No Facebook February

[shazza]

Anyone wishing to join me in going digital cold turkey? I am notoriously addicted, both in the active (status updating, commenting) and passive (stalking) senses, so this will be quite a test of will power for myself. It is uncanny how crucial Facebook has become in socialising, being in the knowhow and whatnot.
Most of you, from what I’ve observed, have been pretty diminutive in their Facebook usage in comparison to myself, however if you still wish to join in what is to be an exciting month, then please do so!

[Cammy White]

I don't think I could do it! I like the idea of it, but I don't think I could.

I'd just end up using twitter twice as much.

[Drago]

No dice, big fella. I use it as a method of keeping in contact with folks and organising shit. So much cheaper and cleaner than texting everyone, y'know?

[Blademaster]

Facebook is useless to me. I think I'm fine.

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

I check it everday. Atleast 5 times.

Addicted. Yes, probably.

[Lady Vulpix]

I check it almost everyday, but only for a few minutes. TPM is the site where I spend most of my online time.

Good luck with your excercise in self control, shazza!

[Knight of Time]

I'm on Facebook at least once just about every day, so I don't think this concept is going to work for me, either.

But still, good luck with your endeavour, shazza.

[Bear]

my fiance and I tried a vow of abstinence from New Years until our wedding in June.

We failed after 2 weeks.

Needless to say a Facebook abstinence for a month isn't even feasible.

[Heald]

I hate Facebook.

And I hate it because I rely on it far more than I should.

So I won't be giving it up.

[ChobiChibi]

my fiance and I tried a vow of abstinence from New Years until our wedding in June.

We failed after 2 weeks.

Becki Hudd likes this.

On topic... Nah, I won't be going without Facebook. There's loads of stuff going on at Uni very soon, I won't be able to keep up with it.

[Little_Pikachu]

Good luck with it. I don't really care about Facebook and seeing people post "OMG I just had a cake lolololololol", but sadly I will be unable to join as I am too obsessed with Bejewlled Blitz.

[Zak]

Ever since the chat came about, I've always kept a FB window open on my computer separate from the others, and left it open to idle always (as long as my computer wasn't in danger of being hijacked and having someone change my status to "i love penis", or "i can't stop pooping in my pants"), but yeah I think for me this is a lost cause.

[Telume]

I can't, I talk to some family members on it.

[JaySee]

I only use it to keep in touch with all my friends, and to see if there are delays in the morning, so I don't think I need to part with it :P Best of luck with your FB fasting though.

[Magmar]

I don't go to the website very often. I could probably go a month without visiting Facebook. But my phone has a convenient integrated system where I can update Facebook, browse updates and such all from the contacts menu, and the system actually pulled all the contacts from Facebook to fill the phone book. So, Facebook is pretty integrated into my mobile, and this is the first time I've ever owned a smart phone (I have the Windows HTC 7 phone) so... not giving up when I just spent an arm and a leg on this gadget :)

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Why to pick February, the shortest of all months? Good luck shazza with your campaign. I myself might try this too, I could attain way more time free time I currently have with it.

*opens his Facebook*

Now, I have about 40 friends there who that have never been TPMers. If I only inform them that I won't be on Facebook the whole February, they'll probably understand.

OK, I don't know if I'll do it, but we'll see. And probably I'll just log in Facebook on the 1st of February and then 'Hey what the heck, I didn't remember I wasn't supposed to be here!'

[Deadwood_Zen]

I'm surprised there isn't a Facebook event for this...

And I'd join, but I know I wouldn't make it a day :[

[abunaidesu]

facebook sucks

lumines 4 life

[Andrew]

I won't give facebook up easily.

[Roy Karrde]

I'll give up Facebook for a month. Cityville on the other hand....

[Heald]

I'll give up talking to my friends on Facebook for a month. I quite like it though as a means to find out who's banging who though.

[Crystal Mew]

I think I'm too addicted to quit facebook...

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Hm, are we in danger to get in trouble with the Facebook administration? I'm posting a message regarding this in Finnish to Facebook right now!

[shazza]

I'm worse than all of you. You can communicate with others rather easily; those that you cannot don't count. And while extremely addictive, you don't need to know about the trivial lives of others. Use that time productively, focussing on the awesomeness that is you. Fuck Facebook!

[Master Rudy]

Facebook is a cesspool and blight on the internet that seriously needs to go away. I've never used the website and will never use it. In fact I'd be willing to bet money on some of you without virus protection to have picked up some kind of virus/keylogger from FB.

http://www.avgthreatlabs.com/sitereports/domain/?domain=facebook.com

As of this post AVG has found 373 compromised webpages on FB in the past month and it still tracking 26 threats. 66% of the threats come from various apps/games you can use/play on FB. In the past month there has no been a single day that the website has been scanned and found to be virus free. In the last year there have been 239 days where FB had active threats on it.

