Facebook

[Peter_uk_can]

Love it or hate it, Facebook is getting difficult to ignore.

For myself, I am not a fan, but then I don't like parsnips either so we all have personal likes and dislikes.

Sharon (Mrs me) dabbled with it about a year ago but found it annoying and intrusive, it seemed to be a meeting place for ple wh txt evthing, and post photos that are devoid of any photographic, arsistic or spelling skills.

So.. onto the plot. Sharon opened it up again last week and spent some time coming to grips with the 3 million and 7 things that it seems to want you to do.

Short version, since Saturday, that is just two days ago, she has connected with 5 new cousins, received some 20 new (old) family photos, including one of her Mum and Dad that she had not seen herself and generated more interest in our family website than we have ever seen before.

One cousin has set up a "Chaboyer Genealogy Album" within Facebook, and sent invites to 20+ family members.

Certainly Facebook is not a replacement for Forums such as this, or websites like the one we run, but it does appear to be a way to reach people that we were unable to reach before.

Times change and people change, the young squinty eyed, tongue studded, green haired, teenager of today will probably grow up, just like I did, and perhaps open up that dusty old box of papers and photos that his Mom gave him years ago and maybe even join BG Forums, but minus the green hair of course.

So what are the forum members views about Facebook ? for me it is now another tool in the genealogy tool chest.


...

[SBSFamilyhistory]

It certainly appears, from your experience to help with finding information about living relatives. I have not thought ofr using face book for that, but may do so..that's if I can remember my password...

[v.wells]

I have seriously considered it and I thought as you, that it was mostly a meeting place for weirdos (although some might say I fall into that category), but I wouldn't know how to get started. Do you just title it like your web page? and hope that someone might look at it? And how do Brits access it as I don't think they have facebook there.:confused:

[Peter_uk_can]

Hi Vanessa. Facebook is world wide.

It is horrendously complex, but if you set aside an hour or so, remove all heavy objects that you could hurl through the monitor, age and treachery as we know will overcome anything.

P.S.... I don;t really know how it works, it is Sharon's domain, but I do enjoy some of the rewards.

[susan-y]

I have had a couple of 2nd or 3rd cousins in England "invite" me to join and be their friend.. seems they use it more than other genealogy sites now. So far, I haven't. Only one who has used it in our house was our youngest when he was home and I always considered it to be a "young people's" thing but more and more older people are joining in. Maybe it would be a good winter project?

Sue

[Peter_uk_can]

Maybe it would be a good winter project?

Sue

Winter project !!! I have so many "Winter Projects" i would need another ice age to get through them.. |laugh1|

[vic1]

I use it a lot to keep in touch with family - who i don't ring cos they work shifts and other reasons and i have literally just come off my second cousin site and she has cousins on there with the name i am tracing how she knows them i have no idea because its her Mum who gave me a lot of the info. the thing is you can choose what you want to use you don't have to have to use all the applications thrown at you. i mainly go on this site facebook freecycle and another genealogical site and occ on the reunited ones which seem to tell me stuff i don't need such as umpteen hot matches that aren't. the other thing about face book uis you can lock your profile so only friends you have given access to can get on. Think its a case of what floats your boat. i don't ever use chat rooms - i don't like them .

[v.wells]

Winter project !!! I have so many "Winter Projects" i would need another ice age to get through them.. |laugh1|

I can associate with the upcoming winter projects! It's reno time again :D

I will ask my son to look into creating a page since he already has one. He is in contact with former co-workers who are now all over the world. I don't like chat rooms but will look at how it works, anyway.

It is a good idea if only to possibly connect to relatives I am trying to find since it appears that they don't know that we even exist!

[salcat]

I've never been on facebook, but my husband and kids do. Anyway, as ours is quite an unusual name he had a message the other day from a 2nd cousin who said are you related to X? and we are, and we've found a whole chunk of the (close) family who had fallen out with my father in law years ago. (His brother's family) |woohoo|

Now all I have to do it print out some family trees for them.....

regs

Sally

[Peter_uk_can]

I think Salcat makes a very valid point about families drifting apart because of falling outs.

Our very very recent excursion into Facebook has brought up cousins who knew that "x" had not spoken to "y" for years because "z" had run off with "x's" wife,, and so on and so on.

I love a quote that came to us just this morning. Teenage son had crawled out of bed at 11:30am and was on facebook by 11:32.


"Hey Mam ! tha oughta see t' sh*t they 'ave on fowks wi' mi' dads name"

which I believe translates to.

"Good morning Mother, you may be interested to read some of the conjecture and genealogically assembled information that abounds on the internet and appears to relate directly to my father's family name"

.

.

[arthurk]

Just a word of caution - over here there are TV programmes every couple of months or so on ID theft, and they consistently warn of the dangers of sharing personal information on Facebook and similar sites. As I haven't used such places myself (but it sounds like quite a good idea), I don't know how this would relate to using them for family history. All I'm saying is, be careful, and don't publish things that could be used to impersonate you.

Arthur

[Geoffers]

Facebook is getting difficult to ignore.

Nope, it's very easy to ignore.

Never looked at it, never wanted to, never will.

[Peter_uk_can]

What wise words Arthur.

That is why I never post any photographs of myself that could be recognised, hence the full face helmet...

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/phlawford/TrueCanadian1a.jpg

[Lesley Robertson]

Just a word of caution - over here there are TV programmes every couple of months or so on ID theft, and they consistently warn of the dangers of sharing personal information on Facebook and similar sites. As I haven't used such places myself (but it sounds like quite a good idea), I don't know how this would relate to using them for family history. All I'm saying is, be careful, and don't publish things that could be used to impersonate you.

Arthur


Yup. I joined Facebook because my amateur theatre group has a couple of groups there and I wanted to upload some pics, and dowload others. I gave them pretty much no info about myself, and used a throwawy Hotmail address just in case. I can't say it's been very exciting, although it's nice to see the photos of friends' kids.
HOWEVER, some folk must be taking advantage as I've been invited to be "friends" with a couple of strangers (for those who don't use the thing, agreeing that someone is a friend lets them see a lot of what Facebook knows about you (eg if you post that you're looking forward to 2 weeks in the sun, everyone on your "friends" list sees it)). When I checked to see who these strangers were, they both turned out to be Tory Council members in places I've never been! Obviously think they have a good wheeze for getting new contacts and looking modern.... I got contacted via Facebook for both sides in the US election as well.....

If you DO use it, be sensible about what you put there, it's not as private as it seems, and be very sure that people are who they say they are.....

Lesley

[susan-y]

[QUOTE=Peter_uk_can;220133]What wise words Arthur.

That is why I never post any photographs of myself that could be recognised, hence the full face helmet...}

Well Peter....
.
Typical Canadian winter scene..........|laugh1|

Guess Bo can change your little info line to " Cross-dresser, extraordinaire."

|laugh1|

Sue

[Ladkyis]

I would advise that you don't go to facebook without full body armour on your puter because there are all sorts of nasty little uninvited things that your puter can catch. AND the amount of information they ask for is just too much, in my opinion. I don't care what age you are if they need your birthdate and gender just to let you leave a message for someone then they can forget it. I can't remember what else it asked me, I only went there because it was the only way to contact a cousin who is in his second childhood. I think it is one of the most user unfriendly sites I have ever been to and it panders to youth - I have been waiting all my life to be old enough to take advantage of things and now it seems I am too old.
As a post war baby boomer I demand my rights, I belong to the biggest generation on this planet and yet I am expected to give way in all things to the young!
Well I don't want to! I want to finally get the chance to be in charge and not have to defer to my elders or do it for the children!
Make them wait I say! make them get in line behind me and let me have some fun for a change. I have saved up for this why should they get it on credit?.....
Ooops, sorry I seem to have hijacked your thread. (I mean what I say though)
~picks up soapbox and marches off, looking for children to growl at~

[Peter_uk_can]

Make them wait I say! make them get in line behind me and let me have some fun for a change. I have saved up for this why should they get it on credit?.....
Ooops, sorry I seem to have hijacked your thread. (I mean what I say though)
~picks up soapbox and marches off, looking for children to growl at~

any childcatchers in your ancestry ? :)

[Margarets60]

My daughter got me onto Face book and now I am hooked! She did advise me to access the privacy settings so that my details are only available to the people that I have chosen. Its great fun! My 84 year old father is putting lots of old family photographs onto his profile and is enjoying being able to "Chat" to his grandchildren. I could have done with a lesson on text abbreviations though! I thought that "lol" meant "lots of love" and used it accordingly. I was a bit concerned when I found out that it means: "Laugh out loud" and had to apologise to anyone that I might have offended!|blush|

[vic1]

i regularly use face book i am very careful about what i open on there. have no photos and very little info . i have also never been infected of there with a virus . i have several times off friends reunited though. rule of thumb if you don't recognise the name ignore it.

[Summer]

My daughter got me onto Face book and now I am hooked! She did advise me to access the privacy settings so that my details are only available to the people that I have chosen. Its great fun! My 84 year old father is putting lots of old family photographs onto his profile and is enjoying being able to "Chat" to his grandchildren.

I too have had positive experiences with Facebook as I have family and friends in Ireland, America and parts of Australia that aren't easy for me to get to! As Margaret said, I've been using it as a one-stop-shop to keep in contact and have chatted with friends and family, been sharing pics/vids, and even catching up with old school buddies I haven't "seen" for years. For me it's especially helpful to keep overseas family up to date with my son (including his grandies and a whole tribe of uncles and aunties). He has just turned 2, and without facebook I would find it a lot harder to show his progress and it helps the family feel "part of" him growing up |grouphug|. Of course they are, but I mean more visually.

I found it easy to set up, but then again I'm one of these "young ones" (albeit not as young as I used to be :) ) and I used a tool that sends a bulk email to your personal email contacts (all, or only the ones you select) to get the ball rolling. When people are friends with someone, they can see who that someone is friends with by name/profile picture only, and that is how alot of people connect. Degrees of separation.

I haven't had any virus experiences the only negative thing has been the annoying "requests" that you get from "friends" who want you join groups, which I equate to being up there with chain letters and spam. I just ignore them all. I am only "friends" with people I know (you can see their pages before you accept their friend invitation to verify) and I only allow "friends" to see my pics. So if you're not my friend you can't see my info, although I imagine for hackers etc there are ways around that, but I haven't experienced anything bad yet and have been on it for a couple of years now. I don't really view it as anything but a bit of fun, nothing too serious. I hadn't thought of using it for genealogical purposes, but that's a good idea for getting/keeping in contact with family tree subjects!

[Dorset Girl]

So far I haven't found any new "family" from Facebook - I was totally against it in the first place but my son sent a request for me to join and it keeps me up to date with some of his friends "events" in their lives, plus a nephew and niece who post their photos up - and when one of them occasionally works in Mauritania it is interesting to see the conditions he works under at times - and life in general - I had never seen a "44 gallon drum hut" before!
The privacy settings I have are at the top so that only those I allow can see me - I very rarely put on information but I must admit when friends and relatives are as scattered as we are it is a way of keeping in touch.
Like others I thought it was a young person's "thing" - so I just assume it puts me in the same bracket and removes about 30 years off the advancing age!!
Marion the younger.|laugh1|

[tommy166]

I joined up last year after "bullying" from friends! Although they ask for a lot of personal details when you register, once you are in, you can set your privacy settings to restrict access to them.

I have not found any unknown relations on there, but several cousins subscribe and we have used it to share photos as well as being able to keep up with each other's lives.

There certainly is large amounts of rubbish floating about on there, and some people seem happy to pass such on willy-nilly, but generally it's a bit of fun and a good way to keep in contact with people that you might not be able to else.

Tom

[Astoria]

Facebook
Bebo
MSN
and many other sites, I am sure -

I know that on this forum we are all adults of a certain age, sensible, intelligent blah, blah, blah.

A WARNING from personal experience, please do not allow your children or grandchildren to use these sites/chatrooms without your knowledge and supervision.

Nasty young people use these sites as a form of bullying.

Nasty old people as a means of grooming.

These sites are not moderated, we post a phone number or email here on BG and it is 'scrambled' or removed very quickly - thanks to our Super Mods.

Children, post all sorts of information about themselves, birth dates, mobile numbers etc. Not realising that it is not just their friends who can make contact.

Complaints to the sites - and yes we have tried - fall on deaf ears.

They are all money making organisations at the end of the day, through pop ups and advertising.

Please be very cautious |hug|

[Jan1954]

Excellent advice, Astoria.

I must admit that I have never been inclined to use such a site. I have had a couple of invitations from "friends" to join but have never accepted.

Also, as I have not the foggiest idea as to what I am doing on a computer half of the time, registering on strange websites is not very high on my list of priorities.

I would probably blow the thing up, anyway... http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee187/Jan_07/thSmiley7.gif

[Barnzzz]

|5cups|Aaargh, just been visiting friends who said for various reasons we should join facebook and so I did. I was rubbish and I can't work it. However, I'm confidant I will get there in the end, when I've got more than 1 friend ...........

[Peter_uk_can]

Well it has been a few weeks since we took "one great step". Facebook is Sharon's domain, I prefer to study much simpler things such as why if you divide quarks by two, is there always 1 quark left over and just how many quantums in a solace ?

A Family Group has been created and it has been joined by some 35 people who are linked to the Chaboyer family. Old family photos have appeared and some have been identified, we have gained previously unknown details of Sharon's grandfather. It has also sparked the interest in some of the younger generations, who will tell their "frnds ho kl it all is" or something along those lines.

The clever bit seems to be blocking the dross and ignoring the garbage, but then I suppose a visit to the archives places one in close proximity to things and people who would not be our prefered choice.

All in all, it works for us.

Now I must go look up the definition of a "Dictatorship"... |nutkick| (off topic)

[busyglen]

I'd never even heard of Facebook until I read these posts! :o However, I had a message from my brother, who contacted me via a laptop, to advise me that his computer is completely defunct! His son (in his twenties) had been on Facebook on my brother's computer and it had picked up a nasty virus, which had effectively `burnt it out' (to use his words). So, although I don't really know what I am talking about, I would advise others to be careful.

Glenys

[Neil Wilson]

I'd never even heard of Facebook until I read these posts! :o However, I had a message from my brother, who contacted me via a laptop, to advise me that his computer is completely defunct! His son (in his twenties) had been on Facebook on my brother's computer and it had picked up a nasty virus, which had effectively `burnt it out' (to use his words). So, although I don't really know what I am talking about, I would advise others to be careful.

Glenys
Interesting Glenys, a colleague at work had to use a recovery disc on her's and she is a facebook addict|computer| Will have to pass this on.

[Peter_uk_can]

Not good news Glenys. But that is why we have Anti-Virus programs.

A bit like insurance, no use buying it the day after the family farm burns down.

We have had no virus alerts from facebook, but then we are not visiting here there and all and sundry.

I do believe however that we are what we surf.....

[v.wells]

Now I must go look up the definition of a "Dictatorship"... |nutkick| (off topic)

Isn't that "Protectionism"?:D

[busyglen]

I agree Peter! I am very aware of what I use and have no desire to visit `dodgy' areas.
I certainly keep my protection up-to-date.

My brother is a business man, and is usually quite hot on Anti-virus etc. quite often warning me of problems. It's the first time (to my knowledge) that he's ever had any problems before.

Glenys

[Peter_uk_can]

Isn't that "Protectionism"?:D


Another term for "antidemocracy"

Apologies to those who may not have a clue what we are talking about.

