The Secret Evil Of Facebook? Pfff

[MattKestrel]

I got a facebook account the other day, and my mum's just found out and demanded I take mine off. She says its because people look on facebook when deciding about jobs and because people you dont know could find out about stuff. I understand these are important points, but I fail to see why this doesnt apply to eveyone else in the world with a facebook account. Surely her absolute refusal of the website is just paranoia based on the recent news stories?

[a happy song]

Set your account to friends only and problem solved.

[Erik-Player]

Make your profile private so nobody can see your profile unless their your friend on. I overreacted in the beginning too but it's all fine now. :P

Edit: Atob beat me to it. :P

[MattKestrel]

Thats not the problem. The problem is, she says, that anyone could eavesdrop on a conversation and through a series of convoluted events end up stealing our stuff. And shes threatening to ban me from my own computer unless I withdraw my account. Now what?

[TribulatioN]

The Secret Evil Of Facebook aka The Not So Secret Stories That The News Blow Out Of Proportion.

[MattKestrel]

Ive said that. Now my account's deactivated. Although I am relieved that its a simple matter of reactivating it again.

[Erik-Player]

Thats not the problem. The problem is, she says, that anyone could eavesdrop on a conversation and through a series of convoluted events end up stealing our stuff. And shes threatening to ban me from my own computer unless I withdraw my account. Now what?

I say listen to her. Just get on the IRC.

[a happy song]

Thats not the problem. The problem is, she says, that anyone could eavesdrop on a conversation and through a series of convoluted events end up stealing our stuff. And shes threatening to ban me from my own computer unless I withdraw my account. Now what?

Eavesdrop on a conversation? Not sure what you mean here.

Stealing what stuff? It's not like you're going to put any important details on there like card numbers or home addresses, right?

[MattKestrel]

I meant that other people could look at my conversations, sorry for confusion.

And she says it could happen by telling people Im going on holiday, which is completely unfounded given Im not giving my address to anyone.

[a happy song]

I meant that other people could look at my conversations, sorry for confusion.

If you set your account to 'friends only', then the only way this would happen is if someone was looking over your shoulder on a public terminal.

Unless you plan on adding people you don't trust as friends, that is.

[TribulatioN]

The only people that would know that you're going on holiday are your friends.. (By status update)
When she says other people could look at your conversations.. that also means you should not be here as well, cause other people could read these conversations as well.

[a happy song]

You can also fully disable the news feed aspect of the site so that none of your conversations or updates are shared with the people attached to your account.

[Radium]

I prefer myspace.

:D

[MattKestrel]

I'm not even going to respond... wait I just did.

My mums decided to put some research into the matter, so it might not be as concrete as it sounds.

[Erik-Player]

I prefer myspace.

:D

Too much bad stuff there. :/

[scythe]

Why did you tell her you made a Facebook account in the first place? It doesn't have your real name on it, does it?

[MattKestrel]

Why did you tell her you made a Facebook account in the first place? It doesn't have your real name on it, does it?

1) I didnt, she found out when my sis tried to make one >_<
2) As far as Im aware, there isnt anyway of getting around it.

[Erik-Player]

I say listen to her.

She is your mother you know.

[otters]

I say listen to her.

She is your mother you know.

Yes, and parents are never, never, never wrong.

If what she means by eavesdropping on conversations is reading your wall, even if they know you're on holiday, how do they know where you live?

She does sound rather paranoid. I think it's more likely an internet predator would try to offer a friend request to know everything about you, and who would be stupid enough to accept a friend request from someone they don't know?

As far as Im aware, there isnt anyway of getting around it.

Just, like, use a nickname, or something. I do that. (although my mom's fine with my Facebook account...)

[capt_weasle]

There's a higher chance of someone listening to your mom on the sidewalk and getting more information from her than from you over a stupid facebook. In fact, go tell her not to go outside anymore. The world isn't safe.

[a happy song]

The entire point of facebook is to use it to network with people you know in the real world. Friends who you haven't seen in years - for example - can find you and request an add.

The entire point is to use you actual name, there's really no reason not to.

[origami_alligator]

She does sound rather paranoid. I think it's more likely an internet predator would try to offer a friend request to know everything about you, and who would be stupid enough to accept a friend request from someone they don't know?

I don't know Kablizzy at all and he's my friend on Facebook, but I don't think I'd try to stop him if he came to my front door with flowers and banana-flavored condiments. ;_;

[TribulatioN]

She does sound rather paranoid. I think it's more likely an internet predator would try to offer a friend request to know everything about you, and who would be stupid enough to accept a friend request from someone they don't know?

I don't know Kablizzy at all and he's my friend on Facebook, but I don't think I'd try to stop him if he came to my front door with flowers and banana-flavored condiments. ;_;

Yeah, but you know him through a method of communication.. Which is different than not knowing someone at all.

[smartalco]

I prefer myspace.

:D

Too much bad stuff there. :/

Correction: Too much stupid there. (not that facebook doesn't have its share, but I have seen a total of 1 myspace page that doesn't make me want to punch babies, and it wasn't a persons, it was some corporations)

[Erik-Player]

I prefer myspace.

:D

Too much bad stuff there. :/

Correction: Too much stupid there. (not that facebook doesn't have its share, but I have seen a total of 1 myspace page that doesn't make me want to punch babies, and it wasn't a persons, it was some corporations)

Who said stupid isn't bad?