JFF... Kinda.. I'm Done with Facebook!

Updated on June 11, 2012
J.B. asks from Katy, TX
43 answers

Does Facebook REALLY serve a purpose? I know, I know, no more than this sight, lol. And this just may be me, but it really does nothing for me. Someone always posts a link to something that wants me to 'subscribe' to something or requires me to switch to Timeline (which I refuse to do, lol). I find myself checking it throughout the day and nothing..... I keep expecting some magical news from a long lost friend or family member to appear......sigh.... Oh well..
Glad it's summer!

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So What Happened?

Jess, sooooo true!
Queen, I'm a huge Howard Stern fan so I love George Takei.

Featured Answers

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

haha, I know, FB truly is like crack, though. I don't get the same high I once got from it, so I gotta join MORE groups, like MORE pages....and then I am always disappointed :)

I do have to say, though, when I am in need of some humor, a quick trip to George Takei's page always helps

4 moms found this helpful

☆.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I'm a Facebook holdout. It just sounds like too much work! This site is different in that nobody hounds me if I get busy or decide to take a break. Timeline sounds like a terrible idea to me. There's things about my past I'd rather forget!

3 moms found this helpful

F.M.

answers from San Antonio on

I've never signed up for FB. Main reason - all I hear about is drama - "I can't believe so-n-so didn't invite me to the party she posted pics of" or "OMG you won't believe what I saw Sara write on Jane's wall!" Too much gossip and drama - eh no thanks.

Sometimes I feel like I'm missing out on "baby updates" as I've emailed or called people in the past and asked about their baby or kiddo. I get a lot of "Oh I forget you're not on FB" b/c apparently they are posting updates and photos daily. I don't feel like spending half my day uploading photos and writing descriptions. So no FB for me. I get a personal email from people that know I don't do FB. Ahh, the personal touch.

3 moms found this helpful

More Answers

B.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi J.
Facebook is fun,it does what it says on the tin.
It is a cyber community that you can flitter in and out of and have contact with people without having to invest much time.
This site is different to Facebook in terms that it incites interesting conversations,lessons to be learnt and celebrates wit and intelligence at it best.
I take 5 to 10 mins a day to check Facebook. .As for this place I don't have time to log on here often but when I do I am hooked for few hrs.

All the best
B. k

9 moms found this helpful

J.E.

answers from Minneapolis on

Great way to cyberstalk your teenagers!!!

7 moms found this helpful

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

Hush your mouth!
I would be lost without that connection. I don't need farmville, but I need my friends and updates!

I have friends and family 6 hours away. It keeps me in the loop. I get to see all the pictures and updates. I also have a friend in Denmark and another in Africa. Without FB, they would be nothing more than memories. And I have found all my favorite people from college and high school. My fear is that it's going to go the way of Myspace and I will lose all my people again. A few of my favorite people have already unplugged and it sucks!

5 moms found this helpful

☼.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I reconnected w/ all my old high school buds through FB, so that's been the best part. Would never have found them otherwise. Other than that, I use it to check out friends' pics of their kids, etc. I don't base my life around it or check-in w/ it constantly all day long ... It has it's place ...

5 moms found this helpful

C.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I don't have one, (but feel like the last person on earth who doesn't!) :)

5 moms found this helpful
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K..

answers from Phoenix on

The only reason I keep mine is because I like to see my friend's kids pictures & vice versa and keep in touch with them. I also like updates about deals or events going on in area.

I don't use it to vent about my personal life or problems, because I don't think all of my FB "friends" need to be burdened with that type of extra drama. I don't use it to brag or bore everyone with what I ate for dinner or how bad traffic was.

Really the whole premise of FB is to talk about yourself... all the time. "Look at my kid", "look at my vacation pictures", "look at my new house", "I", "Me", "look at me", blah, blah, blah. The site just invites people to be narcissistic, self involved, and superficial.

5 moms found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

I'm technically logged into both almost all the time, and I check them once in a while. Lets say, I spend about half hr on each, per day.

