Tag Archives: Facebook

Interesting Links, February 27, 2013

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Here are links I found interesting on February 27, 2013:

  • Why I’m quitting Facebook – Takeaway quote from this one: "Facebook does not exist to help us make friends, but to turn our network of connections, brand preferences and activities over time — our 'social graphs' — into money for others." Truth, that. Hat tip to @gerd_meissner on Twitter for sharing the link.
  • Redefining the Troll – The truth about trolls and one way to fight back. Personally, I think they're best fought with strict moderation of forums and blog comments. One thing is for certain: you should never, ever feed trolls.
  • Birthday! – Tim Bray's comments on the 10th anniversary of the starting of his blog. Like me, he blogs about things in his life. Takeaway quote: "And most important of all, ignore everything social-media hacks say about building your audience. It's not that they're wrong, but as soon as your goal is 'building your audience' it's over; You're corrupted and you’ve lost." Related: my blog will also be 10 years old this year.
  • Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us – After at least a dozen if my Twitter and Facebook friends linked to this article, I finally read it. Now I know why it is so popular. Read it.
  • 28 Words to Use Instead of "Awesome" – Agreed: "awesome" is overused.

Interesting Links, February 22, 2013

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Here are links I found interesting on February 22, 2013:

Facebook Gifts Ads

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Another in-your-face attempt to sell products and services by using the names of people you know to promote them.

Facebook is apparently taking every possible opportunity to throw an ad at me. Today, I clicked a link in a sidebar column telling me about a friend’s birthday (Happy Birthday, Jim!) and get a gift suggestion. If that’s not enough to convince me to use Facebook to buy Jim a gift, I’m presented with a list of friends who have succumbed to the pressure of Facebook gift ads. But rather than be convinced that I should follow the pack, I’m left wondering why my friends used this “feature.” Don’t they know that the more we respond positively to Facebook’s in-your-face advertising, the more advertising they’ll throw at us.

Facebook Gifts Ad

I should mention here that this browser has AdBlocker Plus installed, so these ads are getting past my first line of defense.

And yes, I’m aware that websites make money on advertising. But I find it extraordinarily offensive that people I know should be used to market goods and services to me. I hope that if my name appears attached to an ad anywhere on Facebook I’ll be told by someone who sees it. (With a screenshot, please.)