Facebook... should I get rid of it? pros vs. cons??

[Alicia]

Hey,

 

I actually met my ex-boyfriend through Facebook and some friends!! It can be a good social networking tool.

 

But I am thinking of deactivating my account in a few days... maybe even today, to be honest.. because I find I spend too much time on there and it's counterproductive in a way. But on the other hand, I get event notifications via Facebook and it's good for networking... i.e. when I go to events I meet people, and sometimes contact them/follow up via Facebook..

 

What do you think? I just find I'm spending too much time on Facenbook when I should be doing more productive things, i.e. reading/researching, studying, etc. I spent almost all day on Fbook and ENA for instance...about 6 hours (then again, I got in a long fight with a friend and we just communicated online, so that was largely why..)

 

But ... I'm not sure. I am currently looking for a job and it's good to make contacts where-ever... I've even made business contacts via Facebook! But at the same time, I'm not sure.. I should be studying for an important upcoming exam for grad school admissions, for instance (GRE.) So... what do you think?

[ClementineK]

I know what you mean! What I do is I go somewhere where there is no internet to work. If I need to read something online, I always try to print it out. The internets can be so addicting! But I wouldn't deactivate it 'cause you're right it is a great way to stay in contact with people. Good luck!

[Clementine orange]

Oh man, I spend tons of time messing around with facebook. I actually de-activated my account for a month a while because of it (plus my ex was on there and it started getting unpleasent).

 

I probably spend too much time here as well, despensing dubious quality advice!

 

There are worse ways to waste time on the internet though like link removed (this is not a real website not an example so don't bother haha)

[Alicia]

That's good advice... I almost always print out stuff too, for that reason, i.e. articles that are important to read. I actually find it easier on my eyes to print it out and I find I dijest the info. better (unfortunately for the environment...) But yeah... if I am not that motivated to do work, I'll find myself straying to the internet. When I'm at school, I actually found this GREAT building to study in that has no acess to computers..it's just a study lounge. I worked there for about an hour but then found myself straying to the nearby library to access the internet, though...I really am addicted. :S

[Clementine orange]

I print out stuff too - highlighting or making notes in the margins is kinda difficult on the screen...

[Alicia]

Oh man, I spend tons of time messing around with facebook. I actually de-activated my account for a month a while because of it (plus my ex was on there and it started getting unpleasent).

 

I probably spend too much time here as well, despensing dubious quality advice!

 

There are worse ways to waste time on the internet though like link removed (this is not a real website not an example so don't bother haha)

 

how much time would you spend on facebook? are you stiill in college or graduated?

[Alicia]

any other thoughts...I mean if I'm at home, studying, the internet is easily accessible... I can't go somewhere where it's not..unless I'm at school. But my school is like an hour away & I don't go there every day now that I'm out of school.

[ClementineK]

You could turn your computer off? My comp takes like 30 min to boot up 'cause it's old... but maybe with you youngin's fast technology can do it quicker and waitin' for boot up may not be an obstacle at all. You can also go outside... or the library or anywhere really as long as the weather is nice. Sometimes I drive somewhere, park, sit in my car and read.

[Alicia]

You could turn your computer off? My comp takes like 30 min to boot up 'cause it's old... but maybe with you youngin's fast technology can do it quicker and waitin' for boot up may not be an obstacle at all. You can also go outside... or the library or anywhere really as long as the weather is nice. Sometimes I drive somewhere, park, sit in my car and read.

 

I have a laptop that's pretty quick to boot. But I do have 2 old computers that take forever to load and hence I leave them on at all times... sigh.

[Clementine orange]

how much time would you spend on facebook? are you stiill in college or graduated?

 

Still in college - hell, i'm a permanent student....I work too though.

[fragmint]

do you have vista on your computers? if so then you can set up parental controls on yourself which limits programs you can open and use,and internet settings like websites you can go to at certain times. tell someone you trust to put a password on these settings until youre done acing your gre (good luck!) and then you can unlock them.

[Alicia]

do you have vista on your computers? if so then you can set up parental controls on yourself which limits programs you can open and use,and internet settings like websites you can go to at certain times. tell someone you trust to put a password on these settings until youre done acing your gre (good luck!) and then you can unlock them.

 

my laptop uses Vista... I don't know how to set up parental controls though. How do you do that??

[sidehop]

My friends are on it & so am I but personally it's such a waste of time, just having their phone number/email address is enough. I haven't logged into the account for over a year.

 

I do used LinkedIN for professional contacts.

[BetterKarma]

LinkedIn is great for professional contacts!

 

FB, I only use for friends. And yes, I too am an addict but after a while, it loses it's appeal.

[fragmint]

my laptop uses Vista... I don't know how to set up parental controls though. How do you do that??

 

start > control panel > user accounts and family safety > set up parental controls for any user

 

 

edit, another idea that would probably be easier is to get a trusted friend to change the password to your facebook account so you cant login. make sure they change the email too so you dont feel the urge to press 'forgot password' on the front page.

 

if you use a wireless router you can have settings on it that block out certain websites altogether, i dont know how to do this though but you can look it up if you want to

[chocolate-cake]

I dont think u shuld delete, jsut practise self control- can u not study on school comp n tell urself ur not allowed to check fb there, or at home tell urself u can only check it at cetain hours.

[definitely_maybe]

I signed up for Facebook a few weeks ago out of boredom.

 

It's useless. A bunch of people i rarely talked to in high school added me as a "friend," and never left a comment or anything like that.

 

I spend almost no time on it currently.

[JadedStar]

LOL you remind me of another frequent poster here.

 

But anyhoo, based on your last thread of getting upset over a professor not adding you, then yea i would cancel it if this is an indicator of how you get over this website.

[MissBfromUK]

You know what i dont like about facebook,next to your photos,it says people can share them,and i dont know of any way to get rid of that.No one should have the right to share your photos,especially without your permission,whether they are on your friend list or not !.Anyone know how to stop that ?.I've read through the rules and terms e.t.c but couldnt find anything.All i found was how to set it to who you want to view your photos between friends,friends of friends and your limited profile.

 

 

I also hate all the applications e.t.c on there,and how it tells everyone what you have done,when you have done it e.t.c.And i dont like how some people add you just for the sake of it,and to just have a look at your page,and not because they actually want to be friends with you.

 

On the plus side,it's good for keeping intouch with people,and for arranging events ,and wow,i've just listed more cons than pro's,lol.I suppose you could get rid of it,and if there is anyone you want to keep intouch with,ask if you can keep intouch another way,like by email or mobile phone e.t.c.