I use this site for mainly asking queries on parenting, etc. I could always ask my parents, friends, PED/Drs, or read up on Wikipedia. But what this site provides is invaluable first-hand info in terms of personal experiences, from real people. Plus, the anonymity of the site gives me the additional comfort of allowing myself to express doubts and questions that I might not easily speak up with friends or family.

That said, FB is my social arena. That is where I connect with all my near and dear friends on an everyday basis. I sometimes post pics, or update some statuses, comment on some current affair. It gives the space where you can check in on friends and they can check in on you, with the freedom of whenever they want. Does it mean I don't call or visit my friends and family? Absolutely not. Its just a more relaxed way to keep in touch.
I also play Scrabble and Words with Friends a lot. As for the rest of the apps, I unsubscribed from all notifications, have set my privacy settings to maximum, and do not open any subscriptions or links. Never.
Having a clutter free, mess free life with FB so far!

To each, one's own! :)))

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B.

answers from Augusta on

it's given me the ability to contact and get in touch with friends I haven't seen in 15 years. Cousins I never met because of a family break.
I can keep family updated with pictures of the kids.
I've been able to meet some fabulous people in the field I want to go into.
Being able to communicate with these people has be very beneficial.

5 moms found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Albuquerque on

I love Facebook. It has brought me closer to long lost friends than I ever thought possible. Last summer my best friend from my childhood came for a week long visit after getting in touch with me through Facebook, and we are arranging another get together next month. Last month my very good friend from high school came through town and spent a few days with me catching up. Never would have know she was coming without Facebook!

I am also a big time couponer and I use Facebook to get free sample and coupons from "liking" manufacturer pages.

I can see how people dislike it though, it can really suck the life out of your day starring at the news-feed at no end!

4 moms found this helpful

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

wow so many fb haters! it's just like any other site (including, as you note, this one) it's what you make of it. if you have tons of
friends which are actually "acquaintances" - drama queens and people just looking for attention, then yes, it will be a nightmare. i keep my friends list small. it enables me to talk to family a lot more than i would normally. i love it. i also was able to reconnect with old friends from high school as someone said. it's lovely because those that turned out to be dirt bags - DELETE! and also i have gotten to know some that i graduated with that i wasn't close to before, that turned out to be really cool people. so i think it's really useful with responsible mature use. (ps, i block 99% of the game and app invites so that helps)

4 moms found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

.

4 moms found this helpful
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E.S.

answers from New York on

Not a FB fan at all. I understand the allure and all but for me personally I'd rather have facetime. It's also just one more thing that employers nose around on to judge you before an interview. I have nothing to hide but who needs that?!?

3 moms found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I get much of my news from FB - by liking or subscribing to the sites that I am interested in and then checking my News Feed.

I communicate with my group of closest friends, privately, through our private Group page. We make plans for outings, ask each other for info and advice, express our daily frustrations or accomplishments, etc.

I keep in contact with my extended family - nieces/nephews, cousins, siblings, through status updates and pictures.

I have done Event invitations exclusively through FB - just threw a grad party/baby shower open house for 40 people with no paper invites. I have been invited to events this way.

I check FB multiple times each day and I don't see this changing any time soon. It is a very useful and enjoyable tool for me.

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A.H.

answers from Omaha on

Hi, my name is A. and I am a Facebook junkie!!! I tried to give it up, but I have two many connections there with childhood neighbors, high school friends, sorority sisters, teachers I taught with in a different state, teachers I taught with in my current state, but don't see because I am now a sahm, former students (that are now college age),people I met through various businesses I started (and gave up, but kept the friends!), relatives, church friends, current neighbors and others that don't fall into the above categories. I keep it as private as possible as I post things and pictures about my kids all the time. It is the best way to stay on top of birthdays, anniversaries, birth announcements, graduations, etc. I love hearing about what people are doing and have often prayed for people during their struggles.
I hate that they seem to change the format just as I am getting used to the new one, but I have tried to jump over to google+ only to come crawling back to facebook! G+ seemed too tech complicated for me. I am not tech savvy at all! I refuse to switch to the timeline format, so I don't click on things to subscribe or play any games.
It is my worst addiction next to M&M's! :-)
A.

