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What's Your Social Network of Choice?

Your Go to Social Network of Choice?

  • Twitter

    Votes: 11 21.6%

  • FaceBook

    Votes: 9 17.6%

  • Instagram

    Votes: 3 5.9%

  • Google+

    Votes: 1 2.0%

  • MacRumors

    Votes: 17 33.3%

  • NONE, I just browse the web and use email.

    Votes: 10 19.6%
  • Total voters
    51
This site is probably my second site after a music forum site I am in.

Facebook is something I sign up for leading up to the months of a high school reunion, then I drop the time waste that the site is. It's so involving, and admittedly interesting, that I just stay away. I hardly have time for the friends I see in person. Between personal friends, work, MR site, and a few tv shows I am loyal to, I need the rest of time to sleep.
 
None (Unless you count YouTube which for some reason some people do)

All I do is talk to friends and such through texting and while playing games via Skype or Teamspeak 3.
 
bradl said:
Missing Option: Face to Face.

Social Network sites are really taking the 'social' out of things. When you look at it, how many times do you see a bunch of people together, all in their own world looking at Facebook, etc. etc., on their phones? Or worse, they are sitting next to eachother, and texting eachother?

In today's world of social networks, people have really forgotten how to actually open their mouths and actually talk to eachother.

I'm guilty of it too, especially back when the .com age was just getting started, and was talking to lots of people on text-based talkers, but at some point, it gets tiresome to sit down either with your phone or at your desk or laptop and hammer out what you want to say to others, because you miss that personal interaction.

Sometimes you don't have a choice, because the people you want to talk to are across the country or the other side of the world, and that's understandable. I have friends overseas too. but for those that live 3 blocks away that you have a good chance to see at least once a week?

Social networks are great, but they do take a lot out of human interaction.

BL.
Click to expand...

Spot-on, can't agree anymore than this. Social networking has pretty much degrade the amount of physical human interaction to a considerable extent, since most people these days would rather whatsapp, instagram or whatever things rather than call or meet up and chill together.

Even as I use social networks, I do not use them to the point whereby I can't do without my phone for a day.
 
bradl said:
Missing Option: Face to Face.

Social Network sites are really taking the 'social' out of things. When you look at it, how many times do you see a bunch of people together, all in their own world looking at Facebook, etc. etc., on their phones? Or worse, they are sitting next to eachother, and texting eachother?

In today's world of social networks, people have really forgotten how to actually open their mouths and actually talk to eachother.

I'm guilty of it too, especially back when the .com age was just getting started, and was talking to lots of people on text-based talkers, but at some point, it gets tiresome to sit down either with your phone or at your desk or laptop and hammer out what you want to say to others, because you miss that personal interaction.

Sometimes you don't have a choice, because the people you want to talk to are across the country or the other side of the world, and that's understandable. I have friends overseas too. but for those that live 3 blocks away that you have a good chance to see at least once a week?

Social networks are great, but they do take a lot out of human interaction.

BL.
Click to expand...

Whip out your iPhone and use Facetime! :p

This is how I look at it- Social networks let you socialize with people you might not otherwise be able to socialize with, but it shields you from those you want to maintain a minimal relationship with. It's how I used email before Facebook came along. There were relatives that I wanted to stay in touch with but did not always want to be dragged into long conversations with them.

Being involved in forum conversation is convenient and would not be practical/would not happen if not for the forum mechanics, bringing people together from around the world.

Regarding Facetime and relatives, my wife love it to talk to our grand kids, but I find it more of a chore and have to worry about picking my nose and can't even work on the computer while talking! :p And it does not add much when talking to an adult unless they are someone you are physically separated from. Then it can make a difference.
 
I wouldn't really consider Macrumors to be a social network. I resisted facebook for a long time. Now, I'm as addicted to it. Most of the posts just make me roll my eyes. Seriously, another freakin post about Batkid? Oh, you went to the gym today? etc etc
 
bradl said:
Missing Option: Face to Face.

Social Network sites are really taking the 'social' out of things. When you look at it, how many times do you see a bunch of people together, all in their own world looking at Facebook, etc. etc., on their phones? Or worse, they are sitting next to eachother, and texting eachother?

