political commentator * author * publisher * bookseller * radio presenter * blogger * Conservative candidate * former lobbyist * Jack Russell owner * West Ham United fanatic * Email iain AT iaindale DOT com
Friday, June 22, 2007
Join the 'Readers of Iain Dale's Diary' Facebook Group
There is now a READERS OF IAIN DALE'S DIARY on Facebook HERE. If you have a Facebook account, do join the group. And if you haven't got a Facebook account yet, what are you waiting for?!
For the flavour of the week stench to blow off Facebook...and on to Twitter...and the next thing, and the next thing. Really, at this point I'm rationing the things I'm attached to; the last thing most people need is yet another group to keep track of. Facebook is most attractive to those who haven't already joined Friendster, LinkedIn, etc, etc, etc.
Off topic: Iain, there's a deeply worrying poll in today's ST. In light of the public's perception of DC v GB, should DC stick to the plan - or is a change of tack required? Any thoughts?
"One young Facebook user says: "Everyone in the whole world thinks it's super creepy when adults have Facebooks." Except they don't. It's only creepy if they try to be "down with the kids" while they do it."
As a young person with a silly pseudonym, all I can say that Facebook offers is an interesting manner in which to waste time on the internet. It is also insanely addictive. Pity the poor university students such as myself who have been using it non-stop for more than a year now!
This speech would be a bit more convincing if party spokesmen would stop the practice of making random policy announcements that have to be retracted within hours or days. If there is a policy review on a subject then perhaps it is better to await it. The Hugo Swire/Museums cockup is a sad example but only the latest. We also hear that there is going to be a blog called "Stand up, Speak up - The Nation's Dispatch Box". Will this communicate top-down or bottom-up? If it is top-down then it will just be a set of announcements - it is hard to believe that there will be a free interchange of ideas as Mr Cameron has not shown much respect for the deluded party members so far. He has mosty treated us like the opposition, not his friends.
Ah, now I see the point of this post. See today's Media Guardian, p.5, when Iain Dale of this cyber-parish 'gets our gong for being our most popular media Facebooker'.
Well done that man, even if I did have to sully my hands with the Guradian where most of the ink comes off on the reader's fingers. I only read it on Mondays, honest ...
Suddenly everybody wants me to join Facebook. I don't know what it is but I already feel like a perv being on My Space. I did this to keep in touch with my kids (yes, sad but true). I leave messages like, "please call me back when you have some credit".They communicate in some sort of code and horrify me with little messages to their pals like "CU @ frffrfr ..let's get wasted" I am a voyeur in their lives. Horrible. And their are these terrible "self-pics" that make them look as though they have mumps or multiple conjoined heads.
I keep getting people wanting to be my friend. They usually want to direct me to their amazing free nudie site.
I don't want any friends. I hate people, even in the nude.
I havn't had a personal letter, written in ink, for two years.. even from the few people I can tolerate.
Iain, do you own shares in Facebook? Are you endlessly promoting it so that when they "go public" you can cash in your shares and retire from public life?
On joining up, FaceBook asks the salient question, "How do you know Iain Dale?"
The following options are available, each one leading to one or more further probing questions, making me wonder if I should have been read my rights first...
Lived together Worked together From an organization or team Took a course together From a summer / study abroad program Went to school together Traveled together In my family Through a friend Through Facebook Met randomly We hooked up We dated I don't even know this person.
After struggling for several seconds with the mischevious idea of ticking 'We dated', just to see what confusion it might cause at the other end, I decided in absolute honesty: 'I don't even know this person'.
Finally my faith in common sense was restored, when FaceBook retorted: 'Then why are you friends with them?'
Iain, stop it - you are beginning to look very 'needy' indeedy...
If you want some willy-waving 'I've got more friends than you' or a 'Fast Show' "I am considerably more successful than yeeeoooouuuuu" then please leave us out of it.
Aren't blogs supposed to be opinionated? And their comment sections no less so.
If you think that was out of line, by all means steer clear of Facebook. Those people's memories of cruel school behaviour are much fresher than yours.
Interesting piece highlighted on BoingBoing today about how American social classes split along the Facebook/Myspace divide. I'd add that creative artists overwhelmingly use Myspace, so the split further reinforces the marginalization of the creative arts in society.
"Viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace," which posits that well-to-do, stable American teens with "good prospects" end up on Facebook, while poor, queer, marginal and non-white teens end up on MySpace (even in the military, grunts are on MySpace and officers are on Facebook -- guess which one the military banned!)
Given that there's significantly less social mobility in the UK (see recent reports) I'd be interested to know if the same digital divide exists.
"What are you waiting for?"
ReplyDeleteFor the flavour of the week stench to blow off Facebook...and on to Twitter...and the next thing, and the next thing. Really, at this point I'm rationing the things I'm attached to; the last thing most people need is yet another group to keep track of. Facebook is most attractive to those who haven't already joined Friendster, LinkedIn, etc, etc, etc.
Is this similiar to being a member of the Rotary Club?
ReplyDeleteYes. It's univeral
ReplyDeleteI started one for my blog also with the simple question posted up "What is the point in Facebook".
ReplyDeleteTo me its like the emperors new clothes or like a chocolate teapot. it serves no purpose at all.
However, if anyone knows of ANY reasons why it is useful or good they can join my NorfolkBlogger facebook group and tell me.