There I go, sounding like a politician again.

[v.wells]

Another term for "antidemocracy"

Apologies to those who may not have a clue what we are talking about.

There I go, sounding like a politician again.

Which all equal the "T" word |scold|

[Barnzzz]

I've been on Facebook almost a week so far. At first I couldn't work it, probably due to me being over 40. Now I'm getting the hang of it. I've even managed to send a message to my son telling him to behave. No doubt I've caused embarassment to him and me, all over the Interweb |oopsredfa

Sue

[Penny Gallo]

I've been on Facebook since I got my first laptop in March 2008. It was one of the reasons I bought the laptop, as my illness cut me off from real life and Facebook has enabled me to keep in touch with so many people. I also joined a Cancer Support Group online, but as that is sometimes "down", we also started using Facebook between us, especially as we could share photos.

I have my own FB group, "I Love Vintage Clothes", and I as soi-disant "Chief Bunter" (bunter is 18th term for rag-picker) vet people so I don't get dozens of weirdos (have turned away some very odd-looking men with no friends!!!). It's my online museum for my costume collection, although I've neglected it since I joined Brit-Gen.

I do accept Hatching Eggs as I find their graphics fascinating, but just ignore all the other ridiculous "Applications" as they demand to be able to see your photos and details. No thank you. We also use it as a handy campaign tool for local issues, eg at the moment fighting the closure of a swimming baths.

Like everything else, it's a tool, and it can be useful but you can also hit your thumb if you're not paying attention....

[Summer]

Like everything else, it's a tool, and it can be useful but you can also hit your thumb if you're not paying attention....

Well said Penny! Hits the nail on the head! (SORRY!!!! :) )

[Penny Gallo]

I've just loaded my first photo onto Photobucket so I could post it onto a thread here - and lo and behold I got the flashing "3 people in Sheffield HATE you", which you can also get on Facebook. I can't imagine who the heck would want to click on anything like this - but it does illustrate that all these preposterous "Applications" pop up even in the course of using respectable sites like Brit Gen!!!

Mind you, after successfully getting my image on here, it now keeps trying to download every time I try to insert a smiley - which shows even Photobucket isn't safe in the wrong (mine. ie) hands!!!|computer|

[v.wells]

I've just loaded my first photo onto Photobucket so I could post it onto a thread here - and lo and behold I got the flashing "3 people in Sheffield HATE you", which you can also get on Facebook. I can't imagine who the heck would want to click on anything like this - but it does illustrate that all these preposterous "Applications" pop up even in the course of using respectable sites like Brit Gen!!!

Mind you, after successfully getting my image on here, it now keeps trying to download every time I try to insert a smiley - which shows even Photobucket isn't safe in the wrong (mine. ie) hands!!!|computer|

Why would any respectable site allow ads like that? I know it's money at any cost but what happened to ethics?

[Penny Gallo]

And now, apparently, I've won a car on Photobucket. As my one and only driving lesson ended up with my Mum's car, my father and myself embedded in the front window of someone's house (my father intended to save the cost of driving lessons), that should be fun....... They must think we're all daft!

[Neil Wilson]

And now, apparently, I've won a car on Photobucket. As my one and only driving lesson ended up with my Mum's car, my father and myself embedded in the front window of someone's house (my father intended to save the cost of driving lessons), that should be fun....... They must think we're all daft!
I did win a laptop once, still waiting for it to arrive.

There seems to be a lot of cars driving into houses Penny, so it might not have been your fault. People shouldn't build houses where cars want to go :D

[Penny Gallo]

I did win a laptop once, still waiting for it to arrive.

There seems to be a lot of cars driving into houses Penny, so it might not have been your fault. People shouldn't build houses where cars want to go :D

Well, Neil, they did put up traffic lights there afterwards! My Mum took one look at me when we got home (the car going g'doyng-g'doyng about 10 mph all the way), and demanded, "What's he done to you?" Then she went outside, saw her car and burst into tears..... http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-sad-smileys-331.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Sad-Smileys/)

The best bit was when the police came round, wanting to prosecute me for dangerous driving and my father for "aiding and abetting". Boy, was he mad! My brother, the following year, got paid driving lessons.....

