Why would anyone want a Facebook account? (actor, high school, family)

[thepinksquid]

I have my account private to the public and the Facebook network, and my name doesn't show up even when you search. I have to add someone to be friends with them, not the other way around. And those I am friends with I have divided into several groups with varying levels of visibility to my profile. Many just see my name and my "interests" or whatever, but not my phone number, email address or "status updates" or whatever it's called.

As bad as it sounds, one of the main reasons I keep my profile (because, in reality, Facebook is kind of dumb for aforementioned reasons) is that I like to see how people from my past are doing in their lives, and such.

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by victorianpunk

I was thinking about getting a Facebook account today. I have no Facebook, no Myspace, or any of those other such "social networking" things. Anyway, I was thinking about it and suddenly, I found out why Facebook is NOT a good idea: YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR REAL, FULL NAME

Why not just broadcasts your social Security Number online while you're at it? I mean, on Myspace (which I'll probably end up getting) you can have a screen name, just like 99.9% of the sites on the web. Facebook, on the other hand, wants to make it easier for any random psychopath to track you down and bake you with onions and Fava Beans.

I mean, all you need is someone's full name and a general idea of where they live and you can track them down. With Facebook, you can just search someone's real name and find a photo of them and hence, have a good starting point on your murderous adventure. People talk about the "better security" on Facebook, but that is a loud of bull.

On Myspace, I can put for my name "Victorian Punk" city "Atlantis" and put a blizzard in Montana as my photo...Facebook? You have to state who you are, where you live, and where you went to school... Also, even if you use those "safety features", the info is still there. It just takes an associate's degree in computer science and a hour or two to hack the site and find out all about you..with Myspace, all you will find is some fictional information that is of no use to a cannibal Neo-Nazi Skinhead who's hungry for some dark meat.

So...why have a Facebook and put your safety in danger just because "everyone else is doing it??

You really are clueless...you don't have any idea how FB works.

[115db]

I dont have one nor is there a need for one.

[victorianpunk]

Originally Posted by Colossus_Antonis

That's a joke, right?

I don't have my real name on there. Big deal.

Facebook has been kicking users off for using fake names left and right:

Facebook and the problem of fake names… | Social Media World

[victorianpunk]

Originally Posted by Ron.

I can find you just based on your IP address, I don't need your name and photo.

If you've posted online just 1 time using a fake name you are open to identiy theft. It's all about the IP address.....

One can always use a proxy server to avoid ID theft, and ID theft is not what I'm worried about with Facebook. What I am worried about is someone who has a personal beef with me using Facebook to track me down and kill me. It's allot easier to track someone down with Facebook around then it is with just googling their name. I google my full name all the time, and so far, nothing has ever come up. I also only have a pre-paid cell phone and no ground line, so no one can easily find my phone number.

It just takes a few extra steps to avoid detection, and Facebook is a HUGE step in the wrong direction.

[victorianpunk]

Originally Posted by Ron.

Social media is the best thing since the automobile. It's amazing. I do so much networking online It should be against the law. You can build a thriving business just using social media.

I am not against social networking: Like I said, I like myspace because one can easily, with the help of an alias and a proxy server, hide their identity. It's the "real you" Facebook policy I can't stand.

Also, Facebook can kill someone's career. Do I really want my name out there attached to all my hobbies right there for anyone thinking of hiring me to see? In a perfect world, an employer would only worry that I am doing nothing illegal and not some drunken party person, but we do not live in a perfect world. Hence, I do not want my real name attached to a expedition to photograph ghosts or the Ritual Magick of the Golden Dawn or Folk Metal. Do I really want a possible employer to see that stuff?

[victorianpunk]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

I have my account private to the public and the Facebook network, and my name doesn't show up even when you search. I have to add someone to be friends with them, not the other way around. And those I am friends with I have divided into several groups with varying levels of visibility to my profile. Many just see my name and my "interests" or whatever, but not my phone number, email address or "status updates" or whatever it's called.

Then what's the point of having a Facebook account if people can't find you? Why not just give your friends your yahoo or some other anonymous e-mail address? Why even go through all the hassle?

As bad as it sounds, one of the main reasons I keep my profile (because, in reality, Facebook is kind of dumb for aforementioned reasons) is that I like to see how people from my past are doing in their lives, and such.

But, if everyone else is using the same "privacy filters", then what's the point? Also, Allot of names that are "unsearchable" appear on google searches through Facebook, and also, your photo name still appears on the pages of friends on Facebook, so no matter how much you hide your profile, one idiot who friended you can still destroy that "privacy."

[victorianpunk]

Originally Posted by ChessieMom

You really are clueless...you don't have any idea how FB works.

No, I was on it for two days (with the name Thomas McCain, not mine) and looked over everything and read all the tutorials and still, for privacy, it has nothing on myspace.

[victorianpunk]

Originally Posted by AsymptoticFaery

I am friends on FB with people who use "another name" or a moniker or sorts.

There's no way for Facebook to check if it is your real name.

So you can use an alias.

An alias and a screen name are two different things. "Thomas McCain" is hard for people to remember but "Titanium Trix Rabbit" is easy for people to remember. Not to mention the whole "using your photo" thing.

[kygman]

You want something that will make you super paranoid, even more than you are now? Google your phone number. It will give you your name and address, unless you have an unlisted number.