3 moms found this helpful
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E.S.

answers from Boston on

Hi! Not doing it, you can't make me, I don't care what the (supposed) rest of the world is doing. I feel no need to open my world to everyone, especially strangers or worse yet, people I don't want in my life. Do all those stores that want you to sign up need to know what I'm doing Saturday night? Does my nephew, whom I haven't seen in many, many years and hope to never see again, have the right to learn everything about me (which he does thanks to my DH being friends with my sister who has no standards). If I wanted the world to know something I would get a page in the NYTimes. I have forbidden him to ever mention me or the kids again on FB, childish I know. Yeah, I have a bad attitude, I guess I just don't feel a need to share...

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Delete your account then because timeline is here to stay, it is easy to maneuver if one just takes the time to look at it and not just say I HATE THIS and actually try to learn something new.

It is very very easy to understand if you just look at it. Change is hard for people, for everyone but if a person has an open mind then they will find a lot of new things that are better.

Time line does not even have to be anything you ever see. If you don't go to your profile page every day, just to your wall, then it won't effect anything you do. It is a more streamlined way of grouping your posts. If you play games the only thing you need to do is put a period or an apostrophe or a backslash, something to make that request an individual post, then it stands on it's own and is not grouped.

If I go to my FIL's page I can find all his FV posts in one box, I can scroll through that one box and get his posts for that game for the whole day. I don't have to go down page after page after page after page to find any requests he may have posted, I like only spending a couple of minutes doing favors for him instead of taking half an hour to click on one or two things.

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T.W.

answers from Syracuse on

I actually like it. I feel like it lets me know what's going on around here. There are a few organizations that I'm a part of, I "like" them on facebook and then see the updates about things I need or like to know about...usually about a recreation program in town, soccer practice, road race details, etc. If you "like" the local paper, you get to see ALL the photos that were taken at a local event, usually the same day of the event. It's fun to see pictures of your kids or yourself participating in some fun activity...not all those photos make the paper.

And, I finally broke down and switched to timeline. It wasn't too painful and in fact, I like it better!

*If there's someone who you're friends with whose posts you don't wish to keep seeing, you can simply "hide" them from your facebook feed...to improve your facebook viewing quality. ;)

3 moms found this helpful
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J.M.

answers from Missoula on

Facebook serves a huge purpose for me. I live one side of the country, my family on the other. The easiest way to keep everyone involved in my daughter's life is through Facebook. (Sadly, my FB is pretty much a shrine to her. lol) I post almost daily about the things going on in our lives, her new accomplishments, photos, etc. I have been told repeatedly by my family members how much they appreciate how up-to-date I keep them on her.

That said, I do find myself annoyed by all the drama-mongers, game posters, and random stupid stuff. If I have a 'friend' who doesn't do much more than that, I usually 'hide' all of their posts. :)

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E.C.

answers from Burlington on

I actually use mine for business purposes. I'm in direct sales and it helps when my hostesses are also Facebook users because I can stay in contact with them without being pushy.

2 moms found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Dallas on

I like facebook, I love farmville, it's mine PS3/Xbox. I also live far from friends and family I grew up with, so it keeps me in touch with them. One of my student's sister has been missing since May 19th, Mickey Shunick, it spreads the word, keeps you updated so you can forward it on. Social media is good and bad, I try to look at things half full...

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J.S.

answers from Columbia on

Welcome to the dark side, my friend. We, the Unplugged!

Luddites we are not. Let 4square tweet to instagram to like mafia wars on my RSS feed - my phone and my day will go on uninterrupted.

2 moms found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

I am only "friends" with family and friends who live out of state. It's a super convenient way to stay in touch, see pictures of family, all those things. None of my friends do things like you mentioned, so I don't know anything about subscribing.

2 moms found this helpful

A.C.

answers from Salt Lake City on

J., I hear ya. I DO like that I can share photos of my kids with all the Grandmas and other family members easily. It is much more convenient than emailing them as attachments; it seems to take forever to attach photos to email and also open the attachments. At this point, I think it is the only thing I actually like about Facebook.
I deleted the FB app from my phone last week so I am starting to detach from the drama!

