebook app whenever they’re bored, I fully endorse a Facebook detox. 

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
28th Dec 2015 21:20

Is this blog social media
Or is it a chill out zone in a professional context ? The likes of Facebook are intended to intrude with the ultimate aim of enriching its owners. Not quite the same beast but I take in board your remark

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By cheekychappy
28th Dec 2015 21:47

I was referring to the message that you posted on Twitter.

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By carnmores
28th Dec 2015 22:57

i use Facebook to connect with my friends
Round the world. I find FS comments bizarre and not for the first time, but each to their own and I really enjoyed cheeky's comment in reply

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By carnmores
28th Dec 2015 22:57

a sense of order and privacy
What a load of old humbug

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Routemaster image
By tom123
29th Dec 2015 08:36

I am going the other way

As it happens, I was probably the last in my family (ie siblings) to go on Facebook regularly. I still don't have a smart phone.

However, when your mother messages you on facebook, rather than phoning, one does really need to get with the program.

I don't put too much on it (recent post - picture of my home-made christmas cake), and I don't really hold with all this dirty washing in public stuff - but neither do I want to appear to much of a fuddy duddy to my nine year old.

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
29th Dec 2015 08:53

Connecting via technology

I was last in my family to get a smartphone after severe hectoring from my wife who grumbled that she couldn't get hold of me !   I capitulated but am not sure how much she has gained save for being able to Whatts App me when I am shopping for groceries so I can send pictures to ensure I purchase the correct item.

WhatsApp is a truly useful application but I still get bombarded with nonsense on it and that is from friends

However I often switch off or silence my phone for the sake of my own sanity , and I only usually answer it to people on my contact list. 

In terms of Mother , we tried and gave up getting her online several years back . But she has now learnt to ring my mobile phone if I don't answer the landline so that is progress.

Anyway the gist of my blog is that Facebook is by far the most intrusive social medium , and there are alternatives for connecting with distant family

 

 

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
29th Dec 2015 17:38

I think you will see
Facebook become a very powerful business tool in 2016.

I have some clients obtaining fantastic results for a fraction of what google ads cost.
Once you get into it, it is very smart.
For people who sell to consumers it will be essential.

I do use it a far bit but cannot stand these people who update every 5 minutes with pictures
Of there dinner or whatever.

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
29th Dec 2015 20:58

Getting best out of FB

Undoubtedly some people will reel in sales and one of my ecommerce sites has had business from FB 

To me it makes sense to flog stuff thereon but otherwise give it a wide berth otherwise

It's the constant barrage of banal media that probably contributes to the high rates of stress and irrascibility one finds these days. I am an avid user of my "do not disturb" function on my phone 

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
30th Dec 2015 09:11

social media

As a social media I do not like facebook never have and I am not on it.  However the whole family is on a group for whats apps just our immediate family and they do love it .  no wives husbands are anyone else. 

 My Dad and mum who are 76 whats apps us all the time .  They do  phone as well. They do not like facebook.  i only check it when I have a chance I turn all alerts off. 

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By carnmores
30th Dec 2015 09:47

talking of social media what about
Linked In, if they halved their membership fee I am sure revenue would quadruple, reminds me of the time I used to harangue Majestic to sell 6 not 12 bottles . Less is more Sybilline Books

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
30th Dec 2015 14:06

LinkedIn

This is an interesting creature . I have to be on it so people who may be considering doing business with me can see my background . It is isn't really social media as it is a work tool although there is an awful lot of rubbish there especially requests from people to link to you, although you have nothing in common.

Like FB one will hear cases of those who have made serious money on it but I suspect that far too many people are lost in the fog . I have not quite worked out whether it is a medium for networking , flogging your services or finding a new job.

Another example of less being more ?

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Replying to lionofludesch:
By k743snx
30th Dec 2015 20:30

Faceache

Facebook is the new "emperor's clothes", whereby you can tell complete strangers the minutiae of your humdrum existence in a way that would get you locked up and psychoanalysed if you did it to people in the street.

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By Tim Vane
31st Dec 2015 09:06

Facebook is a boon. When one has friends and family scattered across the globe (or even across the country) it's a perfect way to keep in touch - general posts can be made and individually commented on when a person has time. Achievements, snippets of news, life changing events, or just "I wish the rain would stop". Far better than the generic catch-up letters that get sent around each year to all and sundry.