No Facebook February? That's simple enough for me......I'm not going near the place with a 100 foot pole. One of my friends had a landlord that owned a custom computer shop that did repairs/virus cleanup on the side. A good portion of the things he'd clean out were traced back to Facebook.

The moral of the story? Don't go to Facebook kids......it's like having unprotected sex with a hooker in a third world country. Do it enough times and you may get something nasty :P

[DarkestLight]

:/ Rusy..yeah the same can be said for any site that has ads, so I fear not by your third world hookers and will order two from Singapore right now.

Hellz no, Im a damn psychotic force on FB.

[Deadwood_Zen]

So now that /b/ is dead, you turn on Facebook?

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

I systematically kill all the forums I visit.

Here's my message on Facebook:

Mikachun australialainen kaveri kertoi haasteesta olla käymättä Facebookissa kuukauteen. Tämä paasto ajoittuisi seuraavaan kuukauteen, eli helmikuuhun. Mikachu yrittää tällä hetkellä miettiä pitäisikö itse pitää samanlainen paussi. Myös muut lienevät tervetulleita kokeilemaan miltä tuntuu kuukausi ilman Facebookia!

In my English, it reads:
Mikachu's Australian friend told about a challenge to not visit Facebook for a month. This fast would take place next month, being February. Mikachu is trying to figure out if he should keep a similar pause. Also others are probably welcome to try what it feels like to be a month without Facebook!

I already got three Finnish friends to like it! So add Finland to list, this is world-wide now!

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

Actually, according to my book you can't judge it if you never used it, Rudy. That is all.

[Bear]

373 compromised webpages out of the what, 500 million facebook users? Come on now Rudy, this is the internet. Any website is a potential gateway for malicious content, so you can't single out Facebook saying it's a "cesspool" and "blight on the internet". Your gross exaggerations are even less believable because you've never used it. How can you judge something you've never even used? Hell, TPM has been hacked before. Several times. If someone was smart enough, they could spread malicious content through this website if they wanted to.

My point is, don't bash facebook simply because you don't like it.

[Katie]

But who would take care of my FarmVille?

[Gavin Luper]

Shazza, mate, I'll be joining you but not in Feb.

Although I'm not really religious, I still like to give things up for Lent; it's a challenge in self-control each year. But this year, since I've already given up alcohol, smoking and fast food, one of the few 'addictions' I have left is Facebook.

So I'll be giving up the FB from 9th March until Easter! Gonna be a pain in the arse initially, but I really do need to wean myself off it - it's a gigantic waste of time, to be honest.

[Leon-IH]

Happy to say that I am participating without having to make any changes in lifestyle..

The hell with social networking on Facebook, real nerds use IRC.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

I think I have made up my mind and I'll join this Internet Ramadan! I wouldn't care less about getting in trouble with Facebook organization, come to think of it. Perhaps I'll get more TPM time then, too. And I'll inform my friends on my Facebook wall at least once more before the event, so I won't get a Facebook version of THIS (http://www.pokemasters.net/forums/showthread.php?t=19418), as much as I liked it here at TPM!

[Deadwood_Zen]

Facebook is my only connection with the outside world, aside from school. My only hobbies are RPGs?TCGs, of which there are none to participate with, and music. I have no band of the moment, and no tools to make it all myself.

In short, I have no life or girlfriend(single AND disease-free), and Facebook fills in that gap of time for me :P

[Blademaster]

Never been to juvie, uses Facebook, has no girlfriend... You bring shame to your people, 'Nevadan.'

[Deadwood_Zen]

Nevada is the state of shame. Um, Vegas?

[Blademaster]

Exactly! So cut it out!

You're giving Nevadans a good name!

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Facebook is my only connection with the outside world, aside from school.

Back in my teenage days, school was my only connection with the outside world. Facebook didn't exist and I posted at TPM in computer classes.

[Master Rudy]

Facebook to let advertisers republish user posts (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Facebook-to-let-advertisers-apf-1912961417.html?x=0)

Ok....folks may not agree with my views on FB and may even dismiss them since I don't use FB. I have however used other sites like My Space before and frankly if you've used one you've used them all. In any case thoughts on that news story?

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

That's exactly what I thought. And no, it's not!

[Deadwood_Zen]

I'm not saying that Facebook is some god or deity, and they're probably doing. People need to read the fine print when they sign up for play FarmVille or Mafia Wars, since most of those games can and will use your 'private' information for public and profiteering use.

[ChobiChibi]

I have however used other sites like My Space before and frankly if you've used one you've used them all.

MySpace was originally made for bands/singers/songwriters to upload their music and advertise... Then it kinda evolved into the social networking site that is it today...

I hate MySpace. It's just not as good as Facebook lol...

[Blademaster]

In any case thoughts on that news story?