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

I have to read the answers, but J. at Home Dad, I am with you all the way on not changing to the Timeline! Makes me craaaazzeee

2 moms found this helpful

B.K.

answers from Chicago on

My younger daughter just graduated from 8th grade and I posted pictures on FB for our far-away cousins and relatives to see. They all enjoyed the pictures. I like seeing pictures of all their kids and grandkids in their various stages of life. I doubt we'd send individual e-mails with pictures. It's just quicker to share in one big bunch. For me, FB serves a very good purpose. I like it a lot.

2 moms found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Never bothered, I feel good with that decision too.

2 moms found this helpful

T.M.

answers from Redding on

Facebook works for me. My kids are on there, my mom and dad are on there, my SIL's are on there, my BIL's are on there.
I have lots of good friends on there.
FB is different for everyone.
I hear the horror stories from some, but I have not had to experience those.
You get out of FB what you put into it for the most part.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Never signed up for Facebook. Just not my thing, really. What is my thing? Going on the Happy Place site and reading all the Facebook fails! They're hilarious.:)

From my perspective, as a nonFB user, the biggest problem I have with FB is people I know who use FB to (they think) try to make plans with everyone. Instead of inviting people directly--"Hey, we're going to the park for the day, would you like to join us?" -- they just post on FB and kind of spray it out there. And if you aren't on FB, you're just not included. Thoughtless. It's as though if you aren't on FB, you don't matter. There are also the 'big announcement' things you hear about secondhand--because someone else who was on FB read it on their page. What happened to picking up the phone, making an effort to call someone to share real news?This has happened to a lot of people, I know, but it's very annoying and makes those people seem pretty self-absorbed.

To me, it seems like an inferior method of only partially communicating information-- to the select few that are on FB too. As for keeping up with people, I do keep up regularly with the people I care about all on my own, without status updates or a whole lot of navel gazing.

1 mom found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

The only drama I had on FB was when my sister started freaking out about everything in her life. I unfriended her crazy self.. The rest has been great. No drama.

Many people have posted they do not like to be invited to join groups games, special apps.. Fine with me.

My husband also refuses those things.. No big deal..

I love news current events, local history..

I even started a page about our local history and our memories, I have 4700+ fans on the page! It is a great community sharing our memories of our city..

It is what you make of it, I have some crazy friends... Just like me... There are times it is like a party on there even though we are hundreds of miles away from each other.

We tend to meet up a lot more than we used to.. Announce a happy hour or gathering and boom... Tons of friends are willing to drive up for a good time.

When my friend was dying and then died, we used her page to communicate.. We still remember her and post on her page every once in a while, it is an easy way to reach everyone.

while our daughter was in college, it was a great way for all of us to support, encourage and visit with her.. Even some of her former teachers are her friends on there

I may tire of it at some point. But right now it is part ofmy everyday routine.. Just like here.. It is nice being part of a caring community.

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A.B.

answers from San Antonio on

Depends on who is on it. If it is just your local friends, it's really not necessary. You mentioned long lost friends--if you actually HAVE any who are on it, then it's great. If you don't, then it's probably not a great use of time. We adopted our kids from China in 2005 and 2009. The best use for my FB account is regularly keeping in touch with those families that we got to know so intensely for two weeks, and then split up to different areas of the US. Watching our children grow up (they are all the same age and were adopted as babies) is priceless. We COULD send snail mail and email with pictures, but honestly, we probably wouldn't make the time for it. FB really makes it happen. But, if I weren't in this unique situation, would I find it as valuable? Probably not.

