Comments on: Facebook – are you part of the phenomenon? http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/ News and Updates on the Community. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:14:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: James_H http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-710 James_H Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:27:13 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-710 New to the facebook thinkgummyjig, but I gotta say, I like it. Like Mr Bailey its enabled me to easily get in touch with folks I've not seen for years and years. The sheen may wear off, but for now.... its all good. New to the facebook thinkgummyjig, but I gotta say, I like it.
Like Mr Bailey its enabled me to easily get in touch with folks I've not seen for years and years.
The sheen may wear off, but for now.... its all good.

]]> By: brad http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-709 brad Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:43:50 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-709 I think that Facebook is probably the best social networking site out there at the minute. The reason for me is that it has given me the chance to speak to my old school-mates and find out what they are up to. I would not have got the chance otherwise (I know I could ring them or actually go visit them but who does that these days? ;-P) and plus as they live all over the country, it's very handy. I also like the fact that it is very clean and has got a very simple template. This means that a) it loads quick in browsers and b) it's not open to horrible taste for profiles with horrendous colours and annoying music. It is also free which is an advantage over FriendsReunited (still a paid site I believe) and so more people use it to network with each other (is that a phrase yet?). I spend a lot of time on it, and am very interested to hear what my friends have been doing. Of course the apps are good but not as powerful as speaking to someone or looking at photos. I think that Facebook is probably the best social networking site out there at the minute. The reason for me is that it has given me the chance to speak to my old school-mates and find out what they are up to. I would not have got the chance otherwise (I know I could ring them or actually go visit them but who does that these days? ;-P) and plus as they live all over the country, it's very handy.

I also like the fact that it is very clean and has got a very simple template. This means that a) it loads quick in browsers and b) it's not open to horrible taste for profiles with horrendous colours and annoying music.

It is also free which is an advantage over FriendsReunited (still a paid site I believe) and so more people use it to network with each other (is that a phrase yet?).

I spend a lot of time on it, and am very interested to hear what my friends have been doing. Of course the apps are good but not as powerful as speaking to someone or looking at photos.

]]> By: cluker http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-708 cluker Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:17:58 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-708 Wondering why Facebook is so popular? <a href="http://www.socialcomputingmagazine.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=458" rel="nofollow">This</a> article gives some answers. Myself, I do do social networking but not on Facebook :-) Wondering why Facebook is so popular? This article gives some answers.

Myself, I do do social networking but not on Facebook :-)

]]> By: Mand http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-707 Mand Wed, 11 Jul 2007 07:13:52 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-707 I like Facebook, though I've only been using it for a couple of months. I found a few friends who I haven't seen in years and that made me more of a convert to this whole social networking idea. I know that there are lots of other apps you can use that do what Facebook does, but as with most things it's down to convenience and Facebook does the hard work for you. I also used Myspace briefly but got annoyed with all the messy pages and horrible music! :) I like Facebook, though I've only been using it for a couple of months. I found a few friends who I haven't seen in years and that made me more of a convert to this whole social networking idea.

I know that there are lots of other apps you can use that do what Facebook does, but as with most things it's down to convenience and Facebook does the hard work for you.

I also used Myspace briefly but got annoyed with all the messy pages and horrible music! :)

]]> By: James http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-706 James Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:15:56 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-706 I do enjoy my random facebookage. I've manage to regain contact with some old school friends, some that I haven't spoken to in getting on for 20 years. To me, it's not about social networking. well, obviously it is, but to me it's just another, albeit very good, website which allows you to manage and maintain contacts with current and old friends and just to find out what everyone is upto. I like looking at photos too :) I do enjoy my random facebookage. I've manage to regain contact with some old school friends, some that I haven't spoken to in getting on for 20 years.

To me, it's not about social networking. well, obviously it is, but to me it's just another, albeit very good, website which allows you to manage and maintain contacts with current and old friends and just to find out what everyone is upto. I like looking at photos too :)

]]> By: MikeS http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-704 MikeS Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:14:16 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-704 Personally, I think in the strictest sense of the words "social network" is a complete oxymoron. What is social about communicating through a turn based mechanism miles away from someone behind a keyboard and screen? I think ironically enough, if everyone started relying on "social networks" as a primary means of communication the world would be a very anti-social place. If I want to keep in touch, I'll call someone I know on the phone or get them on instant messenger. If I want to get to know more people I will go and meet my friends friends, and their friends and so on. I think a better description of Facebook, Myspace and ilk is a "Viral network". Meh, maybe I just don't "get" social networks? Personally, I think in the strictest sense of the words "social network" is a complete oxymoron. What is social about communicating through a turn based mechanism miles away from someone behind a keyboard and screen?

I think ironically enough, if everyone started relying on "social networks" as a primary means of communication the world would be a very anti-social place.

If I want to keep in touch, I'll call someone I know on the phone or get them on instant messenger. If I want to get to know more people I will go and meet my friends friends, and their friends and so on.

I think a better description of Facebook, Myspace and ilk is a "Viral network".

Meh, maybe I just don't "get" social networks?