No.

...You can leave now.

[Dryk]

It already does this, and it doesnt seem to be much of a problem as long as you ignore this. I also think that FB is different from myspace, as it is slightly easier to move around and view things, and has a generally more open atmosphere on the opening pages, but that is just me.

And for viruses, as long as you never click the accept link, I haven't had any problems, and theyre pretty easy to spot in messages:
"Hey dude, check out this awesome..." (you get the point).

[Deadwood_Zen]

Another Rule of Wrist(Boondock Saints ftw), is that you never 'like' anything on another site. Hey i Like, the heart thing, and LikeMe are all perfect examples.

[Master Rudy]

And for viruses, as long as you never click the accept link, I haven't had any problems, and theyre pretty easy to spot in messages:
"Hey dude, check out this awesome..." (you get the point).

Very common misconception. Viruses can and have been hidden in banner ads and actual websites. They don't require a person clicking on them either. In many cases there is no accept link. All it takes is a mere visit for the files to run and attempt in infect your computer. One website I frequent got infected once but thankfully my scanners were up to date and refused to open the page.

Never think that you're safe just because you don't click on questionable links or accept files that are obviously not kosher.

[Blademaster]

Another Rule of Wrist(Boondock Saints ftw), is that you never 'like' anything on another site.

Even Youtube?

[Dryk]

Very common misconception. Viruses can and have been hidden in banner ads and actual websites. They don't require a person clicking on them either. In many cases there is no accept link. All it takes is a mere visit for the files to run and attempt in infect your computer. One website I frequent got infected once but thankfully my scanners were up to date and refused to open the page.


I know, but those are fairly hard to find, as I'm talking about mostly staying on the main page and not visiting applications sites or looking at different applications. I agree that you can find them there without clicking accept.

[Magmar]

I refuse to join other social networking sites, or to link my Facebook account to anything. I don't link anything to do with Youtube, etc. to my phone or to Facebook or other emails. I don't want my online identity to be melded into one unique thinger that enables my activity to be tracked all over the place. I don't "ping" my itunes or anything like that. Information is the most valuable currency in the world today so I give as little of it as I can to the internets. I don't give stores or companies my information unless absolutely necessary. It's bad enough the internets have decided that my father and I are the same person and that thus I own a house in Melbourne Florida.

[Katie]

Very common misconception. Viruses can and have been hidden in banner ads and actual websites. They don't require a person clicking on them either. In many cases there is no accept link. All it takes is a mere visit for the files to run and attempt in infect your computer. One website I frequent got infected once but thankfully my scanners were up to date and refused to open the page.

Never think that you're safe just because you don't click on questionable links or accept files that are obviously not kosher.

Better not visit any website with ads, ever, then.

Big enough websites employ people whose sole job is to monitor the ads that ad services put onto their site. I don't exactly have evidence but I'm pretty sure Facebook can afford to pay some guys to do that. Exercise common sense and you won't face any more malware than you would on any other site. :)

[Dark Scizor]

I think I'll pass :)

[Lady Vulpix]

I run Linux, so I don't have to worry about viruses. But to those of you who run Windows, make sure to disable ActiveX controls on your browser and don't give it direct access to your system. Some ads or web pages may try to install viruses in your computer, but they will only succeed if they have the permissions they need to do so.

[Telume]

Very common misconception. Viruses can and have been hidden in banner ads and actual websites. They don't require a person clicking on them either. In many cases there is no accept link. All it takes is a mere visit for the files to run and attempt in infect your computer. One website I frequent got infected once but thankfully my scanners were up to date and refused to open the page.

Never think that you're safe just because you don't click on questionable links or accept files that are obviously not kosher.

Unless you cast off the evil veil of Microsoft and head off to Linux land, you will never know the world of never having had a virus.

Been using openSUSE for a year and a half or so now and been virus free for that time and counting sooooo... I'm with Gabi on this boat.

Hello my favorite TPM Linux user! :wave:

[Blademaster]

Without making my head explode from technical intellect, how is Linux virus-proof? I can't understand how any computer would be virus-proof unless it was coded in a completely different language and said language was never made available to anybody outside of the original programmer...

[Lady Vulpix]

OK, I'll pretend the above post was written by someone who cares and not by a forum troll. If you really want to know, inform yourself about how computer viruses work and you may understand why a program that exploits an operating system's vulnerability isn't likely to work on a different OS.

By the way, the language(s) used to code the OS have very little relation to how it can be exploited (unless the language itself has a vulnerability). It's how it works that matters.

[Telume]

Click the link in my signature.

[Blademaster]

OK, I'll pretend the above post was written by someone who cares and not by a forum troll.

Ah-hah. Ah-hah.

OK...

Now I'LL pretend that YOUR post was written by someone helpful instead of a snappy old bitch with a cobweb-encrusted twat.

