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I really like facebook. It's nice to stay in touch with your friends, especially when abroad.

compiler-guy 9y ago
Facebook is really nice for many usecases. But it could be way more open without ruining those usecases. It is just so hostile to non-facebook users. The primary example being the one cited in the article: The only reason to block 1/3 of a page to nonlogged in users is to convince you to either sign up or log in. There is no user-based reason to do so. That is open-web hostile. There is no need to make the all the content non-searchable, except to convince you to log in and search locally. That is open-web hostile. I used to think Google was bad for its intrusive "No really, you should log-in" campaigns, but facebook makes Google look so reasonable on this score.
- wuliwong 9y ago
  I think the reason it seems so strange is because they do let some things be "public." There was a time when you could see zero content without being logged in to an account. I would prefer if Facebook were a 100% walled garden. It would make the usage more simple. But then Zuckerberg wouldn't have as much money, I suppose. Google is murky too but they were coming from the 100% open side of things. I just wish everyone would go back to their corners!
- blazespin 9y ago
  For people who are privacy obsessed, just create a fake account. You'll find that all your friends are sympathetic and are more than happy to friend you. I know several people who do this and I happily friend them. My bday and location information is all fake, for example. I click on ads sometime when they peak my interest. I think once I actually bought something based on what I saw on Facebook, but I can't remember if it was because someone shared it or it was sponsored. I honestly don't know whether it matters or what the big deal is. Admittedly my profile picture is there. I worry about that sometimes and is probably my biggest concern. But it's not facebook's fault i posted a picture. There's no rule you can't see your friends posts if you don't post your own photo, and I have friends who just use a picture of their dog or something instead and it never bugs me. Honestly, Facebook is just a business and in return you look at ads now and then. If people had to pay I don't think it'd be very popular.
  - 659087 9y ago
    Your "fake account" isn't fooling Facebook if you're adding all of your real friends to it.. Nor is your fake information.

Facebook is really nice for many usecases. But it could be way more open without ruining those usecases. It is just so hostile to non-facebook users. The primary example being the one cited in the article: The only reason to block 1/3 of a page to nonlogged in users is to convince you to either sign up or log in. There is no user-based reason to do so. That is open-web hostile. There is no need to make the all the content non-searchable, except to convince you to log in and search locally. That is open-web hostile. I used to think Google was bad for its intrusive "No really, you should log-in" campaigns, but facebook makes Google look so reasonable on this score.

wuliwong 9y ago
I think the reason it seems so strange is because they do let some things be "public." There was a time when you could see zero content without being logged in to an account. I would prefer if Facebook were a 100% walled garden. It would make the usage more simple. But then Zuckerberg wouldn't have as much money, I suppose. Google is murky too but they were coming from the 100% open side of things. I just wish everyone would go back to their corners!
blazespin 9y ago
For people who are privacy obsessed, just create a fake account. You'll find that all your friends are sympathetic and are more than happy to friend you. I know several people who do this and I happily friend them. My bday and location information is all fake, for example. I click on ads sometime when they peak my interest. I think once I actually bought something based on what I saw on Facebook, but I can't remember if it was because someone shared it or it was sponsored. I honestly don't know whether it matters or what the big deal is. Admittedly my profile picture is there. I worry about that sometimes and is probably my biggest concern. But it's not facebook's fault i posted a picture. There's no rule you can't see your friends posts if you don't post your own photo, and I have friends who just use a picture of their dog or something instead and it never bugs me. Honestly, Facebook is just a business and in return you look at ads now and then. If people had to pay I don't think it'd be very popular.
- 659087 9y ago
  Your "fake account" isn't fooling Facebook if you're adding all of your real friends to it.. Nor is your fake information.