Face Book tests Pay to Post.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA

I agree David. I would rather have a couple of real friends, instead of 20 virtual ones!

Some people don't have that option due to social isolation or ill health.
As someone who has been literally house/couch bound on and off for the last couple years, FB has been at times my only contact with the outside world. There are many many users in the same boat.

And it has it's place in Astronomy too.
There is a wealth of knowledge out there.
Professional Astronomers, researchers, scientists and technicians from all the major observatories, NASA, SDO, CERN and ESA all post daily on FB sharing the latest news, gossip and photos.
Not forgetting all the other regular astro geeks out there sharing their images, problem solving gear and public outreach.
I've made a few genuine friends on FB too.
It's a high tech version of the old days when we used have Pen Friends from across the globe.

That is my FB experience.

[iceman (Mike)]

Agree.
It's the next evolution of what used to be bulletin boards, then forums, then social media.

I'm constantly surprised by people who openly admit they've never had a FB account and never used it, and yet have very strong opinions about it and how evil it is.

[deejayvee (David)]

I opened my FB account in 2007. Closed it in 2008.

It's fine for what it is, and you've got to give them credit for creating something that has half a billion users. I don't like the privacy problems, but at the end of the day, it's just not to my taste.

[Suzy]

TrevorW :

I'm starting a new social media site it's going be called

"GetALife"

I think these social media pages in some areas have caused more harm than good,but that is my personal opinion

I'm going to get on my soap box here, I think it's been a while since I have.
Trevor, by no way is this a personal attack on what you've just said, but more for the general population who thinks the same as you.

It's unfortunate that so many people aside from Trevor share this view. There's a lot more to facebook than what some narrow minded people are led to believe.


Michelle Thaller (astronomer NASA Goddard Space Centre/presenter Discovery Channel)
Lawrence Krauss (physicist)
Alan Dyer (astronomer/author)
Mike Simmonsen (AAVSO)
Robert Gendler (famous astro photographer)
Greg Bryant (editor AS&T magazine)
Les Dalrymple (contributing editor AS&T)
Mike Simmons (president at Astronomers Without Borders)
David Darling (science writer and famous website)
Camilla SDO (NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre)
Richard Jakiel (science writer, co-author)
Timothy Ferris
Michio Kaku (physicist)
Seth Shostak (astronomer)
Steve Squyres (Mars exploration rovers)
Ian O'Neil (space producer, Discovery News, Discovery Channel)
Michael E. Bakich (senior editor Astronomy magazine)
David J. Eicher (editor in chief Astronomy magazine)
Alex Filippenko (astronomer/presenter)
Fred Watson (astronomer)
Steve Gotlieb (astronomy mag. writer & famous visual observor)

The above are just some of my friends on facebook, many of them I have regular with contact due to their frequent postings of astronomy news and pics. If I have a question, most of them will often answer it- yes even the famous Lawrence Krauss has helped me out.

And the following that I'm not friends with but "Like"....
Neil De-Grassi Tyson, Brian Greene, Brian Cox, Hubble, International Space Station, ESO, JPL, Milky Way Scients, Space.com, NASA's Spitzer, Universe Today, IceInSpace, Phil Phait, Carolyn Porco etc also contribute news and pictures because I "Like" them.

I also have a lot of astronomy friends (many from IceInSpace)- they also help to keep me informed of astronomy news and share many astronomy related photos.
They also post some interesting IceInSpace thread links which I may otherwise miss.

Like this forum, fb is a great place to interact with like minded people who share their love of Astronomy. We encourage each other, we help each other, we support each other.

Just to give you a very small sample of what I've posted or received on my wall this week......