]]> By: rmerewood http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-703 rmerewood Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:32:39 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-703 I think what FaceBook did that managed to get me hooked was an excellent combination of pushing just enough information to you and making it easy to interact with your contacts. Updating your status is incredibly easy to do and at first I just saw it as a bit of a novelty. However, that triggered some communication from a friend that I hadn't spoken to for a while. Sure, you could do this with blogs and e-mail and so on, but they've just managed to package some existing technology in a really effective way. It's not too big a step to imagine something subscribed to feeds generated by PlusNet customers that flags up alerts to people here based on certain keywords. I think what FaceBook did that managed to get me hooked was an excellent combination of pushing just enough information to you and making it easy to interact with your contacts. Updating your status is incredibly easy to do and at first I just saw it as a bit of a novelty. However, that triggered some communication from a friend that I hadn't spoken to for a while. Sure, you could do this with blogs and e-mail and so on, but they've just managed to package some existing technology in a really effective way.

It's not too big a step to imagine something subscribed to feeds generated by PlusNet customers that flags up alerts to people here based on certain keywords.

]]> By: Andrew B http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-705 Andrew B Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:15:41 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-705 I’m well aware of facebook and what it does but choose not to use it, same with myspace etc. I personally am not sold on this Social Networking thing and prefer to maintain my contacts via other means. I’m not sure that the concept is a flash in the pan, but I can only see a mass migration to something else when a new app/site comes along, or when the owners start trying to ‘improve’ the service (ala Digg) or the advertising becomes too intrusive. A fair few of my friends use it (there was even a short lived group set up as part of a campaign to make me join it lol) , and they spend hours looking at things but not actually doing anything! There are plenty of good apps that do most of what facebook et al do, Wordpress, Gallery etc - it makes me wonder if development of independant apps will be stifled by the mass adoption of a mainstream tool like Facebook. I’m well aware of facebook and what it does but choose not to use it, same with myspace etc.

I personally am not sold on this Social Networking thing and prefer to maintain my contacts via other means.

I’m not sure that the concept is a flash in the pan, but I can only see a mass migration to something else when a new app/site comes along, or when the owners start trying to ‘improve’ the service (ala Digg) or the advertising becomes too intrusive.

A fair few of my friends use it (there was even a short lived group set up as part of a campaign to make me join it lol) , and they spend hours looking at things but not actually doing anything!

There are plenty of good apps that do most of what facebook et al do, Wordpress, Gallery etc - it makes me wonder if development of independant apps will be stifled by the mass adoption of a mainstream tool like Facebook.

]]> By: mattroberts http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-702 mattroberts Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:07:30 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-702 I got into facebook a while ago, then got bored. Now I'm back on it and loving the apps that are now available on it. I agree that facebook isn't really based on perceived quality, but if it was pants, it wouldn't have exploded in quite the same manner as it has. I disagree with this statement however : "two people having a PlusNet connection does not make things more beneficial or enjoyable for both people". Surely one person gets an excellent service and the other gets money off their bill, and up to £25 bonus this summer. That has to be good for both parties involved surely? Also, the more the 'PlusNet Community' grows, the better feedback we'll get, and the better service will become for the user. I got into facebook a while ago, then got bored. Now I'm back on it and loving the apps that are now available on it. I agree that facebook isn't really based on perceived quality, but if it was pants, it wouldn't have exploded in quite the same manner as it has. I disagree with this statement however : "two people having a PlusNet connection does not make things more beneficial or enjoyable for both people". Surely one person gets an excellent service and the other gets money off their bill, and up to £25 bonus this summer. That has to be good for both parties involved surely? Also, the more the 'PlusNet Community' grows, the better feedback we'll get, and the better service will become for the user.

]]> By: MattGrest http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-701 MattGrest Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:03:59 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2007/07/09/facebook-%e2%80%93-are-you-part-of-the-phenomenon/#comment-701 >In my opinion, you’re kind of drawing comparisons where comparisons >shouldn’t be drawn. The point I was making revolves around this line: "PlusNet operates in exactly the same way in terms of customer acquisition." Community referral is how PlusNet have always acquired new customers. People think the service is good and tell people within their community. Same as Facebook. >two people having a PlusNet connection does not make things more >beneficial or enjoyable for both people" Actually it does. PlusNet fully encourages it's customer community to help and support each other. That's what this website is all about. Go and look at the forums. Customer A has an issue. Customer B, C and D offer him advice. This isn't a common theme amongst all ISPs. Matt Grest Head of Future Development PlusNet >In my opinion, you’re kind of drawing comparisons where comparisons
>shouldn’t be drawn.

The point I was making revolves around this line:

"PlusNet operates in exactly the same way in terms of customer acquisition."

Community referral is how PlusNet have always acquired new customers. People think the service is good and tell people within their community. Same as Facebook.

>two people having a PlusNet connection does not make things more
>beneficial or enjoyable for both people"

Actually it does. PlusNet fully encourages it's customer community to help and support each other. That's what this website is all about. Go and look at the forums. Customer A has an issue. Customer B, C and D offer him advice.

This isn't a common theme amongst all ISPs.

Matt Grest
Head of Future Development
PlusNet

]]>