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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

I'm pretty much with Jenna M. It serves a purpose for me. I don't have the timeline (although I imagine someday I'll be forced to switch) and I never play any of the games or subscribe to anything. I chit chat with friends (actual friends!!) and post pictures or updates on what's happening in my life. If my friends are bored with what I'm saying I'm sure they hide me. That's OK. I've hidden a few friends too. The main reason I stay on FB now is it seems to be the way my neighborhood communicates when the next party will be! I love all of my neighborhood ladies and we get together on a fairly regular basis. All of it is organized through FB. I'd probably miss a gathering here and there if I didn't have FB. So, for now, I guess I'm staying on. I check it about twice a day, and I don't linger as long as I used to. As someone else said, to each his own! If you hate it I'd just get rid of it. Oh, and I'm glad it's summer too. We're at the POOL a whole lot now, instead of in front of the computer :)

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J.T.

answers from College Station on

LOL!
A friend of mine just posted this week that she was getting off facebook. Some of the responses were ridiculous... like "oh, I wish I could get off, too" Well, if you want off Facebook, get off Facebook. NOT a big deal, people!

I also laugh at the young people who think FB is the be all, end all of their lives. Yet one more reason why my teenager can't have an account! They really do put too much stock into the goings on on a website!

All that being said, I love FB. I HAVE reconnected with long lost friends, and have great conversations from time to time. Yeah, there's spew out there that I don't like, but ya know what, I ignore it. Sunday seems to be the day that my wall explodes with political rhetoric- from both sides. I just put my blinders on and go about my day. I don't feed it, and it is, sometimes, good for a laugh.

I am not done with FB, but if you are, more power to ya!

1 mom found this helpful

M.B.

answers from Beaumont on

My daughter who is in college and several of her friends all quit facebook.
It is a huge waste of time and distraction when having the computer on trying to study or do anything.
I am on summer vacation and find it hard to actually live my life because I am on line looking at that stupid stuff.

1 mom found this helpful

⊱.H.

answers from Spokane on

The only reason I log on to my FB account daily is to play all my Scrabble games and Words with Friends games :)

I also enjoy getting to see photos of friends and family and reconnecting with people from H.S.

D.D.

answers from Denver on

It can serve a positive and a negative. I had a sibling who would post all of their drama, and it caused such a concern at one point that local merchants asked me if they should be worried, cousins texting me if they should be worried. (SO the negative). I have been able to keep in touch with friends and family out of town. Or keep up on church events/fund raisers ect. (positive)
I love/hate the whole keeping an eye on the teenagers part. Like being somewhat in the loop. Hate the teenage drama. (rolling eyes)

I do wish it had more privacy of who can see certian posts. If there is a way I have not figured it out.

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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

this is the main way i keep up with my friends. i dont like to talk on the phone. and i have made lots of play dates with old hs friends and there little ones. i also get notified via fb on cancellations to events we are attending and get groups together for big play dates. keeping in touch with family...that i would only see at thanksgiving or christmas. so yes for me its a contact station!

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L.G.

answers from Austin on

It serves several purposes for me. I use it for promoting my business, enjoying photos and updates of family members and close friends, checking in on long-lost acquaintances (I don't wait around to hear from them; I check in on them from time to time), enjoying the things that my grown kids are involved in and their perspectives, posting prayer requests or getting some, sending birthday wishes, and posting a comment from time to time that might be funny or interesting to people that know me.

R.W.

answers from San Antonio on

FB has its ups and downs. I've experienced both. It helped me find my niece and nephew, who I haven't communicated with since I was 15!!! I thank God for this social site!!!

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D.J.

answers from Houston on

I am Friends with neices and nephews, and get to keep up with family news I might otherwise miss. And I LOVE getting the pictures of my brothers' grandkids.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

I got talked into Facebook when my family was planning a family reunion and memorial service for my father back East. I didn't even have a profile photo until I got there and my uncle took a photo of me. I've never updated it. I don't use it much at all. I really don't care to receive e-mail updates about someone having lunch at some certain location either.

However, and this is devious, we have employees who have been caught calling off sick but weren't smart enough not to blab about being out of town and having a great time. Busted!

I have some friends that have found me on Facebook and I actually enjoy communicating with them, but other than that, plain old fashioned e-mail serves me quite well, thank you.

I've been invited to play games and all kinds of things. I've never done it.

Just my opinion.

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