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"There are a lot of people who are essentially forced to be on Facebook due to social obligations." While I don't agree with John in this case (which is unusua

"There are a lot of people who are essentially forced to be on Facebook due to social obligations." While I don't agree with John in this case (which is unusual), nobody is forced to be on Facebook. You have the option to choose between privacy and social pressure. Many of us have chosen to not create an account and haven't suffered in the least because of it. All the examples in this thread of reasons you're "forced" to be on the site amount to missing parties and not seeing pictures -- and it's a really vapid argument. It might suck to not see those pictures, but there's nobody forcing you to do so. It's still entirely up to you. To clarify, I am not victim blaming. This argument is addressing the claim that a Facebook account is a requirement of youth. It is not. Choosing privacy over pleasure might be an unattractive option for some but it's an option all the same.

derleth 14y ago
> To clarify, I am not victim blaming. You're skirting pretty close. > You have the option to choose between privacy and social pressure. Well, that depends on the nature of the pressure, now doesn't it? Most people can't go through life without their support network, and by 'can't' I mean can not. If being part of your network means friending them on Facebook to avoid alienating them, then that's what people have to do, isn't it?
nollidge 14y ago
It's really vapid to want to hang out with friends who use Facebook to set up social events?
- SquareWheel 14y ago
  Of course not, but that's not what I said. It's a vapid argument to claim social obligation forces one to use a website. Yes, it's annoying if your friends don't include you - but there's still no obligation. You're not being forced into anything.
  - derleth 14y ago
    > still no obligation Most people consider social obligations to be obligations.
    - SquareWheel 14y ago
      Fair point, bad wording on my end. But social events are not mandatory was what I was after.
      - derleth 14y ago
        > But social events are not mandatory was what I was after. Again, it depends on what quality of life you can live with, and how you're able to achieve that quality of life. Most people would be in serious emotional pain if forced to live as hermits, which is what happens to you after you alienate enough of your friends. Depending on your circumstances, Facebook (and the leaving of it) could play a large role in that.
        SquareWheel 14y ago
        If somebody is really to that level of social dependency then it's a choice between being a depressed hermit and having privacy. It's still a choice. Just because one option is more obvious for some people doesn't mean the choice disappears.

derleth 14y ago

> To clarify, I am not victim blaming. You're skirting pretty close. > You have the option to choose between privacy and social pressure. Well, that depends on the nature of the pressure, now doesn't it? Most people can't go through life without their support network, and by 'can't' I mean can not. If being part of your network means friending them on Facebook to avoid alienating them, then that's what people have to do, isn't it?

nollidge 14y ago

It's really vapid to want to hang out with friends who use Facebook to set up social events?

SquareWheel 14y ago
Of course not, but that's not what I said. It's a vapid argument to claim social obligation forces one to use a website. Yes, it's annoying if your friends don't include you - but there's still no obligation. You're not being forced into anything.
- derleth 14y ago
  > still no obligation Most people consider social obligations to be obligations.
  - SquareWheel 14y ago
    Fair point, bad wording on my end. But social events are not mandatory was what I was after.
    - derleth 14y ago
      > But social events are not mandatory was what I was after. Again, it depends on what quality of life you can live with, and how you're able to achieve that quality of life. Most people would be in serious emotional pain if forced to live as hermits, which is what happens to you after you alienate enough of your friends. Depending on your circumstances, Facebook (and the leaving of it) could play a large role in that.
      - SquareWheel 14y ago
        If somebody is really to that level of social dependency then it's a choice between being a depressed hermit and having privacy. It's still a choice. Just because one option is more obvious for some people doesn't mean the choice disappears.