SOCIETY

Facebook Made Me Do It

Seven lies we tell ourselves about social networking.

By Raina Kelley | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Feb 20, 2009 | Updated: 1:58  p.m. ET Feb 20, 2009

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: sugerland56 @ 05/05/2009 12:15:25 AM

    i like face book i dont see any thing worng with it i got a lot of my good frineds in there

  • Posted By: jpssa @ 03/10/2009 2:54:45 PM

    If I have a choice between hiring someone who is on FB and someone who isn't I would always go for the person who isn't.

    • Posted By: SonaleeR @ 03/13/2009 8:30:48 AM

      I'm sorry, jpssa, but as a Hiring Manager I disagree.

      • Posted By: jpssa @ 03/25/2009 7:49:33 AM

        Well, I guess it depends on what kind of business you are recruting for. For my team I only recruit intelligent people who can be taken seriously. What we really don't need people on the team who potentially embarras themselves online. Luckily you HR people don't have the final say in who in the end gets the job.

    • Posted By: SonaleeR @ 03/13/2009 8:32:42 AM

      As a hiring manager I disagree with you, jpssa.

  • Posted By: chloema @ 03/24/2009 8:25:20 PM

    Noone gives a rat's ass about anyone except themselves. this is a type of nation we have become. It's me over you always.

  • Posted By: chloema @ 03/24/2009 8:24:09 PM

    Noone gives a rats ass about anyone except themselves

  • Posted By: vivek1937 @ 03/24/2009 6:54:32 PM

    the last item is very appropriate under indian sena rio

  • Posted By: vivek1937 @ 03/24/2009 6:50:24 PM

    the last item i liked most vewry appropriate under indian senario

  • Posted By: Elistra @ 03/24/2009 6:50:13 PM

    I don't use it. I'm not that delusional. People, listen...

    1) No one gives a damn about your problems. They give a damn about *their own* problems.

    2) No one gives a damn about your opinion. They give a damn about *their own* opinion.

    3) Nobody wants to know the dirty details of your life who isn't either 1) A stalker, 2) A controlling, romantic partner or relative, or 3) looking for an excuse to feel like they're better than you.

    4) You can describe your life in the most grandiose, melodramatic, hackneyed prose you are capable of, in an effort to make your life sound exciting. Maybe you should try to sell it to Days of Our Lives. The rest of us aren't fooled.

    5) "Pretend to give a damn about what I say, and I'll reciprocate the charade by pretending to give a damn about what you say." is not friendship. It's a room where a million people are talking, and not one person is listening. It is narcissistic exhibitionism, it is dishonest, and it is peurile.

    I don't expect any one of you to much give a damn either, assuming you bothered to read this. I wrote it purely for my own amusement. :P

  • Posted By: MrsmamaP @ 03/24/2009 6:39:03 PM

    Untrue for most people I know. i DO actually only add friends, family and people I've actually MET in person. Everyone in my list is AT LEAST an acquaintance. More than 30 are family who live around the country who believe it or not, I do use to keep in touch with. Not to "spy" on them or be a fly on the wall of their lives. I don't learn anything from their pages they wouldn't tell me themselves.

    And thirdly, i DID invite every single one of them to my house for my Christmas party 4 months ago.

    I don't want the highest number of friends, and I don't participate in the optional "applications" of games and surveys and whatnot. They annoy me, as does the writer of this piece.

  • Posted By: ADDICTIVE-BS @ 03/21/2009 6:35:34 AM

    PEOPLE WHO FACEBOOK AND TWETTER DO HAVE THE ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY OF WANTING TO BE THE FLY ON THE WALL OF EVERYONES HOME THAT THEY KNOW OR HAVE KNOWN, WITH BIG EARS.

  • Posted By: Genevieve @ 03/06/2009 7:49:26 AM

    I can certainly see these as possible motives, and traps to beware for anyone. But if your motive is to live out the purpose for which we were created -- to reflect the image of our Maker and point others to Jesus with our lives (the ONe Who truly has pure motives for in relating to us)... Facebook can be a great tool for doing just that. I've reconnected with seveal friends of old -- back when I was clueless and thought life was all about me. And now it's been great to go back and say, "I'm sorry I used our friendship back then to boost my own self worth." And instead to use the current relationship to boost them toward the One Who truly makes them worthy.

  • Posted By: Genevieve @ 03/06/2009 7:46:29 AM

    I can certainly see these as possible motives, and traps to beware for anyone. But if your motive is to live out the purpose for which we were created -- to reflect the image of our Maker and point others to Jesus with our lives... Facebook can be a great tool for doing just that. I've reconnected with seveal friends of old -- back when I was clueless and thought life was all about me. And now it's been great to go back and say, "I'm sorry I used our friendship back then to boost my self worth." And instead to use the current relationship to boost them toward the One Who truly makes them worthy.

  • Posted By: DonZ @ 03/04/2009 1:57:46 AM

    "quite frankly"...

    If you want to use such term, then, quite frankly, I'm tired of Raina Kelly and her multi reference to her daily shrink.
    Not only do I imply she sees one daily, she admits it wholeheartedly... In term of facebook not making money...
    Your a complete fool who knows nothing of business if you think hes not pulling in dough.. He was just on NBC for
    a 30minute special about how his business prospect is doing very well... You really think he bought that tie by flipping hamburgers?

    A further note to all things actually relevant to today... I don't even watch tv let alone make facebook and my therapist the reason i make 30k a year as a writer for whoever you work for... I have only read two of your posts and feel so sickened by your kind I feel im going to need the next 10 years to recover what I've lost just reading anything you have decided to put into "pen and paper" if you will...

  • Posted By: Sunny Ladiata @ 03/03/2009 6:14:09 PM

    I love Raina Kelly

  • Posted By: greboo46 @ 03/03/2009 4:18:48 PM

    Quite Frankley it is easier to find my friends on Facebook, and to e-mail them from there. I can see where or what they are doing. I can keep track of them easier,in case i have a need to talk to them. So it is better then to leave a message or just to wait. It gives me an idea of how long or if i can contact them. greg

  • Posted By: grasso42 @ 03/02/2009 1:57:34 PM

    also you can add uis at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1665732134#/profile.php?id=1056783229&ref=profile

  • Posted By: grasso42 @ 03/02/2009 1:56:58 PM

    i think this is a great piece. I love facebook and I use it for many different reasons. I will add anyone because it helps promote my baseball team here in Denver. www.DenverBrowns.com and it allows me to plan events and invite everyone to our games and events. So if you are interested in adding me ;) please do at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1665732134#/profile.php?id=1056783229&ref=profile

  • Posted By: grasso42 @ 03/02/2009 1:53:33 PM

    I think this is a great article. I love facebook and I do use it for several reasons. It is good to see what old friends are up to but with that being said it doesnt mean I would invite them to my house. My main reason for using it is to promote my baseball team in Denver for game and events throughout the community and I do get great response from it. I usually have over 100 people attend our events and games. So please check us out at www.DenverBrowns.com

  • Posted By: Mwanga @ 03/01/2009 4:10:07 PM

    The author just gave her opinion. I do not see any intention of attacking or offending facebook users in what she said.
    If you are very angry and hurling insults to her it is because she is telling a truth that hurts you.
    Is she called an 8th grade girl columnist by a Nobel Prize winner?

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse