Tonight, we watched The Campaign. If you haven't seen it, and don't care to, here's a brief plot summary: two politicians from the same town are competing for Congress. One is being backed by billionaires, the other has never been competed against and is running for his fifth consecutive term. They both play dirty, they both lie. On the day one finally speaks honestly, he loses the election; the other secedes the position, and the honest guy wins by default.
Simple put, honesty paid off.
However, this was honesty on the back of lies and deceit. This got me thinking, if he had been honest from the beginning, would things have gone the same way for him? Would be have won if he had never lied during his campaign?
It then made me think, how would my life be different if I was completely honest with people all the time? It would mean spilling the beans on things I prefer not to talk about. It would also mean telling people what I think of them if they ask. That, I think, might cause more problems than not having personal secrets.
That is not to say that my opinions of people are bad. Rather, it means that people might behave differently around me, or no longer wish to be around me at all (either because I've insulted them, or they're not comfortable with what I think about them.) Whether it's flattery or insult, a lot of people don't like to know what people actually think about them.
I can understand that. On the days when I'm especially self-conscious, knowing what people think of me is one of the last things that appeals to me. It's not constitutive to a health relationship with someone with whom total honesty is not a fundamental aspect of being together. Friends don't have to know everything about each other, and especially not their opinions of each other. (Again, for either flattery or insult.)
For me, I even recognise that my opinions of people could easily be wrong. Having to tell people what I think of them - in the moment - isn't necessarily the truth as I see it. As the spectrum of human emotion can determine what we recognise as the truth, the latter might not always be the reality of the matter.
What's worse is that there could come massive generalisations. Thinking someone is annoying is often as a direct result of something that they do when they're around you. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that that's how they always are, and it is entirely constitutive on what you might consider annoying at any given period in time. (And I get this entirely from other people's perspectives, too. I'm fairly sure that a lot of what I do might be considered annoying. That would, rationally, explain difficulties with bullies in secondary school; what they consider annoying is enough for them, but for me - and for other people - it's not necessarily an annoying habit or action.)
With all of this in mind, then, how should be treat our lives? Social media has put an increasing stress on honesty, with some perverted idea of safety in being behind a screen. The reality is that this encourages people to express opinions - generally or about people - believing that they're free from consequences. This includes status updates and tweets that talk about disliking a particular type of person, when referring to someone one actually knows.
You've seen those ones, right? They're usually aimed at ex-es.
What about the bigotry that spouts from people's Facebook pages, in some foolish belief that they can never be found out about it if they keep their Facebook account private? The truth is, of course, that nothing on the Internet is private anymore.
Everything we post or upload or share is public. Everything. The lovely and insightful Rebecca Woodhead could tell you more about this, but the essence of it is this: everything can be accessed by The British Library. This means that when you think no one can find out that you've been spreading hate messages or talking about your sex life online, anyone can see it at some point, even if you don't want them to. Sure, it might not become public knowledge until after you're gone, but is that the mark you want to leave on the world?
And what about the simple process of page-printing? Let's face it, if you post something unflattering online, anyone can make sure it exists forever, no matter what you do with your account. All it takes is for one person to save it, and you can no longer remove it. This means every time you've said something negative about Muslims or women or homosexuals or people from a different town or country, you're allowing your words to be used against you. If means that every time you post a photo online that doesn't put you in the best light, you're allowing your image to be used against you. It's not just celebrities who are the objects of scandal; they're just the only ones we ever hear about.
You might think it unfair, but that's the truth. And while someone might excuse something you said as a sixteen year old, once you're legally an adult, you more or less lose permission to say anything stupid and offensive online without suffering the consequences.
Does honesty pay? I think it depends entirely on what you're being honest about. Opinions on people - people you know or people you don't - are probably best kept a secret. But those secrets you've been keeping on yourself? It's up to you how honest you want to be, so long as you're aware of the backlash that might occur. Remember, once something is seen once, it can be seen a million times.
Showing posts with label facebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label facebook. Show all posts
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
You Will Be Assimilated
Since the rise of Google+, I've been growing increasingly suspicious of Facebook. When it was no longer the only option available for a site of its kind that actually worked well and was popular enough to talk to people on it, it became possible to see past its ugly facade.
People wonder how it makes money. Or, they used to. I think at this point, it's glaringly obvious by their less-than-subtle advertisements posted everywhere, taking up half a screen on a mobile device before you scroll away. But the advertising space is pointless without the actual product of Facebook: us. You might have seen the image going around of the pigs who love their sheltered home and their free food, making it clear: when you're not paying for a product, you are the product.
Facebook has, since entering the stock market, gone through a number of changes. Specifically, I've noticed over the past month or so, it's seeking to get to know its users a little better. Have you seen the new "how your feeling" aspect of status updates? How about films and books popping up with the question to add them to your lists?
Effectively, this is adding to the information Facebook has to point ads more directly at us. The feelings less so, less obviously at least. But the books? The films? The music? It creates a database of what you like that isn't a like page. It allows Facebook to figure out what sort of person you are, what you might like, and with that information they point advertisements at you in the hopes that you click on them. You click, they get paid, they win. You've just been sold to an advertiser.
Between the feelings and the lists, it's clear what's happening: Facebook are becoming the Borg, and we will be assimilated.
(Now that this has degenerated into nerd humour, I think we should finish here... Beware of Facebook!)
Saturday, April 13, 2013
How Can People Know Me?
My post on calling oneself an "aspiring author" received some positive feedback, which got me onto thinking: when an author drops the "aspiring", how do they get everyone else to look at them as an author, to know about them as an author? From experience, I know it's difficult to get noticed, even just to get people to see you as an author.
Thankfully, there are some options out there.
For me, telling someone who would care was an important step. This meant teachers. I think I only ever mentioned it to two of them, both English teachers, and word must have gotten around that I'd written a book. When I was in fifth year, a teacher I didn't have mentioned - to his class, of people in my year - that I had written a book. Suddenly, I was that guy.
That was before Twitter. It was before Facebook Pages. It was before Google+. I think it was even before I started blogging (if I remember when word got around, correctly.)
Now, things are simpler. What can you do to make yourself known as an author?
1. Set up a Twitter account. In your bio, make sure to mention that you are an author/writer. This worked for me in the early days of Twitter to get followers, because people like following users who are like them. I was a young writer, received a lot of encouragement for that fact, and it was impossible to deny that I was a writer. Follow other writers - and not just the famous ones - and get talking to them.
2. Set up a Facebook Page. This will be one of the easiest places for people to express a 'Liking' for you, if you'll excuse the pun. Having 'Likes' demonstrates your AUTHORity, to yourself and others. Invite your friends and family, and be sure to have a link to your Facebook Page somewhere people can see it.
3. Set up a Google+ Account. You can link this to your other Google accounts. Google+ makes it easy to be shared in others' Circles, and Hangouts allow you to talk directly to other writers.
4. Set up a Blog or Website. From here, you can provide valuable information about yourself and your writing, provide free stories and poetry, and keep people up to date with what's happening in your life. I use my blog, largely, to write about my personal life, though sometimes with posts like this that explore writing. My website has articles that have been researched to provide more informative posts, without so much of an insight into my personal life. It also contains stories and poetry, which help diversify what I share. My Friday Flash stories go up here.
If you publish something, or you want to, the next obvious step is:
5. Set up an Author Central Account, if you use Amazon's KDP. This will be where your books will be linked from, and where Amazon users can find out more about you. You can provide a video (the trailer for Balor Reborn in my case, as of writing this), set up a forum, write your bio, and add an author photo. It helps to use the same photo across a number of different sites.
You also have an optional couple of steps, depending on the sort of person you are:
6. Set up a LinkedIn Account. This is more of a "professional" social network, for connecting with people. The idea is to connect with people you know, and help others find people they might need to connect with for career or work opportunities. You should ensure to fill in your Skills, previous work experience, education, and other useful information that LinkedIn provides space for, as these not only allow people to find you, they help create a CV for you online. You can also be endorsed for Skills, and should endorse co-workers, teachers, clients and those you have hired (such as a graphic designer for your cover) in the appropriate areas.
7. Set up a YouTube Channel. If you can talk to a camera or make videos in some other way, and find it interesting and enjoyable, you have the opportunity to reach more people. You could keep a video blog, read poetry or short stories, upload book trailers, or create informative videos (as some examples). This can be linked to your Google+ and Blogger accounts, and provide links to your other Social Networking sites.
While there is no guarantee that any site will make you known as an author, it will help establish your author identity online. Getting involved in forums is also of benefit to you as a writer so long as you keep up with your writing, and make sure people know you are a writer (by having a link to your website in your signature, for example).
When it comes to "real life" (i.e. anything not online), you have the option of trying for events in a book shop, if you've published something and the shop will stock it (and remember, a shop does not have to stock your book just because it's been published), reading at public events, setting up a reading night (which works well for poetry), or seeking publication in magazines and/or newspapers for articles, poetry or short stories.
It's always beneficial to you as a writer to identify as one. If you don't, no one else will see you in that way. That's counter-productive to everything you could do to get your name out there.
But what about getting recognised? Follow this simple advice, and you'll be on your way:
1. Post often. People need to remember who you are.
2. Post something worth reading. If people enjoy it (for its entertainment value or its educational value), then they'll be more likely to (a) come back and (b) share it.
3. Interact with others. This can be difficult to do, especially if you're a busy person (as I tend to be while lectures are on in college), you should make sure to do a couple of things: respond to comments from others, set up something like Paper.li to share others' links, and make an effort to check in on sites at least once per week.
If you want, you can also:
4. Set up a newsletter on your website. This means you can have direct access to people's email addresses. You do have to write it, though, and having something to say could be difficult. Right now, I don't use mine as much as I should.
5. Set up auto-tweets if you can always sign in. Be careful about this, though. Many people don't like to see auto-tweets coming in all the time, because they don't get to know the person. I've tested them while I was in work one weekend, sharing quotes from authors about writing and life. The important thing is to check in when you're actually around to talk to people, and remember #3: respond to people's replies. I know I received a couple, because the quotes were amazing. You don't have to tweet quotes, but links aren't favourable. Try poetry or (very) short stories, instead, if you want to provide something interesting for people while you're away. (Social Oomph is useful and free for setting up auto-tweets.)
If/when you become a published author - either by having a book published by someone else, or by publishing yourself - make sure people know where to get it. However, don't saturate social media with links to your book. It's always beneficial to write free material in the same area you publish in, too, if you're trying to get others to notice your book, and to use promotions on whichever site you're using to publish.
In every case - every social network - you should have a bio that tells people who you are. Be informative, semi-formal, but aim to be funny or quirky, too. People like something that will make them smile. It's more difficult to do that on Twitter, but with other sites you have more space to talk about yourself and your writing.
Remember: get to know other writers, other readers, and demonstrate a real interest in what people have to say. Let them know who you are, what you're up to, and what you're feeling, and be consistent about it. Respect the people you connect with online. And never forget to show that you're a writer.
Thankfully, there are some options out there.
For me, telling someone who would care was an important step. This meant teachers. I think I only ever mentioned it to two of them, both English teachers, and word must have gotten around that I'd written a book. When I was in fifth year, a teacher I didn't have mentioned - to his class, of people in my year - that I had written a book. Suddenly, I was that guy.
That was before Twitter. It was before Facebook Pages. It was before Google+. I think it was even before I started blogging (if I remember when word got around, correctly.)
Now, things are simpler. What can you do to make yourself known as an author?
1. Set up a Twitter account. In your bio, make sure to mention that you are an author/writer. This worked for me in the early days of Twitter to get followers, because people like following users who are like them. I was a young writer, received a lot of encouragement for that fact, and it was impossible to deny that I was a writer. Follow other writers - and not just the famous ones - and get talking to them.
2. Set up a Facebook Page. This will be one of the easiest places for people to express a 'Liking' for you, if you'll excuse the pun. Having 'Likes' demonstrates your AUTHORity, to yourself and others. Invite your friends and family, and be sure to have a link to your Facebook Page somewhere people can see it.
3. Set up a Google+ Account. You can link this to your other Google accounts. Google+ makes it easy to be shared in others' Circles, and Hangouts allow you to talk directly to other writers.
4. Set up a Blog or Website. From here, you can provide valuable information about yourself and your writing, provide free stories and poetry, and keep people up to date with what's happening in your life. I use my blog, largely, to write about my personal life, though sometimes with posts like this that explore writing. My website has articles that have been researched to provide more informative posts, without so much of an insight into my personal life. It also contains stories and poetry, which help diversify what I share. My Friday Flash stories go up here.
If you publish something, or you want to, the next obvious step is:
5. Set up an Author Central Account, if you use Amazon's KDP. This will be where your books will be linked from, and where Amazon users can find out more about you. You can provide a video (the trailer for Balor Reborn in my case, as of writing this), set up a forum, write your bio, and add an author photo. It helps to use the same photo across a number of different sites.
You also have an optional couple of steps, depending on the sort of person you are:
6. Set up a LinkedIn Account. This is more of a "professional" social network, for connecting with people. The idea is to connect with people you know, and help others find people they might need to connect with for career or work opportunities. You should ensure to fill in your Skills, previous work experience, education, and other useful information that LinkedIn provides space for, as these not only allow people to find you, they help create a CV for you online. You can also be endorsed for Skills, and should endorse co-workers, teachers, clients and those you have hired (such as a graphic designer for your cover) in the appropriate areas.
7. Set up a YouTube Channel. If you can talk to a camera or make videos in some other way, and find it interesting and enjoyable, you have the opportunity to reach more people. You could keep a video blog, read poetry or short stories, upload book trailers, or create informative videos (as some examples). This can be linked to your Google+ and Blogger accounts, and provide links to your other Social Networking sites.
While there is no guarantee that any site will make you known as an author, it will help establish your author identity online. Getting involved in forums is also of benefit to you as a writer so long as you keep up with your writing, and make sure people know you are a writer (by having a link to your website in your signature, for example).
When it comes to "real life" (i.e. anything not online), you have the option of trying for events in a book shop, if you've published something and the shop will stock it (and remember, a shop does not have to stock your book just because it's been published), reading at public events, setting up a reading night (which works well for poetry), or seeking publication in magazines and/or newspapers for articles, poetry or short stories.
It's always beneficial to you as a writer to identify as one. If you don't, no one else will see you in that way. That's counter-productive to everything you could do to get your name out there.
But what about getting recognised? Follow this simple advice, and you'll be on your way:
1. Post often. People need to remember who you are.
2. Post something worth reading. If people enjoy it (for its entertainment value or its educational value), then they'll be more likely to (a) come back and (b) share it.
3. Interact with others. This can be difficult to do, especially if you're a busy person (as I tend to be while lectures are on in college), you should make sure to do a couple of things: respond to comments from others, set up something like Paper.li to share others' links, and make an effort to check in on sites at least once per week.
If you want, you can also:
4. Set up a newsletter on your website. This means you can have direct access to people's email addresses. You do have to write it, though, and having something to say could be difficult. Right now, I don't use mine as much as I should.
5. Set up auto-tweets if you can always sign in. Be careful about this, though. Many people don't like to see auto-tweets coming in all the time, because they don't get to know the person. I've tested them while I was in work one weekend, sharing quotes from authors about writing and life. The important thing is to check in when you're actually around to talk to people, and remember #3: respond to people's replies. I know I received a couple, because the quotes were amazing. You don't have to tweet quotes, but links aren't favourable. Try poetry or (very) short stories, instead, if you want to provide something interesting for people while you're away. (Social Oomph is useful and free for setting up auto-tweets.)
If/when you become a published author - either by having a book published by someone else, or by publishing yourself - make sure people know where to get it. However, don't saturate social media with links to your book. It's always beneficial to write free material in the same area you publish in, too, if you're trying to get others to notice your book, and to use promotions on whichever site you're using to publish.
In every case - every social network - you should have a bio that tells people who you are. Be informative, semi-formal, but aim to be funny or quirky, too. People like something that will make them smile. It's more difficult to do that on Twitter, but with other sites you have more space to talk about yourself and your writing.
Remember: get to know other writers, other readers, and demonstrate a real interest in what people have to say. Let them know who you are, what you're up to, and what you're feeling, and be consistent about it. Respect the people you connect with online. And never forget to show that you're a writer.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Twin Madness
Back when we were due to start college again, my brother asked a few of us on Facebook one simple question: "what time are peeps heading in at?"
This is a simple question, and required a simple answer. Unfortunately for him, I was the only one online at the moment, and though I was in the same building, I still decided to respond. I do advise you click the links we each posted.
Me: PEEPS! http://junkfoodnews.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/JUST-BORN-MARSHMALLOW-PEEPS.jpg
Him: you have issues...
Me: MARSHMELLOW PEEPS! http://youtu.be/jPYXtzy1ExM
Him: yeah, a lot of issues...
Me: <3 br="br">
Him: http://byobworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/middle_finger.png
Him: now you're just being ridiculous Paul... so 12ish [Le Friend]?
Le Friend: emmmmmmmm maybe. have to shower and go into town for a few then college
Me: Now? http://media.fakeposters.com/results/2009/07/18/5x4z58noij.jpg
Him: alright cool. Ignoring Paul, what about everyone else?
At this point, the conversation nearly ended. But sure, it was good fun while it lasted. I'm fairly sure I annoyed him a little bit, but only insofar as he wanted an answer, and instead received undiluted insanity, sparked by the excitement of getting to see my friends for the first time since before teaching placement.
This is a simple question, and required a simple answer. Unfortunately for him, I was the only one online at the moment, and though I was in the same building, I still decided to respond. I do advise you click the links we each posted.
Me: PEEPS! http://junkfoodnews.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/JUST-BORN-MARSHMALLOW-PEEPS.jpg
Him: you have issues...
Me: MARSHMELLOW PEEPS! http://youtu.be/jPYXtzy1ExM
Him: yeah, a lot of issues...
Me: <3 br="br">
Him: http://byobworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/middle_finger.png
Me: http://i2.listal.com/image/products/1000/0007318863/books/cyanide-happiness-im-giving-you-robert-denbleyker.jpg :)
Him: http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/142/521/1309544936001.jpg
Me: http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/20596176.jpg
Him: http://www.ereads.com/uploaded_images/distraction-758088.bmp
Me: http://500motivators.com/plog-content/thumbs/motivate/me/large/52-sense-this-picture-makes-none.jpg
Him: http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/142/521/1309544936001.jpg
Me: http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/20596176.jpg
Him: http://www.ereads.com/uploaded_images/distraction-758088.bmp
Me: http://500motivators.com/plog-content/thumbs/motivate/me/large/52-sense-this-picture-makes-none.jpg
(At this point, a friend popped in. We'll keep her name a secret, and call her Le Friend.)
Le Friend: lols at the twins! Imma heading in for lunchtime. Got things to do!
Him: now you're just being ridiculous Paul... so 12ish [Le Friend]?