I AM someone who cares, and wouldn't have asked if I wasn't. I just don't understand how viruses and OS programming work, which is something I hope that Telume's link will rectify.

Thank you for your assistance, Telume. :)

[Telume]

I just don't understand how viruses and OS programming work, which is something I hope that Telume's link will rectify.

Thank you for your assistance, Telume. :)

It should, let me know if you need anything clarified. :)

[Deadwood_Zen]

Random question: How well does Linux do with online gaming? MapleStory, would be a nice specificity for that question.

[shazza]

OK, I'll pretend the above post was written by someone who cares and not by a forum troll.

You're a tad bitter than usual, Gabi. :( I thought Blademaster's question was genuine. I hope everything is alright with you.

Anyway, today has been my first full day without Facebook. When I first realised what I had done, I felt rather melancholy in the morning up until 3pm. But I think this also has to do with post Big Day Out (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Day_Out) blues and returning to full time work. I found myself during my break, sadly, logging on to my dogs account and checking my page briefly. I then realised what a burden this can be, so I deleted myself off every account I know the password to; now I have no access at all to my page. Now, coming back from work, I am rather more content. I still find myself attempting to check my Facebook on my phone as a reflex, with only a brief moment later I realise what I'm doing. Facebook without thinking is what it had become.

Also, to Barry: What does the k stand for in TPMk? Klan?

[Telume]

Random question: How well does Linux do with online gaming? MapleStory, would be a nice specificity for that question.

WINE: DOES NOT work with Maple Story due to Gameguard and there is no way to fix this yet. ANY game with gameguard will not work.

VirtualBox: It works, plays well. I've tried.

VMware: Works, it plays. In some games you may suffer "Ghost Sprite syndrome" which means your character in game (and likely the other player characters as well) will not render.

For more information check out: http://appdb.winehq.org/ you can search for a specific application or game using the search back. Platinum means it runs flawlessly as if it was on native windows. Gold means it runs almost flawlessly, Silver means it runs but has a few issues that shouldn't affect gameplay/use. Garbage means it won't run/install.

And for information on Virtualbox check this out: http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=2525

To Shazza:

Keep at it man, first day is always the hardest. You'll notice the more you do it the less likely you are to go to facebook. It's like quitting smoking cold turkey, you'll always be tempted to go back for that cig. Just keep going, you can do it!

[Lady Vulpix]

I'm OK, shazza. If anyone other than Blademaster - or maybe Andrew - had posted that question (and especially if it had been posted in a different tone) I would have thought the question was genuine, but it's hard to take any post by Blade seriously. Anyway, I still answered the question. If anyone else has any questions, I promise to be nicer.

[Blademaster]

it's hard to take any post by Blade seriously.

Then I'm doing my job. :cool2:

But my job these days entails less assholery than it used to, so, I apologize for calling you what I did, Gabi. It was rather uncalled for.

[Heald]

Personally I thought it was pretty hilarious, but oh wells.

Anyway it's the 2nd and I've made no active attempt to stay off Facebook. So yeah.

[Blademaster]

Just because something is hilarious doesn't mean that it's appropriate...

Also, why do I keep think the guy in your avatar is Tommy Lee Jones?

(inb4 "because it is Tommy Lee Jones")

[Magmar]

Also, to Barry: What does the k stand for in TPMk? Klan?

the K was a typo. :P

@Blademaster: I'm not a mod but--please be a little more sensible in posts outside of Mt. Moon :) that forum was created so we could use language like that in a closed environment.

Anyways, I rarely spend more than 10 minutes on Facebook in a day. I've been more aware of how I use Facebook as a result of this thread, and realized that I hardly use it.

[Lady Vulpix]

But my job these days entails less assholery than it used to, so, I apologize for calling you what I did, Gabi. It was rather uncalled for.Apology accepted. :)

And to get back on topic, I hope shazza's FB fasting is going well.

[Heald]

Just because something is hilarious doesn't mean that it's appropriate...

Also, why do I keep think the guy in your avatar is Tommy Lee Jones?

(inb4 "because it is Tommy Lee Jones")
It's Jeremy Clarkson from a UK TV show called Top Gear.

[PNT510]

MySpace was originally made for bands/singers/songwriters to upload their music and advertise... Then it kinda evolved into the social networking site that is it today...

I hate MySpace. It's just not as good as Facebook lol...

You actually have it backwards. MySpace was invited to be a social networking site where you could only see people that you had mutial friends with. That's why everyone started with Tom as a friend so you could remove him if you wanted and only be connected to people in your extended network.

When the site became popular bands started using it as a way to get their music out there which is when MySpace added the music section. And now that the social networking aspect of the site has all by fallen apart they are further focusing the site on music and now games.

[ChobiChibi]

Ooh, okay.

Either way, it still sucks ^^;