Off topic: Iain, there's a deeply worrying poll in today's ST. In light of the public's perception of DC v GB, should DC stick to the plan - or is a change of tack required? Any thoughts?
ReplyDeletePage 33 of today's "Sunday Telegraph" - quote from a teenage girl: "Everyone in the whole world thinks it's super creepy when adults have Facebooks."
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, the whole quote reads
ReplyDelete"One young Facebook user says: "Everyone in the whole world thinks it's super creepy when adults have Facebooks." Except they don't. It's only creepy if they try to be "down with the kids" while they do it."
I think Iain is a Facebook Fogey.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, being a cranky old git I can not see the point of this 'face book' exercise.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the benefits of signing up to this new craze?
You get to meet Iain Dale?
ReplyDeleteSorry, Iain, but I actually have a life...
ReplyDeleteAs a young person with a silly pseudonym, all I can say that Facebook offers is an interesting manner in which to waste time on the internet. It is also insanely addictive. Pity the poor university students such as myself who have been using it non-stop for more than a year now!
ReplyDeleteThis speech would be a bit more convincing if party spokesmen would stop the practice of making random policy announcements that have to be retracted within hours or days.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a policy review on a subject then perhaps it is better to await it. The Hugo Swire/Museums cockup is a sad example but only the latest.
We also hear that there is going to be a blog called "Stand up, Speak up - The Nation's Dispatch Box". Will this communicate top-down or bottom-up? If it is top-down then it will just be a set of announcements - it is hard to believe that there will be a free interchange of ideas as Mr Cameron has not shown much respect for the deluded party members so far. He has mosty treated us like the opposition, not his friends.
Do we get a free gift with membership?
ReplyDeleteAh, now I see the point of this post. See today's Media Guardian, p.5, when Iain Dale of this cyber-parish 'gets our gong for being our most popular media Facebooker'.
ReplyDeleteWell done that man, even if I did have to sully my hands with the Guradian where most of the ink comes off on the reader's fingers. I only read it on Mondays, honest ...
Iain Dale = Desperate for new friends
ReplyDeleteThis strikes me as remarkably immature for a professional man in his 40s.
Suddenly everybody wants me to join Facebook. I don't know what it is but I already feel like a perv being on My Space. I did this to keep in touch with my kids (yes, sad but true). I leave messages like, "please call me back when you have some credit".They communicate in some sort of code and horrify me with little messages to their pals like "CU @ frffrfr ..let's get wasted" I am a voyeur in their lives. Horrible. And their are these terrible "self-pics" that make them look as though they have mumps or multiple conjoined heads.
ReplyDeleteI keep getting people wanting to be my friend. They usually want to direct me to their amazing free nudie site.
I don't want any friends. I hate people, even in the nude.
I havn't had a personal letter, written in ink, for two years.. even from the few people I can tolerate.
Help.
Iain, do you own shares in Facebook? Are you endlessly promoting it so that when they "go public" you can cash in your shares and retire from public life?
ReplyDeleteAre you going to bump this EVERY Friday?
ReplyDeleteLike Chuck I have yet to be convinced that Facebook actually provides one with any benefits.
ReplyDeleteWill it get me laid more often? Prove a limitless source of tax free wealth? Provide endless original entertainment? I really don't know.
Can anyone enlighten me?
Is there a special handshake?
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like PR and Spin! If I mention Facebook on my webpage, will they send me a cheque?
ReplyDeleteOn joining up, FaceBook asks the salient question, "How do you know Iain Dale?"
ReplyDeleteThe following options are available, each one leading to one or more further probing questions, making me wonder if I should have been read my rights first...
Lived together
Worked together
From an organization or team
Took a course together
From a summer / study abroad program
Went to school together
Traveled together
In my family
Through a friend
Through Facebook
Met randomly
We hooked up
We dated
I don't even know this person.
After struggling for several seconds with the mischevious idea of ticking 'We dated', just to see what confusion it might cause at the other end, I decided in absolute honesty: 'I don't even know this person'.
Finally my faith in common sense was restored, when FaceBook retorted: 'Then why are you friends with them?'
>> Little Black Sambo said "Is there a special handshake"
ReplyDeleteWell since most people who use facebook are sad males - the handshake is a unique one. They shake a part of their atonomy.
Iain .. that is very ... gay
ReplyDeleteIain, stop it - you are beginning to look very 'needy' indeedy...
ReplyDeleteIf you want some willy-waving 'I've got more friends than you' or a 'Fast Show' "I am considerably more successful than yeeeoooouuuuu" then please leave us out of it.
Anonymous said
ReplyDelete"Iain Dale = Desperate for new friends
This strikes me as remarkably immature for a professional man in his 40s".
bit judgmental isn't it?
Aren't blogs supposed to be opinionated? And their comment sections no less so.
ReplyDeleteIf you think that was out of line, by all means steer clear of Facebook. Those people's memories of cruel school behaviour are much fresher than yours.
Interesting piece highlighted on BoingBoing today about how American social classes split along the Facebook/Myspace divide. I'd add that creative artists overwhelmingly use Myspace, so the split further reinforces the marginalization of the creative arts in society.
ReplyDelete"Viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace," which posits that well-to-do, stable American teens with "good prospects" end up on Facebook, while poor, queer, marginal and non-white teens end up on MySpace (even in the military, grunts are on MySpace and officers are on Facebook -- guess which one the military banned!)
Given that there's significantly less social mobility in the UK (see recent reports) I'd be interested to know if the same digital divide exists.