[NickM]

What wise words Arthur.

That is why I never post any photographs of myself that could be recognised, hence the full face helmet...

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/phlawford/TrueCanadian1a.jpg

What's the point of a photo site where everyone hides their faces ?

I've managed to avoid Facebook for quite some time now, and I'm sure I'll have no trouble continuing. GenesReunited is effective enough for me to make family contacts.

[Wilkes_ml]

I was on Facebook for a while, and used it to "chat" with my close family, instead of using the phone! However, although I thought I had the higher privacy settings, I did start to receive random messages from complete strangers that were not particularly nice. In fact they could have been perceived to be abusive. I also was getting requests from complete strangers to be friends! So I promptly terminated my account!

[v.wells]

Facebook is now spreading a virus and hacking is going on. I didn't open a facebook page and have no intention now of doing so. I have also warned my son so he is off to get the Alpha Shield box that shuts off the internet and blocks all attempts at hacking into his laptop. We do have solid and very trusted anti virus software but I guess the laptop is particularly vulnerable as they are more wireless and people steal the signals.

[busyglen]

As I mentioned before, my brother had what he thought was good protection, but obviously not, as his pc was totally wrecked. I steer clear of most of these sort of sites as much as I can, and keep my fingers well and truly crossed! It does make for difficult typing though. ;)

Glenys

[ash33au]

I use Facebook often and have never had a problem with it, other than it being slow. Most of my close family and friends are members as well as work associates and the like so I find it a good place to keep in touch with people I know. What I have done though, is to activate all of the privacy settings so that only my friends can access any of my photo's or other goodies.

If anyone would like to become a friend on there with me, feel free to ask me for my details.

[NickM]

I think the phrase "Choose your friends wisely" springs to mind :)

[v.wells]

Very WISE to do so!

I have a relative that I cannot give access to my genealogy website as there are living people on it and I can't trust this person and the children to respect the privacy of the site! - which is sad but true.

[Astoria]

As I was driving home from work I heard a warning on the radio about a face book scam, you will have to google the details.

From what I can gather it comes as a message from a friend, hangs around until you buy something, and then can use your card details.

Not very well explained I am sure, but please do be careful.

[Peter_uk_can]

You are right Astoria. It is out there, and if one does all the wrongs things then it may mean trouble.

Our excursion into facebook has produced 51 living cousins. Tidied up 3 deceased, explained to 8 people how they are related and produced 12 new (old) photographs.

It has put more detail into 2 family legends and lead us to 3 previously unkown geographical locations. 6 family knicknames have been translated into their birth names.

We have learn't how the thing works (I still don't like it, but means to end and all that) and all attachments via Facebook are ignored.

[ash33au]

I've now got around 60 relatives on my Facebook friends list and that's growing every day. I've managed to catch up with old school friends from other parts of the country including finding someone who has a class photo from 1985 with me in it.

I also did a search on people with the Kubale surname and managed to meet some long lost relations through Facebook that I would otherwise never have found elsewhere.

[Peter_uk_can]

Well Love it or Hate it, personally I fall between the two, I can't deny that it has been responsible for making many present day families aware of each other's existance. It has also inspired some interest among the younger ones who now have what they term as "bragging rights" because they know who their 5x's grandfather was. Some of them barely knew about their own parents let alone any one else.

Photos have appeared from lost forgotten boxes and ancestors named.

No major problems with internet security, viruses (viri is not the plural of virus) increased spam, no one has cloned my credit card or stolen by identity.

Although maxing out the credit cards and making it public that one is an insane, alcoholic with weird perversions does make identity theft less likely.

So after several months and spawning Facebook groups for other families it has to be judged a success.

Have to go........ someone else wants to be "my friend"...... byee...

:cool: