Community Chat

[Bird mama]

@bootsanne    I joined facebook last June I think.  My family had been after me for years to join.  I'm not friends with anyone in my family, rofl.  I joined to communicate with like minded people who were fans of Prince.  I have male friends, female friends, local friends, foreign friends - not lots, like 20.  Different age ranges. I actual enjoy it so much more than I thought I would.  I tend to read more than post on my own page. 

When I first joined, I posted that I was female from Michigan, joining to connect with people who admired Prince like I had my whole life.  I said I was never going to post personal information or pictures and I respected if the reader didn't want to be friends.  Next thing I knew I had folks friending me saying they respected my position, ha ha ha.  

You can meet some interesting and nice people on facebook.

[HappyDaze]

I am in my 40s and I actually QUIT Facebook several years ago after finding old friends. Everyone is narcissistic, needy (omg some get so angry if you don't "like" everything they post), etc. I regret finding and reconnecting with many of them. Some of them have never grown up and I found it sad. Plus I don't like the privacy issues of Facebook.  And then there are the weirdo stalkers... I do miss a few things but, for the most part, I am so very happy I left it. 

[software]

My suggestion is start out with the least amount of information publicly as possible.    I live 1,000 miles from where I grew up and I found "closed groups" of people in my small hometown.   I also belong to a couple of "closed groups" of my current neighborhood.   I don't accept friend requests from others unless I knew who they are personally.

Most of the pages I "like" are for news, weather, etc.   I enjoy getting my news from a variety of sources.  You can always un-friend and un-like anytime.

Download the app & get started.

@bootsanne

[HappyDaze]

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@Shanus wrote:

@StylishLady. Not a real "techie". Can't even figure out yet  how to post on here the comment I'm referring to and then post my reply or how folks put on pics of their pets, greeting cards, moving objects, etc.

I digress. Oh, FB. I was on about 10 yrs. ago. Hubby set me up, put on all my privacy whatevers....I stayed on for 2 yrs. My life seemed so mundane when I read about friends' cruises, parties, the hundreds of acquaintances each one had. I found I had nothing much to add to their extravagant ways of life. It could have all been BS, no way too know. I started getting depressed. It was time to give it up. I've heard now it's a lot of political humor, etc. Don't miss it at all until someone says "Follow me on my Facebook page"....

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@Shanus Just like on the forums, there are many on Facebook that paint a prettier picture of their life than what it really is. That was another sad thing I found regarding Facebook. The facades. 

[NYC Susan]

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@Moonchilde wrote:

@bootsanne, you control 98% of what is on your FB page and who can see it; the hysterics either don't know how to do that, or just enjoy freaking others out for lolz.

You don't have to use a photo of yourself. I take horrible pics, so although I rotate a few of me, 90% of the avatar photos I use are of other things or places. You don't even have to use your real name (though it has to look like it might be a real name) - but if you're trying to connect with others I'd suggest you do use your real name, and/or include your maiden name if you're married - otherwise if anyone is looking for you, or trying to verify you're who they think you are, a fake name is pointless.

You don't have to fill in any of the birthdate, hometown, etc. things if you don't want to - or you can fill out some of them, and make most of or all of your settings private.

I would suggest, if possible, that you get someone who knows what they're doing to help you set it up.

In general, restrict every permission you can to "Friends Only" - that insures that what you post on your own page is seen only by those you Friend, not the general public.

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This is all great advice.

The only thing I want to add is that 60 is not old for Facebook!  My FB friends range in age from 17 to 89.  Plenty of people of all ages are on Facebook.  :-)

[sweetee2]

After hearing about all the drama my kids go through,  I'll pass. I have no relatives I care to know about. I have no interest in what my high school friends are up to.

[Moonchilde]

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@NYC Susan wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

@bootsanne, you control 98% of what is on your FB page and who can see it; the hysterics either don't know how to do that, or just enjoy freaking others out for lolz.

You don't have to use a photo of yourself. I take horrible pics, so although I rotate a few of me, 90% of the avatar photos I use are of other things or places. You don't even have to use your real name (though it has to look like it might be a real name) - but if you're trying to connect with others I'd suggest you do use your real name, and/or include your maiden name if you're married - otherwise if anyone is looking for you, or trying to verify you're who they think you are, a fake name is pointless.

You don't have to fill in any of the birthdate, hometown, etc. things if you don't want to - or you can fill out some of them, and make most of or all of your settings private.

I would suggest, if possible, that you get someone who knows what they're doing to help you set it up.

In general, restrict every permission you can to "Friends Only" - that insures that what you post on your own page is seen only by those you Friend, not the general public.

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This is all great advice.

The only thing I want to add is that 60 is not old for Facebook!  My FB friends range in age from 17 to 89.  Plenty of people of all ages are on Facebook.  :-)

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Definitely not. I've been on FB since slightly before I turned 60, and I'm sure I'll be on it until I'm too sick to type, senile or dead. One of my best friends on FB is a former co-worker I reconnected with because of FB, who is in her 80s and still working. She has friends and relatives worldwide and could never stay as close to them without FB.

[CouponQueen]

If you do not put some type of identifying information..and you are looking up old friends..they are going to want to know who it is if you friend request them..and most people have nothing but a profile pic available if you are not a friend.

I have had a few strange requests but not many...usually from when I post a comment on a national newsite..some guy will send a message with a friend request that we think alike..I just delete it and there are no issues.

You can make your settings so that nobody but friends on your list can read your stuff...

I have had it for five-years with no issues.... Even my dad when he was alive was on FB. 

You can enjoy FB just by using common sense and not go off paranoid thinking everybody is a stalker or out to find out info..you control what they can see.  

[shoptilyadropagain]

My mom is 81 and she's very active on FB.  I have some other relatives and friends who are even older that are active on FB.  Just have someone help you with your privacy settings and show you the ropes and you will be fine!