I'm finding it quite frustrating to support local businesses and causes. The reason why is because they all seem to use facebook as their primary means of communication, updates, and general information. Sometimes you're lucky and they have their own website (usually restaurants have one) but not always. But what's wrong with facebook besides the obvious safety and privacy concerns? You can't even look at it without being logged in!
Yes, you can see a few posts without logging in but then a dialog box will pop up and insist you sign in or make an account to keep viewing. I just want to see what's on a menu, not make an account I'm not going to use!
Local communities also only use facebook it seems. Farmer's market? Facebook. Volunteer opportunities? Facebook. Goodness gracious, can we just use one site without selling our data?
Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
Re: Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
It's because not only is it free, but anyone can create a page. Versus if you want a proper website, you not only have to pay for it but someone has to create and maintain it. Not that I'm excusing the use of FB over a proper website for a business. But this is the reason why a lot of small businesses go this route.
I bumped into a classmate from high school a few years back. Turns out I missed my 10 year reunion because the person in charge of organizing it sent out the invites through FB only. The problem is, my friends from high school that I have stayed in touch with were not in my graduating year and I'm not on FB, so I had no idea about the reunion.
I bumped into a classmate from high school a few years back. Turns out I missed my 10 year reunion because the person in charge of organizing it sent out the invites through FB only. The problem is, my friends from high school that I have stayed in touch with were not in my graduating year and I'm not on FB, so I had no idea about the reunion.
Re: Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
I thought it was ok until social media really started to go downhill. All of them have ridiculous algorithms, are absolutely loaded with ads, tracking stuff, and force you to log in. It's the forcing you to sign in that is the most annoying to be honest. I don't have Instagram, for example, and they restrict how much you can view before they force you to sign up or log in.
I completely agree. I can understand why it's frustrating when it is their only means of communication or their only online presence for information. I even know businesses with websites, yet they only update customers on general information about releases, delays and so on via Facebook. You can't just assume all your customers have Facebook or that they will think to follow your business on there.
I completely agree. I can understand why it's frustrating when it is their only means of communication or their only online presence for information. I even know businesses with websites, yet they only update customers on general information about releases, delays and so on via Facebook. You can't just assume all your customers have Facebook or that they will think to follow your business on there.
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My gaming blog: https://366gamestoplay.wordpress.com
PSN ID: Anesthetize666
Nintendo Switch ID: SW-8077-5145-0328
Re: Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
Some neighborhood groups use NextDoor, but that’s geared toward local events and neighborhoods. And that’s just one more thing. Basically, Facebook is free by virtue of violating our privacy to bump ad revenue, ad revenue that makes it so companies don’t have to pay for and maintain a web site and so various groups can organize events and keep people connected without charging money. Truth is I’m not sure what other model would work. I don’t like Facebook, but I don’t know what viable alternatives there are.
Re: Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
I just stopped giving a shit "missing out on" whatever is only on Facebook. I have no time for all the nonsense that comes with Facebook, so I just without it.
Then again, I think in bigger cities this is less of a concern. I don't think I ever *really* needed it outside of a few invites to friends' things, but that also hasn't been a thing in my circle for many years. No idea what it's like outside NYC/Boston.
Then again, I think in bigger cities this is less of a concern. I don't think I ever *really* needed it outside of a few invites to friends' things, but that also hasn't been a thing in my circle for many years. No idea what it's like outside NYC/Boston.
Re: Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
For those who do use Facebook, this extension to block ads makes the experience much less painful.
https://www.fbpurity.com/
I'm only connected to a few dozen people on there which helps cut down the nonsense too. I find it useful because there are a handful of people I'd never hear from again without it, and there are a few speciality groups there (Vectrex collectors among them) that I enjoy.
https://www.fbpurity.com/
I'm only connected to a few dozen people on there which helps cut down the nonsense too. I find it useful because there are a handful of people I'd never hear from again without it, and there are a few speciality groups there (Vectrex collectors among them) that I enjoy.
marurun wrote: We’re not going to rubber stamp your horrible decisions.
- Raging Justice
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Re: Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
I'm tired of the stranglehold social media has on so many things. I'm tired of clicking on links and then being told that I can't see whatever I clicked on unless I make an account with X or Facebook or pinterest or...whatever
Fuck social media...fuck youtube too.
I really miss when the internet was so much more free and less controlled. I miss free speech too, something sites like youtube, reddit, etc., absolutely despise nowadays.

Fuck social media...fuck youtube too.
I really miss when the internet was so much more free and less controlled. I miss free speech too, something sites like youtube, reddit, etc., absolutely despise nowadays.
Re: Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
Yeah, all those sites passing legislature in congress to restrict speech are getting out of hand.Raging Justice wrote: ↑Tue Dec 24, 2024 10:41 pm I really miss when the internet was so much more free and less controlled. I miss free speech too, something sites like youtube, reddit, etc., absolutely despise nowadays.
Blizzard Entertainment Software Developer - All comments and views are my own and not representative of the company.
Re: Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
I mean, if you wanted me to go off on the current bat-crap insane political environment, its effects on current rights, and how things are generally getting worse, I can but y'all probably don't feel like reading a dissertation.
But it's Christmas and, overall, not really super pertinent to the topic and no one likes politics. I deal with enough of it as it is.
Merry Christmas!
But it's Christmas and, overall, not really super pertinent to the topic and no one likes politics. I deal with enough of it as it is.
Merry Christmas!
Re: Facebook should not be the be-all and end-all for communities
One thing I'm a little hopeful for is that BlueSky takes over. Not that I think it would ultimately be the best platform, just that the backend works something like POP and IMAP where the information is still available even if something happened to BlueSky itself. Also, I can just go to someone's page without an account and get a simple fucking chronological list of posts and the ability to click through things in a typical website fashion.
The main thing I can't stand about most social media platforms these days (FB, Twitter, Discord, etc) is how fractured it's made information, with all these people building repositories of information on these closed platforms. It's so annoying.
The main thing I can't stand about most social media platforms these days (FB, Twitter, Discord, etc) is how fractured it's made information, with all these people building repositories of information on these closed platforms. It's so annoying.
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Steam (and other) keys for trade/free: viewtopic.php?p=1189267#p1189267
B/S/T Thread: viewtopic.php?p=1188724#p1188724
Steam (and other) keys for trade/free: viewtopic.php?p=1189267#p1189267
B/S/T Thread: viewtopic.php?p=1188724#p1188724