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The Time Has Come to Finally Delete Facebook

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Re: The Time Has Come to Finally Delete Facebook

#31

Post by jamesrcole »

danharaj wrote: post #25
jamesrcole wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you saying that definition is not in line with what that term means in practice? What do you think "forced" means, if something quite different that?

Colloquially 'forced' is often used in a sense weaker than coercion. For example, a train delay might force you to take the bus. A move in Chess can be forced because all alternatives immediately lose. In this weaker sense, it might be taken as "left with no better option".

Yes, to force means to leave no alternative or option, and in this sense Facebook is not forcing those connections, and it's unreasonable to say it is forcing them.

Re: The Time Has Come to Finally Delete Facebook

#33

Post by jamesrcole »

EliRivers wrote: post #26
jamesrcole wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it is unreasonable to call "encouraging" (your term) "forcing" ("forced" - "obtained or imposed by coercion or physical power" - Google's definition). [EDIT: to the people downvoting this, the subtleties of language matter. There is a big and specific difference between concepts like "encouraged", "presssured" and "forced"]

"the subtleties of language matter", yet you're the one interpreting language like a robot with a dictionary.

Under the everyday notion of forcing someone to do something, Facebook is not forcing people to friend others.

The definition I cited was for illustration. Since when does backing up you point with a definition mean you're being slavishly robotic?

Since you're trying to imply my usage of the term is narrow and unrealistic, what's the different notion of "forcing" someone to do something that would make it true that Facebook is forcing people to friend others that they otherwise wouldn't want to?

Re: The Time Has Come to Finally Delete Facebook

#34

Post by DoreenMichele »

finaliteration wrote: post #5

Facebook prioritizes "connection", but doesn't question whether all of those connections are -good- ones. I know there are a million comments out there about how deleting Facebook led to someone having less anxiety, depression, etc., but I'm also in that camp for a reason that I don't think gets mentioned a lot. I suffer from PTSD due to childhood abuse and neglect (and I'm talking heavy drug use, physical, verbal, a…

Thank you for posting this comment.

I think creators of social platforms need to be vastly more aware that just because you know someone or are related to them doesn't mean it's a positive. They need to stop assuming that making certain associations is all to the good. Such default assumptions tend to do the most harm to very vulnerable people who most need some kind of support for protecting themselves.

Re: The Time Has Come to Finally Delete Facebook

#35

Post by JumpCrisscross »

Going cold turkey is never easy. If you're having trouble withdrawing, consider what I did over the past few years:

1. Turn off notifications for the Facebook app on your phone; next

2. Turn off notifications for the Facebook Messenger, Instagram, et cetera apps on your phone; then

3. Delete the Facebook app from your phone; then

4. Delete the Facebook Messenger, Instagram, et cetera apps from your phone; and finally

5. Log out of Facebook on your desktop.

It took me 2 years to go through from step 1 to step 5. It has made me happier and more productive. I still have a Facebook account. But the friction of grabbing my laptop and logging in forces me to consider "is this what I want to do? Or am I thoughtlessly reaching for the crack pipe?"

(It's been months since I've cared to log into Facebook. Feels more like trudging through spam in an old e-mail inbox, now, than anything compelling.)

Re: The Time Has Come to Finally Delete Facebook

#36

Post by jamesrcole »

kerng wrote: post #30
jamesrcole wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry to hear of what you've been through > Now it's just a platform that reminds me of the past by forcing these "connections" It doesn't force those things.

It also reminds you at the most inappropriate times about people either via "people you might know" and other annoyances on whom you should be connected with. These unwanted reminders can certainly create unwanted distress.

Absolutely. But I was just making the point that what they were describing wasn't a case of it forcing them to friend those people.

Re: The Time Has Come to Finally Delete Facebook

#37

Post by mturmon »

dlock wrote: post #18

one of the most difficult things to relay about why facebook is a danger (probably more so in years gone then now) is they can not visualize the effects (both in the real world and mentally) . This was probably how drugs where viewed back in the 70s it was all seen as fun and games and mostly harmless. If you say to someone dont speed, drink and drive as it may cause you to get into a car accident its clear to see th…

Good comments. Many people seem to believe that Facebook can behaviorally manipulate other people, but not them. They are wrong.

Re: The Time Has Come to Finally Delete Facebook

#38

Post by jkaptur »

ty_a wrote: post #32

Facebook will delete itself. https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=... Facebook interest has been steadily trending down for years.

An alternative explanation I've read for that chart is that fewer people need to search for it - the app is already installed.

Re: The Time Has Come to Finally Delete Facebook

#39

Post by kryptiskt »

ty_a wrote: post #32

Facebook will delete itself. https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=... Facebook interest has been steadily trending down for years.

That's not the way the Facebook user base and revenue has moved. But of course, why would anyone already on Facebook search for it?
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