A call for GRM'ers to join Facebook, if only for the car stuffs!

I've noticed our rallycross and autocross Facebook pages have been super busy keeping people updated with news about events and sites. Delays, cancels, etc. It occurred to me that there are at least a handful of us that might be "too cool" for Facebook. But god damn you can't beat the convenience of keeping everyone notified of important stuff, like the fact our rallycross at the new site this Saturday is in jeopardy of cancel for lack of entries (16 at the moment I think).

Plus calls for help with setup, rain that could cancel an event, etc. So I say to thee, please join the dark side! (We have cookie and kittens too.)

wae I'm looking square at you...

It's not just about being "too cool"- it's being "too intrusive" to be useful.

Are there other things that can be used instead? One that can send out texts/email updates?

I have "The" facebook and I utilize it as little as possible. I don't like the idea of a computer cataloging and storing every aspect of my life so the infomration can be sold to the highest bidder.

Nor do I want to be as accessible as "The" Facebook allows/demands.

As a solution you should get all your autocrossers in your area on the GRM message board, problem solved.

P.S. - I use "The" to indicate an air of disdain. :)

Should I sign up for the mass information gathering initiative that provides me trivialities in return or not?

Hrmmmm, let me ponder that one...

In reply to NordicSaab:

Then you may as well not use the internet at all if that sort of stuff worries you.

My SCCA region has a FB page now... it gets more traffic than the old forums now. Hell, GRM will put a subject on FB and here as well. The FB post will get 2-3x the responses the thread here will.

Personalized phone calls.

David S. Wallens wrote: Personalized phone calls.

To 75+ members? No thanks.

So if you only use it for car related stuff, "they" know that you are into car stuff. Is that really a big deal? (You can fill out as little information as you want if you're really that worried about the NSA/Facebook police.)

In reply to Jerry:

To some people, it is. Others just don't want to help a E36 M3bag of a company be E36 M3bags.

Jerry wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote: Personalized phone calls.

To 75+ members? No thanks. So if you only use it for car related stuff, "they" know that you are into car stuff. Is that really a big deal? (You can fill out as little information as you want if you're really that worried about the NSA/Facebook police.)

I was just kidding. Like the real government isn't monitoring this message board, too.

alfadriver wrote: It's not just about being "too cool"- it's being "too intrusive" to be useful.

Exactly. FB can DIAF for its intrusiveness.

I don't understand the tin hattery over posting information online. I agree with Ian F, if facebook doesn't sit well with you then the internet at large must be terrifying. Hell, grocery stores gather info from loyalty cards but that's not gonna stop me from using them.

Personally, I don't facebook because so many people use it as an excuse to be hella dramatic.

Sigh... this again?

Facebook is a tool. You can use it (or not use it) any way you want. If you don't want people to know your personal information, don't post it. You don't need to give them much in order to just have an account and check on things like this. I have an account, I check it pretty much every day to see what my friends are up to and for groups like the R3Vlimited board and others. I rarely post, maybe once a month or so, and when I do it tends to be innocuous stuff. I post a hell of a lot more about my life on here and other forums, and I use my real name, so if anyone really wants to know about me, all they need to do is Google me. I guess some privacy loss is the price I pay for living a "connected" life. I'm comfortable with it.

So someone knows my name, email address, and I think I gave my cell phone (maybe). All things that could probably be found by a 12yr old on Google.

In return I get to read things about my favorite subjects like pin-ups, pit bulls, race cars, and Star Wars. I can see what a few hundred (actual) friends are up to and see if I want to join. Almost all my car friends are on it sharing their work and ideas, and keeping me up to date on happenings.

And all the kitten meme's I can handle.

I met a guy on FB last night. He posted on a group I follow. He's selling something I might be interested in buying, so I looked into him. I know where he works, I know where he lives, I know the names of his wife and kids, I know where his wife works. I know what they all look like. I can tell you he rents his house and has moved 3 times in the last 5 years.

That took me less than 10 minutes.

I'm betting in another hour and with some money invested I could have his background check in my email inbox.

I'm on FB. I'm pretty sure he could do the same to me, though he would have to track it down through my wife's page as I don't post much.

It has never been easier to stalk someone.

It's a tool, but it's shaped like a sword. It pays to remember some of them have two edges and cut both ways.

Gone are the good 'ol days when you had to put a hot knife into the tender pocket of skin just under the eyeball of a close friend or family member to get good intel.

NordicSaab wrote: P.S. - I use "The" to indicate an air of disdain. :)

Sorta like Ohio State? OHHHH! BURN!!

Tom_Spangler wrote: Sigh... this again? Facebook is a tool. You can use it (or not use it) any way you want. If you don't want people to know your personal information, don't post it. You don't need to give them much in order to just have an account and check on things like this. I have an account, I check it pretty much every day to see what my friends are up to and for groups like the R3Vlimited board and others. I rarely post, maybe once a month or so, and when I do it tends to be innocuous stuff. I post a hell of a lot more about my life on here and other forums, and I use my real name, so if anyone really wants to know about me, all they need to do is Google me. I guess some privacy loss is the price I pay for living a "connected" life. I'm comfortable with it.

Thank you. I've been using FB for about 3-4 years and not once has it come out of the computer and made me do anything. Put in minimal information, pay attention to who you connect with, and just don't look at the ads. Why is that so hard for some people to deal with?

You know, the TV has an off switch, too.

In reply to Tom_Spangler: Which suggests that there are tools out there for people who don't want to use FB.

It's just a tool, afterall- some choose not to use it, so the person who thinks they need it can find another tool. Simple.

Of course there are tools out there for people who don't want to use FB. The questions are:

How many of them currently match the effectiveness of FB?

How many different outlets should a given organization need to cover? How many redundant sources of information should be managed and coordinated just to let a few people avoid FB when FB has demonstrated itself to be the most popular option for many others?

Should a club still maintain a phone tree (as David humourously suggests) or physical printed newsletter, just because some few members may not like to use computers?

I'm not really arguing for or against FB per se, but it really is a matter of the users voting with their activity, and volunteers concentrating their efforts where they have the best chance of success.

Jerry wrote: So someone knows my name, email address, and I think I gave my cell phone (maybe). All things that could probably be found by a 12yr old on Google.

It also knows everything you have ever looked at, clicked on, or even hovered a mouse over, and then it directs links to you.

eBay is doing this, now. It's creepy as all hell. "You looked at a mid 70's Ford radio last week, did you know about this and this and this and this??"

Multiply that times everything you do. I hate that kind of directed results and directed profiling.

BTW - I do all of my Googling in a private window. It's amazing how different the results are if they get directed to your browsing history.

Knurled wrote:

Jerry wrote: So someone knows my name, email address, and I think I gave my cell phone (maybe). All things that could probably be found by a 12yr old on Google.

It also knows everything you have ever looked at, clicked on, or even hovered a mouse over, and then it directs links to you. eBay is doing this, now. It's creepy as all hell. "You looked at a mid 70's Ford radio last week, did you know about this and this and this and this??" Multiply that times everything you do. I hate that kind of directed results and directed profiling. BTW - I do all of my Googling in a private window. It's amazing how different the results are if they get directed to your browsing history.

but isn't it a service to you as a consumer? I mean, I'd much rather see HF coupons for the drill press I'm looking to pick up than another offer from Comcast for the services I already buy from them. Then, Google just saved me 10 bucks on a drill press, that can be viewed as a service to me.

I still operate my Daytona Sports Car Club. It's all done on Facebook.

Knurled wrote: BTW - I do all of my Googling in a private window. It's amazing how different the results are if they get directed to your browsing history.

Expound on this please.

There have been a bunch of times I'd like to get results I've never looked at before.

Facebook can be a blessing, depending on the scenario. The US Renault Club forum has been dwindling in traffic and their software has been wiped so many times that there's a total dearth of information there. After posting on their forum and receiving zero responses, I joined their Facebook group asking for advice on the GTA and within minutes I knew where to source the now-NLA timing belts, idlers, front brake rotors, and many other parts. I'm even working with a guy overseas to source some Phase 2 front end parts to convert my car over.

I don't think Facebook is the savior of our planet or anything, but I also don't understand how some of you guys ever walk around outside without your tinfoil hats on.