Thread: Social networking....your thoughts

I love social networking. For the last two months while I've been internetless it's been the only way to keep track of events and answer questions. I've had quite a few gigs from social networking - not to mention some fantastic photo projects.

It does have it's downside. It's hard to filter out all the static noise (500 updates in an hour about what people are watching on tv?) and people do tend to assume that you read their updates. On the other hand - my phone company doesn't block it like it does every other decent site....

Burlesque wise, it’s a brilliant form of communication, and having a fan page certainly ensures I can keep traffic flowing through to my website and affiliated websites thus earning me cash and getting bookings. I think it’s completely invaluable.
On my personal facebook profile I’ve gone from having 500 “friends” (all people I’ve known at one time or another I hasten to add!) to recently getting the number at around 180.
I don’t like being collected by people (old school friends etc) and I hate it when people add you just so they can nosey through your pics and then not even say hello. I’ve had a lot of folk ask me why I’ve deleted them recently but I think if they’ve not been in touch for over six months they’re off there especially if I’ve contacted them with no reply, they have my email address….if they want to catch up with me they can mail me.
It is up a certain point a lazy way of keeping in touch with what your friends have been up to..….I do think if you’re the kind to do the lazy stuff and not get in touch with folk by email, text, messaging, phone etc then you can’t really moan at people doing the same to you….conversation is a two way thing.

If it werent for text messages I would never have had a social life due to chronic shyness to make a phone call! I think social networking sites are great in terms of burlesque networking and just bumping into very random people and having opportunties pop up. However my personal non-performance facebook isnt as good, I have been in touch with a few old school people but everyone seems to keep their chat mainly within their real life friendship groups so its not quite as interesting for me.

Originally Posted by TipTop Photography

Some people believe that due to social networking, there is no face-to-face interaction anymore. What are your thoughts?

No face-to-face action? None at all? My thoughts are that these people need to get out more...

some really good points being raised here!

But for me (and slightly off the original question!) i just get fed up of add requests from people who i went to school with who never spoke to me, or if they did it was only to call me a devil worshiping manson freak!

x

Originally Posted by TipTop Photography

All

As we know, the likes of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Bebo etc have revolutionised the way in which we communicate with friends, family etc


Have social networking sites helped you get work?

Have social networking sites allowed you to catch up with lost friends?

or

Are social networking sites becoming a problem for you?

Do you get frustrated with the lack of personal conversation?

Please feel free to discuss.

Deb

Hi Deb. When I first went on Myspace and Facebook I went about things a bit "slackly" and ended up with all manner of nutters sending me crap or asking to be my friend, a bit like leaving Skype on all day, nowt but Ghanian persons begging for money etc.

I now have rejoined Face Book under my "Stage Name" and only use it for networking with other magicians and bands/guitarists, the crossdressing and Burlesque scene etc in Bournemouth and Frank Clarke of Simply Painting fame ( coz I is now a certified teacher of Franks painting system). The only nutter I now have is a fishing chum of mine bet, he is a lovable nutter (you know the type, you would LOVE to strangle them sometimes but, they are useful) With no family to speak of, a mother and a sister only, Facebook etc doesn't come into it. We use the phone or "live" chat. Anyone who asks to befriend me or is sent to me supposedly by another friend of a friend of a great uncle Bert, doesn't get added.

I suppose they are good for keeping in touch but, I can see where they are stopping the "face to face" meets that I think we need from time to time. The other problem I had was communicating, this has been spoken about on MoB before by myself and others, there is no bodily interaction, no face to look at etc so, trying to suss what someone is actually meaning or saying sometimes, can be a bit of a problem, hence why arguaments break out with some people.

If the various ones were "policed" more, then perhaps they would be better for the younger lads and lasses to use. Yeah, I know all about parental controls etc, try stopping little Jenny from using face book to chat blokes up when she is at Angela's house.

Anyway, my tuppence worth

Originally Posted by TipTop Photography

Are social networking sites becoming a problem for you?Please feel free to discuss.Deb

About a year ago, I disappeared from MOB, An injury had caused me to have more time than I was used to, and I spent that time here. Then an article in the press about a woman, about my age, who set her alarm every two hours through the night, so that she could check her Facebook account, really brought home to me, that I was addicted.
So, Broomy has been put back in her broomcupboard, the injury has repaired, I now spend a lot of time in London, ( Dad bequeathed me his house,) and I got rid of my computer. But I still look in on hubby's, as and when I get the chance.
James, thank you for your PM, don't know if my response got through. Khandie, I am delighted for you and your ever improving burlesque career, and now I must dash, because like smoking, if you just have one cigarette.........

most of my bookings recently have come through facebook, but at the same time it is also a good way for people to pass on hateful and hurtful information about you that they would be too scared to say to your face

in the right hands it can make your burlesque career. but in the wrong hands it can ruin it! x

I think social networking is a fantastic revolution. It allows people to express who they truly are when they might not be able to on a day to day basis. It's great for meeting new people and networking. For my business it is excellent as it is an easy way to keep our customers and potential customers up to date.
On a personal level though i keep my personal FB page very lean, i only really have very close friends and family on their, but it is great for photo sharing and staying in touch