Do you think social networks kill discussion boards?

[Edwina's Secretary]

It is really strange some that come and never discuss their pets but love to argue politics, it isn't a political board...very strange indeed! By the way we need pics of the E's.

Lots of them in Cats General. Have you looked? And Eddie is sick. There is a thread about that too. He is feeling better now.

Here's the most recent photo I posted of Edwina - gosh, yesterday.

She also has been involved in the trip to Chicago for baseball and a number of other Catmobile trips.

Hope you have seen them!

[caseysmom]

I will go look, I haven't spent much time on the kitty side...thanks!

[Grace]

I think all discussion venues are quieter in the vacation months.

I joined Facebook about 3 months ago. I don't find it is any worse or any better than any of the other places I have visited. The folks I deal with over there use their own names - as opposed to here, where there are many board names, but not so many real ones.

Here I can ignore anyone whom I find offensive; there I can make sure they have no access to me.

It's all in what makes you feel comfortable, I guess.

[Alysser]

I'm friends with alot of you guys on facebook, and as you know I am on there alot more. I have a android phone with unlimited data and let's face it..all I've been doing is going out whether it be working, hanging out with friends, chilling with mikey and I'm not around my computer. I just got done working 11 days in a row and I have a few mini "day-cations" coming up. I'm really never home. I browse PT quite a bit, but never post, as I'm always online on my phone. FB is much more mobile friendly then PT is. I spell half the things wrong (stupid auto-correct), and unless I really feel the need to post something and know I'm not going to be on that day I will. Other then that, I keep in contact with many people over FB. Alot of my friends are going off to college so I'm gonna need it!

As for Social-networking sites killing discussion boards, I don't really think so. I think they make them better if anything. At least if someone from this crew is missing we can still be updated by FB and make sure they're OK and everything. We also have a Pettalkers FB group which alot of people post on! I guess it could. It could contribute sure, but I don't think it's a HUGE factor or anything. PT goes through periods of little posting every year. I've noticed in the summer months and around the holidays it's usually dead. In January/Febuary, it picks up alot.

[Medusa]

Facebook isn't a place I would ever join. I've watched so many of my friends get into trouble with privacy issues, stolen identity and other stuff like viruses etc. And from what I'm told some of the stuff people put on there is pretty disgusting, some choose to bare their souls on there and so forth. From what I gather FB is mostly frequented by teens who can be pretty awful on there. If I had kids they would never be allowed to join FB either.

If you're not "friends" w/someone, you can't read their posts unless they choose to allow it to be read by everyone and if you don't know who they are, you wouldn't go to their pages. You also can block people from reading what you have to post as well. FB is very selective. As for discussions, I've had some really good ones on a variety of subjects. The best part is that I've reconnected w/relatives and friends that I hadn't seen or heard from for years. It isn't too likely that we'll get together soon, so FB has been a blessing in that sense. I've had an issue here and there w/FB but I've had them w/PT, too; technical issues, I mean. I think FB is great! I've learned a lot of information there, kept up w/events and issues that I wouldn't have on PT or probably elsewhere. I like PT, for sure, for my pets, which is why I joined in the first place.

[wombat2u2004]

Interesting. I never saw it that way. But I have to admit that you CAN have more privacy on FB (given that you know how to customize your settings when posting) than in any public forum. In fact, there was something I would have loved to talk about on PT a while ago, but decided not to because I cannot control who else would be able to read it.

Exactly. You have to be very careful what you post on this forum. The Bigot Clique is always watching, and ready to pull ya to bits.....I guess they must need the attention (probably don't get it at home.)
The day I joined PT, I mentioned that I was a war veteran, a welfare officer and carer of war widows.....I was hammered by a member here for that !!!
Go figure.
But yeah.....FB is good, because really......life is much better without people like that around.

[smokey the elder]

FB and PT are very different, and serve different purposes, IMO. So far I have found the discussions on FB animated but polite, but that might speak more to the demographic my FB friends make up.

[Asiel]

If you're not "friends" w/someone, you can't read their posts unless they choose to allow it to be read by everyone and if you don't know who they are, you wouldn't go to their pages. You also can block people from reading what you have to post as well. FB is very selective. As for discussions, I've had some really good ones on a variety of subjects. The best part is that I've reconnected w/relatives and friends that I hadn't seen or heard from for years. It isn't too likely that we'll get together soon, so FB has been a blessing in that sense. I've had an issue here and there w/FB but I've had them w/PT, too; technical issues, I mean. I think FB is great! I've learned a lot of information there, kept up w/events and issues that I wouldn't have on PT or probably elsewhere. I like PT, for sure, for my pets, which is why I joined in the first place.

True...that was explained to me when some of my friends wanted me to join but quite a few have had their accounts stolen and misused, some are mislead by others , etc. I have never been on FB nor do I intend to ever join, but not that long ago I received an e-mail from FB telling me I had 8 friends wanting me to join and be their friends.I was given the name of a friend and I knew she wasn't on FB. So where did they get my e-mail from? Then I found out another friend of mine in Britain and one other from a close by city got the same message telling them that I wanted them on FB to become friends. Lucky they mailed be , I told them I received the same message and I wasn't on FB and never would be. Somehow someone put my name in there I guess. I knew if you ignored all messages from FB for a month they stopped bothering you so that's what I did and everything stopped. Just not for me, heard too many horror stories about FB.

[ChrisH]

Nothing on the net is fully secure for sure but on FB it does help if everyone just spent a little time checking, and maybe adjusting, their settings.

10 Essential Facebook Tips and Tricks for All Users

Facebook Privacy: 10 Must-Know Security Settings

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Without FB I wouldn't have my Arthur however forums can be great sources of information and advice too

[Catty1]

Thanks, Chris. I just posted these on my wall.

[wombat2u2004]

Without FB I wouldn't have my Arthur however forums can be great sources of information and advice too

Shouldn't you be on the "Stonehenge is Really my Home" thread ???

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Shouldn't you be on the "Stonehenge is Really my Home" thread ???

Lol! you're probably right

[Anikaca77]

The only thing I have found somewhat good about FB is that you can post about pets needing homes and hope that those people you are friends with will forward it to their friends and so fourth so that the word might get spread quickly.

But I do perfer PT
Melissa

[smokey the elder]

A couple of years ago someone from my cat rescue raised $3000 in ten days for heart surgery from Facebook friends, so it has good points.