Facebook is everywhere these days, isn’t it? I remember about a year ago the big thing was Myspace, but the spammy nature and the fact that rubbish bands who couldn’t play a note added you meant that Myspace became a chore, and Facebook became light and wonderful.
But recently, Facebook has been catching news articles all around the world, starting with the front page of this week’s “North Wales Weekly News“. Yes, we don’t get daily newspapers for our area, but weekly (Bi Weekly actually, as the Pioneer is out on Wednesday. They link to me. Hello Pioneer readers, petition the office for a double page spread of yours truly!). I’ll be honest, not much happens in the area that can fill one newspaper, but there is some excellent reporting at times, but a few times I feel they (justifiably) struggle for stories, such as this story in the newstands.
The story relates to a Facebook group created that advocates the mighty Bay as a dump. Whilst I don’t agree that it’s the best way of promoting regeneration, I do feel that a lot of what’s wrong with the Bay at times - overenthusiastic landlords advertising to people in Liverpool & Manchester to “Come and collect your dole by the sea” - has helped contribute to it’s suffering in recent years. I don’t know whether this still goes on, I’d like to think that it doesn’t. Either way, recently I do think that The Bay may just be turning a corner and becoming more bright and breezy. Shops are opening up (that are not charity shops) and I think the football club is a bit of a success story for the town (which I believe more people should get behind, but then I would, wouldn’t I?).
Right, the second story which you may have heard about is the Facebook opening it’s profiles to be Googled. The main concern for normal people is the privacy issues involved when people can find out about you online. My issue will be that my Facebook profile will outrank this blog for the words “Rhys Wynne“. Bloggers usually work on making a brand around themselves, and I quite like dominating the top 10 listings for all sorts of connutations for my name in Google. I’ve disabled it for this reason. I believe all bloggers should too.
Finally, one of my favourite facebook applications, “Compare People“, had this banner on the top of the screen:
Basically, for a small ($10 methinks) fee, you will get more detailed statistics on every single vote made by your friends on you and see who you beat (and lost too). At the moment, I’m dominating the “Kinder”, “More Punctual”, “More Likely To Skip Class”, “Smarter”, “Better Sense of Humour” and “More Likely To Succeed” categories, but the ones I am really interested is the couple of votes I got for “More kissable”, “hotter” and the kinky “rather get stuck in handcuffs with” (the latter two I have recieved more votes than for “more tech-savvy”). I would really like to know who nominated me for those categories, and who I beat. It’s only a fiver, isn’t it?
Of course, you can all see who I voted for if you give them a fiver. You could pretty easily work out who I fancy and who I don’t. It’s blatently obvious from my results. Therefore, I suggest you don’t give $10 to the makers.
EDIT: Just purchased the said upgrade. I will just say this. Very interesting. It doesn’t say anything in concrete, but gives suggestions. One of the suggestions is “Who I should Date”. #3 on the list I can say “been there, done her“, and #1 me and Guy does suspect fancy me, but the others….well half of them I never looked at in that light before.
Got you all worried now!
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Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay.
That Compare people thing is rubbish!
Nooooo it’s hilarious! Why do you think it’s rubbish?!
I find it amusing to see how people vote and how people perceive you!! Opens up truths you never knew existed!!
I can’t see anyone who voted for me.
(Comments wont nest below this level)
This isn’t intended as an attack on you, Rhys, it’s just something that I’ve been meaning to have a small rant about for ages.
People harping on about “OH NOES GOOGLE CAN SEE MY FACEBOOK!!!!!111!!” is driving me absolutely batshit insane. All that people searching Google for “Firstname Lastname” will find is *horror of horrors* a thumbnail photograph of Firstname Lastname, and the fact that they’re on Facebook. Hardly a state of crisis - people are behaving as if anyone who’s ever been anywhere near the internet will be able to see all their deepest personal photos of them falling over drunk.
I feel *so* much better for having got that off my chest. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to do so!
No problem
I do agree that the privacy issues will be minimal, hence why I’m worried more that google would probably think a Facebook thumbnail image of me with my name will be more relevant about me than this blog.
Would it be though?
Wait - you pay your money and they don’t even tell you the thing you want to know?!
Facebook sucks nowadays too! Here in Sweden the news is that people have made false profiles pretending to be celebs and royalties
You paid for that shit? Goodness! I should slap you!
[...] The Great Facebook Post - Facebook have been hitting the headlines recently both in National Newspapers and The North Wales Weekly News. I look at some of the controversy it has been creating. [...]