And recently I discovered an unexpected bonus. Having posted photos and brief updates for some time now, aimed at family and close friends (e.g. daughter on her first day at her new school, son winning his first football trophy, our best halloween pumpkin carving yet, etc etc) we now have a great record of memories and a mini-album of achievements over the years. On a particularly difficult work day it's sometimes great to take a few minutes out, look back at some family memories and remember what I am doing it all for.

 

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By carnmores
31st Dec 2015 09:24

the real problem is time management
Flitting between twitter facebook LinkedIn etc and that's without instagram snap chat and the like is a way to waste hours, choose one max 2 and stick to that and don't mix business and personal content . Best to check the demographic of your existing and preferred future client base. One of my fave clients is a whizz on twitter but lousy at bookkkeeping

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
31st Dec 2015 09:42

Choosing your social media

From a business ( the one I run solely ) perspective I have chosen a single medium to disseminate propaganda and it is Twitter . I think it is the most "private" of the lot and works for me.

Whatsapp is used on a few community matters I am involved with and is just about tolerable . Mind you we made 2 groups for one of them . 1 for the chitchat and 1 for the "real" stuff so it is workable.

When I lecture I tell my audience that technology is a tool and you have to learn to use it properly . To this end I often switch my phone off (shock horror) but the probelm with social media is that it isn't only your steady hand operating the tool

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
31st Dec 2015 14:57

Family Scattered

Business wise I am on Linkedin and have received plenty of work from it.   We do not use facebook for the business. 

 

Our family is scattered every where.   Personally we discussed this at Christmas at all the family dinners.   I prefer a card or a letter from someone.   All our friends and family send cards minus a couple and they do not facebook either.  They phone when it suits them which I like. 

I do not even have enough time to do the things I want to never mind being on facebook which my life is so exciting there would be no updates(joke) .  I love seeing all my friends and family so I always travel and see them.   You need to see your friends and their kids and it is not the same as seeing a picture of them.  I keep in touch with a lot of people.  

We have a good reputation for making a effort.  Life moves on you can still keep in touch had a 25 year reunion a couple of years ago in Dublin and 10 year one in Munich and neither of us our on facebook.

In terms of old friends  I met a friend in Dublin, best friend  at college at  Christmas and she said I was trying to find you on Linkedin because she lost her phone.  She forgot my married name so she could not find me.  It was because I sent her a card with my number and she texted to meet up, she keeps losing her phone and keeps changing the number. We are as bad as each other.    Yes we could be on facebook but neither of us look at it.  I understand why people like facebook but I am too lazy to be bothered.

For Friends abroad that I want to keep in touch with I give them a skype call.   

 

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By carnmores
01st Jan 2016 10:52

Sarah
Quite a post, I think we all like to travel to see our family and friends, using Facebook is not a mutually exclusive activity. I love the idea that you are lazy but knocking out postcards by the dozen apparently;-)

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By A mum and an accountant
03rd Jan 2016 12:34

The best thing about Facebook is that I can keep in touch with family in America and in India and get to see pictures of their kids and family in general. A cousin recently got married in India and although we've been phoning (the reception's not brilliant in the village), its nice to see some photos too.

The worst thing about facebook and social media in general, is the millions of notifications I get when something new happens.  I've managed to turn them off and put them all into one folder on the second page on my phone, so that I'm not checking my phone every time it pings. The only thing I haven't switched off and hidden is Whatsapp and emails but I don't see those as social media.

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
03rd Jan 2016 14:16

Social intrusion
Seems like feast or famine with it all . And the more junk cluttering up your e-life the slower your phone gets probably.
I sometimes pine for the good old days when a day out on business did what it says on the tin - a day OUT
You said your goodbyes and spoke again when you got home .

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
04th Jan 2016 14:26

@carmores

It is a lot more then a dozen cards we write every year.  I have the time as I am not on facebook.  I notice you apparently question that. Bit of a weird and aggressive personnel response in tone but you clearly did not like my post. 

 I know loads of people who like facebook and those that don,t.  It is not a person it is a brand..  

Ps I apologise if I offended people who use facebook that was not my intention.  But facebook has in my opinion stopped people inter acting with people in real life who are close by.  

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By carnmores
04th Jan 2016 14:28

@Sarah

there is nothing rude in what I said nor was there intended to be, we all need to be a little more robust  

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
04th Jan 2016 18:45

.

removed 

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