Astronomical archeology
http://www.messagetoeagle.com/oldast...terysolved.php


Nat Geo: New planet found in our solar system?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...news-newplanet


Zero N technology
http://messagetoeagle.com/levitatingball.php


How It's Made ep: How Jeans are made
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0q2BkBfD7U


Last Sunday's 60 Minutes episode "The Big Bang Theory" - about the LHC
http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/v...9-d6da84f283d7


A virtual flyover of asteroid vesto using NASA Dawn's images
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html


CPA presents Australia presents an audience with Neil Armstrong
http://thebottomline.cpaaustralia.com.au/


X-Ray outburst in the M83 galaxy
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/...150027795.html

And just posted on my wall 8 hours ago by Carolyn Porco is a jaw dropping pic of the details within Saturn's ring system
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater



Every day I learn a lot on facebook!
What have you learned today

Aside from learning....
Keeping in touch with my family around the country and world through pictures they share and posts they make- well, how can that be a bad thing?! Even when hubby goes away, he posts his pics for me on fb.

So I have a life and I reckon it's a nicely rounded, educated, informed, LIFE.

As Ron said

I don't think it is as cut and dried as you make out.

So just take a moment and think outside the box before you put fb down- it isn't just about tweeting rubbish to friends.

IT SEEMS EVERY TIME A THREAD RELATING TO FACEBOOK IS POSTED, IT ATTRACTS A GREAT DEAL OF NEGATIVITY.

I DIDN'T POST THIS TO CONTINUE THE fb DEBATE ALREADY STARTED HERE, SO PLEASE DON'T SEE THIS POST AS A REASON TO CONTINUE.

I'VE MERELY POSTED THIS TO GIVE PEOPLE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT FACEBOOK CAN BE ABOUT IF YOU CHOSE TO MAKE IT A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

P.S.
If you're an IceInSpace and facebook member and wish to add me as your "friend", please pm me- I enjoy hanging out with fellow astro people on fb.

[iceman (Mike)]

Well said Suzy.

And don't forget to "Like" IceInSpace on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/iceinspace

[astroron (Ron)]

Concise as usual Suzy.
Well put
Cheers

[TrevorW]

Hi Suzy

Great synopsis, I do not dispute it may be some peoples cup of tea
but don't forget these various negative aspects

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Facebook

a very long synopsis of Facebook criticism but this aside fundamentally do we really need it.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Hi Suzy

Great synopsis, I do not dispute it may be some peoples cup of tea
but don't forget these various negative aspects

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Facebook

a very long synopsis of Facebook criticism but this aside fundamentally do we really need it.

Trevor, There are many things in every day life we do not need, but are part of every day life.

I f we lived with just what we needed it would be a pretty miserable life.

Do we need TV,Movies Radio, Take away food,ect , they are all part of every day life, even though not for everybody.

For every positive there is a negative.

There a maybe nearly a Billion people who enjoy using Face Book.

Just because you and others don't like it,doesn't make it bad.

As has been said before and I repeat No one is forcing anyone to be a member, we are all free agents as far as joining Face Book or any other Social Media out look ,even iceinspace.

So why you keep harping on about it, I don't know
If you don't like it, don't bother with it.
Cheers

[TrevorW]

Hey Ron, I'm not the one who brought up the tirade about the virture's of Facebook so I don't see the need for your high stance

There is 6 billion people in this world don't forget that

and I agree their are a lot of things that in fact haven't made the quality of life better IMO

[Stardrifter_WA]

Facebook, no doubt, has it's good points, but it also has some bad points too, as most emerging technologies do. Fortunately, we have the personal freedom to choose whether use it or not. Whether our choices are right or wrong is totally irrelevant, as it is a personal choice and one should respect that.

That doesn't mean there cannot be constructive discussion on such points, as there will always be those strongly advocating for and against Facebook and other such technologies. It is always interesting and enlightening to hear both sides of the argument anyway, as it is what makes us think; and furthermore, it is how we learn.

Just because it is very popular does not mean that everyone has to use it. Frankly, my opinion is that is rather insidious, but that is my personal opinion alone and doesn't carry any weight, whatsoever, and nor should it. Being a private person, opening up on Facebook would be difficult for me, after all, it took a long time before I entered into any discussions on IIS.

[bloodhound31]

I get a lot out of Facebook, but I don't think I would be willing to pay for it. Surely the advertising on it would be enough to pay for it?

I've contemplated dropping it many times for the negatives, but they are always outweighed by the positives of it so it stays.

I guess I will make a decision if the time comes.

I'm with Suzy.