Le Friend: emmmmmmmm maybe. have to shower and go into town for a few then college
Me: Now? http://media.fakeposters.com/results/2009/07/18/5x4z58noij.jpg
Him: alright cool. Ignoring Paul, what about everyone else?
At this point, the conversation nearly ended. But sure, it was good fun while it lasted. I'm fairly sure I annoyed him a little bit, but only insofar as he wanted an answer, and instead received undiluted insanity, sparked by the excitement of getting to see my friends for the first time since before teaching placement.
And for the record: yes, this is how I spend my time when I'm not in college or writing. Memes fo' life, yo.
Monday, July 2, 2012
A Warning for Facebook Users
Recently, Facebook decided to make a change to everyone's profiles: they have a shiny new email address, @facebook.com. Immediately, I was against this decision. It removed my personalised email address from my profile - my @paulcarrollwriter.com address that I wanted - to a specific Facebook one I'm never going to use.
Articles are now popping up all over the Internet about what a bad move this was on Facebook's behalf. Why?
People are losing valuable emails. Thanks to Facebook applications and syncing with Contacts on phones, every single owner of a smart phone who's allowed this has lost the email addresses for their friends, family, co-workers and clients. They've been replaced with the Facebook addresses.
An even bigger problem? Facebook didn't tell people. They just did it.
Worse still, the emails don't come in as regular mail. Unlike messages sent on Facebook, you don't get a notification for these emails. Instead, you need to go to: https://www.facebook.com/messages/other/
That page will give you any and all emails sent to your @facebook.com email address. However, it will also give you messages sent by events, pages and groups. Everything has been thrown into the Other folder.
You can change your email address back by going here: https://www.facebook.com/editprofile.php?sk=contact or by going to your profile, going to info, and clicking Edit on the Contact Information section. A word of warning, though: this won't guarantee that people's phones will be updated in the same way.
Spread the word about the dangers of the new @facebook.com email addresses. They're inconvenient, and if you do business through your phone and/or through Facebook, you could be losing out on more than funny emails from family and friends.
Articles are now popping up all over the Internet about what a bad move this was on Facebook's behalf. Why?
People are losing valuable emails. Thanks to Facebook applications and syncing with Contacts on phones, every single owner of a smart phone who's allowed this has lost the email addresses for their friends, family, co-workers and clients. They've been replaced with the Facebook addresses.
An even bigger problem? Facebook didn't tell people. They just did it.
Worse still, the emails don't come in as regular mail. Unlike messages sent on Facebook, you don't get a notification for these emails. Instead, you need to go to: https://www.facebook.com/messages/other/
That page will give you any and all emails sent to your @facebook.com email address. However, it will also give you messages sent by events, pages and groups. Everything has been thrown into the Other folder.
You can change your email address back by going here: https://www.facebook.com/editprofile.php?sk=contact or by going to your profile, going to info, and clicking Edit on the Contact Information section. A word of warning, though: this won't guarantee that people's phones will be updated in the same way.
Spread the word about the dangers of the new @facebook.com email addresses. They're inconvenient, and if you do business through your phone and/or through Facebook, you could be losing out on more than funny emails from family and friends.
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Bank Holiday Weekend
In Ireland, there's a certain air of excitement for some people when it comes to the bank holiday weekend. I think for most it's the day off and the extra chance to drink. I remained entirely sober this weekend (the weekend includes Mondays on these occasions, if you don't know already) but that didn't stop me having a good time. For once. Only that I had the time off work did I actually enjoy myself.
There's been some excitement for me over the past three days. To begin with, I got my 50K written by Saturday. That ended a massive writing spree that left me exhausted, but the weekend had only just begun. So I did the only thing I knew how to do: I started a new project. My novel isn't finished, of course, and I will return to writing it shortly, but I had some stuff to do.
Sunday saw the rise of my website. There's a fanciful link to it in the sidebar. I've written quite a bit of content for it already, but that's for the grand launch in a few weeks' time. But that story's already been told.