In today's world of social networks, people have really forgotten how to actually open their mouths and actually talk to eachother.

I'm guilty of it too, especially back when the .com age was just getting started, and was talking to lots of people on text-based talkers, but at some point, it gets tiresome to sit down either with your phone or at your desk or laptop and hammer out what you want to say to others, because you miss that personal interaction.

Sometimes you don't have a choice, because the people you want to talk to are across the country or the other side of the world, and that's understandable. I have friends overseas too. but for those that live 3 blocks away that you have a good chance to see at least once a week?

Social networks are great, but they do take a lot out of human interaction.

BL.
Click to expand...

Great post, and thank you for taking the time and trouble to write it.

I think that you are absolutely right - that is, the inevitable qualifying statement - you are absolutely right to a very large extent, allowing for the reality of life as lived now in the more advanced parts of the world. Sometimes you don't have a choice; you live or work abroad, or those you wish to stay in touch with, do, and, in those circumstances, social media is not just a luxury but an absolute godsend and utter necessity.

Don't get me wrong. Some social networks are great, and the internet, to current affairs fanatics - and specialists - such as myself, is an absolute treasure trove. Moreover, I have met people, whose online company I hugely appreciate and value, and encountered opinions and attitudes, and learned stuff that I would never have tripped over, had I not stumbled across sites such as MR.

However, however, however; boundaries are never set until the need to do so is recognised, expressed, articulated and ultimately, acted upon, and boundaries - both personal and professional - do need to be set with every form of communication that one uses. When I first acquired a mobile phone over a decade ago (and I was a late adopter), I set myself the rule that I would own it, rather than have it own me.

To a large extent, I have succeeded in that, especially in my social life. In my current job, (and indeed, when I am at home), I often (not always, alas) leave my home at home, or in my room, when I go out to meet friends in a pub, or coffee shop, or, sometimes, simply switch it off for the duration of a social gathering, or meeting, or conversation. Often, I do not answer it when it rings, if I am already with someone, even, nay, especially, socially.

This is because a chat, over a coffee, or a glass (or bottle) of wine or beer, a face to face exchange of conversation, stories, experiences and laughter, remains, still, a far more rewarding, and rich, and enjoyable experience - especially with those with whom one has established a good rapport, or comradeship, or friendship, - than interacting via social media. Sitting down with friends, over a shared cup, or glass of something, grinning at one another, phones stowed away (and silenced), and setting out upon an evening of shared convivial conversation is one of life's great pleasures.

Also, with the passage of time, an etiquette of modern communication can (eventually) develop, or evolve. Colleagues have observed that some of us (and I would also be guilty of this) are increasingly developing the habits we used to have with landlines with out mobiles (aka cell phones); if we are busy, otherwise engaged, occupied, or distracted, we simply let the wretched things ring out. If the call is urgent enough, it is returned, in due course.

Likewise, emails. I have taught myself that unless the matter under discussion really does require an immediate reaction, well, then, it can await a more considered response. Many matters will die a cheerful unattended death if left alone (and unanswered); a shriek from the ether may remind one that some matters do require a response, but, for the most part, many will wither away of their own accord.
 
Other than a few forums that I use to gain or give knowledge, the only social networking I do is face to face with friends, family, and people I meet in person. Proud to be an old schooler when it comes to interacting with other humans.
 
Google + here. Have the widget on my Android phone and tablet so it makes it easy to follow things.

No, it's not evil...but FaceBook is!:eek::p

Mr. McMac said:
Other than a few forums that I use to gain or give knowledge, the only social networking I do is face to face with friends, family, and people I meet in person. Proud to be an old schooler when it comes to interacting with other humans.
Click to expand...

Yea, social networking really makes you anti-social...you never face to face in person. In short, social networking is pretty darn boring after a while.
 
Twitter. It's a quick way for me to post my thoughts, and the occasional rant about things that happen. It's always opened when I only have a couple minutes of spare time and I want to know what's going on in the the world, in the news, about technology, etc.
 
I use Twitter, but I don't tweet that often...ironic, I know. :p

Never really considered Google +, as no one I know uses it.
 
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