Today, I set up more sites to link to the blog. My official Facebook page was first to show up to the world. I was reluctant to set one up, because I thought it might seem pretentious, but Rebecca Woodhead set me straight. It's now there - and linked to in the sidebar - and thanks to the support from Rebecca, it's gotten over 25 likes already! It doesn't look like much, but I'm delighted. I'll be using it to ask daily questions (or at least only one question a day) and to link people to the articles and other content I post on my website.
To follow up on that, I set up a LinkedIn profile. This one terrified me. While a website was a handy way of spreading content that wasn't all just me-me-me, and a Facebook profile was something I was used to from experience, a LinkedIn profile is so much more. It's the professional side of my website, but in social network form. If you don't know already, it's where professionals go to meet and exchange contacts and connections and it's all extremely terrifying when you don't feel as if you belong. I'll see where it takes me.
The real fun of the BHW is something I'm not even sure I can tell people about yet. It's extremely geeky and exciting, and so far only four people know about it - two of them being my parents! Hopefully I can make that announcement soon. When I can, it'll be on my Google+ account, Twitter and Facebook, with an update in my positions on LinkedIn. Blimey, I feel so professional with all of this going on, now! I'm geeking out!
There's been some excitement for me over the past three days. To begin with, I got my 50K written by Saturday. That ended a massive writing spree that left me exhausted, but the weekend had only just begun. So I did the only thing I knew how to do: I started a new project. My novel isn't finished, of course, and I will return to writing it shortly, but I had some stuff to do.
 |
| Badge for my website! |
Today, I set up more sites to link to the blog. My official Facebook page was first to show up to the world. I was reluctant to set one up, because I thought it might seem pretentious, but Rebecca Woodhead set me straight. It's now there - and linked to in the sidebar - and thanks to the support from Rebecca, it's gotten over 25 likes already! It doesn't look like much, but I'm delighted. I'll be using it to ask daily questions (or at least only one question a day) and to link people to the articles and other content I post on my website.
To follow up on that, I set up a LinkedIn profile. This one terrified me. While a website was a handy way of spreading content that wasn't all just me-me-me, and a Facebook profile was something I was used to from experience, a LinkedIn profile is so much more. It's the professional side of my website, but in social network form. If you don't know already, it's where professionals go to meet and exchange contacts and connections and it's all extremely terrifying when you don't feel as if you belong. I'll see where it takes me.
The real fun of the BHW is something I'm not even sure I can tell people about yet. It's extremely geeky and exciting, and so far only four people know about it - two of them being my parents! Hopefully I can make that announcement soon. When I can, it'll be on my Google+ account, Twitter and Facebook, with an update in my positions on LinkedIn. Blimey, I feel so professional with all of this going on, now! I'm geeking out!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Facebook Spamming Issues
Several people, by no direct fault of their own, have become spammers on Facebook. The problem has gotten a bit out of hand. It's simple: they see a link a friend posts on their page, they click it, and within seconds the same link with the same comment is posted at least a dozen other people. It can be stopped by removing the post without clicking the link. The X is found in the top right-hand corner of the post. Make sure to click "Remove Post..." instead of the other options, as they may cause your friend problems in the future. It's highlighted below, in blue, so you can't miss it.
There are two big offenders in the spamming: Osama and a link to show you what you'll look like when you're older. There are obvious reasons why people think these are genuine links: everyone wants clarification that Osama is dead and lots of people are amused enough by images to click the second link.
So far I can't see any major problems with these links except that they spam the heck out of as many people as the link possibly can. The more friends you have, the more people will get spammed. Simple as that.
The biggest issue seems to be that they are just annoying links, posted dozens of times all over Facebook. There may be more in the future, but for now these are the two I am familiar with. Before the admins at Facebook can get around to fixing this problem, users can prevent themselves becoming the centre for spam by simply removing these posts from their pages; even if you don't click it, your friend might. Hopefully the tide of spam will stop within a few days if everyone follows this simple advice.
There are two big offenders in the spamming: Osama and a link to show you what you'll look like when you're older. There are obvious reasons why people think these are genuine links: everyone wants clarification that Osama is dead and lots of people are amused enough by images to click the second link.
So far I can't see any major problems with these links except that they spam the heck out of as many people as the link possibly can. The more friends you have, the more people will get spammed. Simple as that.
The biggest issue seems to be that they are just annoying links, posted dozens of times all over Facebook. There may be more in the future, but for now these are the two I am familiar with. Before the admins at Facebook can get around to fixing this problem, users can prevent themselves becoming the centre for spam by simply removing these posts from their pages; even if you don't click it, your friend might. Hopefully the tide of spam will stop within a few days if everyone follows this simple advice.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
My iPod Hacked Facebook
This summer just keeps getting weirder and weirder... Liam deleted his Facebook to try get work done. It was gone, then came back again and again. He finally brought it back himself. Sorted. He was using it again. Then it was gone. Deleted. Gone. No record of Liam. But...
My iPod was not so sure. Using my Facebook App, I managed to accidentally hack into the system and access Liam's page. Okay, not so weird. Facebook forgot it was gone... except... well, it wasn't his profile as it should have been. Okay, same friends, same photos... but different wall posts. Now, I know it wasn't a different profile. I know the wall was as it should have been. But here's the catch - the wall is as it should have been on October 28 2009. Yes, that's right folks, my iPod has defied time and has shown me all the comments (no status updates or anything like that) on Liam's page.
I would prove it to you with screencaps from my iPod, but that's all private stuff. Until such time that Liam brings back his own Facebook, no one can access those comments (including birthday wishes from last year, too, before anyone in college knew him). If he does bring back his Facebook, people still have to scroll through nine months of stuff on his page. And that's a lot of stuff on his page.
It's the same on every page: Bob was tagged in his photo. "Hi Bob, how are you? How's tricks?" Bob has leveled up in Farmville.
I don't know how it's happened. What's weirdest, though, is my iPod can post on his page! I did it, and he responded. As I write this, Christine and I are going to test to see if it can happen again. This time, she'll pick the thing to say so I can prove to her that the comment's not just posted back in time. Just to show what's happened:
My iPod was not so sure. Using my Facebook App, I managed to accidentally hack into the system and access Liam's page. Okay, not so weird. Facebook forgot it was gone... except... well, it wasn't his profile as it should have been. Okay, same friends, same photos... but different wall posts. Now, I know it wasn't a different profile. I know the wall was as it should have been. But here's the catch - the wall is as it should have been on October 28 2009. Yes, that's right folks, my iPod has defied time and has shown me all the comments (no status updates or anything like that) on Liam's page.
I would prove it to you with screencaps from my iPod, but that's all private stuff. Until such time that Liam brings back his own Facebook, no one can access those comments (including birthday wishes from last year, too, before anyone in college knew him). If he does bring back his Facebook, people still have to scroll through nine months of stuff on his page. And that's a lot of stuff on his page.
It's the same on every page: Bob was tagged in his photo. "Hi Bob, how are you? How's tricks?" Bob has leveled up in Farmville.
I don't know how it's happened. What's weirdest, though, is my iPod can post on his page! I did it, and he responded. As I write this, Christine and I are going to test to see if it can happen again. This time, she'll pick the thing to say so I can prove to her that the comment's not just posted back in time. Just to show what's happened:
Update: click the image to see it better; I can't make it any larger or you won't see all of it.
Naturally I had to hide his surname and face in these pictures, or that'd just be rude. I've spoken to people on Twitter about his; they are most curious about it, too. We can't figure out why I have access to the past, or why I can post things on his page when it shouldn't even be there. But sure, it's there now. It's not really there, but it's there...
Anyone else ever have such a confusing time with Facebook?
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