...in the last five minutes. 
I'm even on Facebook and I think that's completely idiotic.
Yea, that's pretty stupid.
I don't have any texting ability either. What is wrong with me because of that? I don't know about others, but I actually enjoy being "out of contact". It's less stressful in a way.
I like to think of it as: I would rather be a submarine then a cargo ship.
Periscope down
I think to celebrate his embrace of advancing media, we need to get the author a guest spot on "Ow! My balls!"
Actually I think it's spot on.
While at first glance this might seem extreme, stop and think about it. People who aren't "connected" someway are really out of the loop.
They are the equivalent to the people who used to holler "Get a horse" to the guys in cars.
I've got friends who used to be proud they didn't have a smart phone or an email address, but once you get them you realize how useful they are and wonder how you ever did without them.
If you are in business & don't have some kind of internet presence you might as well not exist to most of your customers. It really is suspicious. Today not having some sort of internet connection is almost like trying to work without a phone.
As a kid I used to dream of being able to do 1/10 of what is everyday fact today.
In reply to carguy123:
As an individual, I don't think it's unreasonable to stay off of Facebook. As a business, it would be harder, but I'm still not sure that it's 100% required; unfettered growth is not always optimum, and I'm sure there are niches where no number of "likes" or "shares" translate into actual sales.
I think it's possible and desirable, but not sure about how to transition, to a media type akin to email (Inasmuch as you would have a piece of client software and the basic network capability would be universal and something you paid your ISP a modest amount for) but with the networking ability of social media, so that you can connect with who you want to connect to, but don't rely on a business which is trying to sell your information in order to get that functionality.
I believe there are compelling reasons to be on FB (I am), but I think it's completely baseless to suggest that there is something wrong with someone who opts not to.
carguy123 wrote: If you are in business & don't have some kind of internet presence you might as well not exist to most of your customers. It really is suspicious. Today not having some sort of internet connection is almost like trying to work without a phone.
That's not the same thing as simply not being on Facebook.
I'm not on Facebook or any other "social media" sites. I'm not disconnected and I only abstain from gadgets that are useless to me (iPhones etc. when I have a much more capable phone) or that carry inherent downsides that overpower their positive uses (horrific privacy implications of Google Glass vs. a handful of novelty uses).
I'm on a few forums and I email and chat with people all the time...I just do it pseudonymously on a medium that doesn't try to monopolize human relationships and commercialize the information being exchanged. At least not to the extent Facebook does (they all display some ads to pay the bills...I'm OK with that).
Also the article misrepresented the sarcasm in the Slashdot story it cited.
I hold my opinion that because my facebook account is essentially untouched, complete with photo of me from 2010, I'll be able to attain any political office I care to in the future, opponents having near zero easily accessible dirt on me.
Edit: Note that I text and email and whatnot but putting my real actual name on the internet publicly is where I draw the line.
carguy123 wrote: Actually I think it's spot on. While at first glance this might seem extreme, stop and think about it. People who aren't "connected" someway are really out of the loop.
I'm on about 50 or 60 different forums, have regular activity on at least ten of them, and donate to a few of them. I have six e-mail addresses and two YouTube channels.
I won't touch Facebook with a ten-foot pole.
The article doesn't just say Facebook is the be all, end all. It's talking about all kinds of social media AND smartphones AND other modern conveniences.
For a business Facebook is cheap, quick and easy. (and if you use Firefox and use the app Do Not Track Me plus Ad Blocker you don't get the downsides of the "free" Facebook)
For a person, the Luddites I see being proud of not texting or using email, or having a smartphone and swearing they'll never go there. Always end up being the biggest converts and biggest users once they realize that they need to join the rest of the world. Without some of those things it's like being in a crowd and not being able to talk to anybody.
C'mon guys it's the 21st century. We may not have flying cars, but we've got so much more than the Jetsons ever had.
This forum is a case in point. It is a social media.
carguy123 wrote: The article doesn't just say Facebook is the be all, end all. It's talking about all kinds of social media AND smartphones AND other modern conveniences.
The article seems to be talking mostly about Facebook to me.
carguy123 wrote: This forum is a case in point. It is a social media.
Exactly. There's plenty of ways to have an 'online presence' without Facebook or other similar social media sites. I can stay well connected without it or a smartphone.
carguy123 wrote: For a business Facebook is cheap, quick and easy. (and if you use Firefox and use the app Do Not Track Me plus Ad Blocker you don't get the downsides of the "free" Facebook)
That's a big oversimplification...but even if you do set up the right suite of browser modifications, you're still giving Facebook your real name (or running the account on borrowed time until they get your friends to snitch on you), lots and lots of personal info, and increasing the power they wield over all human relationships.
I don't use Facebook. I created an account in 2009 or 2010, only because it was the only way I could get results from go karting I was doing at the time. Never used it since. Don't tweet, have never sent a text message, I have a dumb phone, and don't use other social media. If that makes me out of the loop, so be it. I'm not for it or against it, just honestly have very little interest in it. My current cell phone contract is about to expire. When I get a new one, I'm going to get whatever free or nearly free phone they have. If it's a "smart" phone, so be it, but it just doesn't excite me all that much. I do use e-mail plenty and am active on several forums, so I'm a step above communication by smoke signals.
Is something wrong with me? Berkley yeah, but it ain't got nuttin' to do with not using Facebook. 
This article brought to you by Facebook 
I think it is interesting that people think not advertising your life in some way is suspicious.
I might not be yelling "Get a horse" but I will shout "Mind your own berkeleying business" once in a while.
Wait until they find out I still pay with cash whenever possible. Sweet jebus! Off to Guantanamo with that crazy schit!
I agree with Carguy123 that in business it is essential these days to have a web presence--- this also includes Facebook more and more. You would have to be an idiot not to take advantage of what the web has to offer.
On a personal level-- for a lot of people--technology has much less importance. Many of my friends out in Colorado only check their email once or twice a week--- if that often. They aren't on Facebook, don't Twitter, and could care less about forums, or Memes. The lack of technology in their lives has not impacted their happiness--- you could actually make a good argument that their lack of "being connected" has added to their happiness.
To each their own. If you get joy from being online--- more power to you. If you live a happy life with a minimum of technological intrusion---- great!
I think it is silly to immediately be suspicious of a private person because they don't have a Facebook account though. It could be that they just aren't as narcissistic as most of our society has become.
I know I could live a happy life without knowing what my Facebook "friends" had for dinner, or what their wacky political positions are.
Joe Gearin wrote: I know I could live a happy life without knowing what my Facebook "friends" had for dinner, or what their wacky political positions are.
I could call you and describe the texture and aroma of each bowel movement, obviously, but it's so much easier to update in one place than to call everyone I know who might want those details.
What is your number? I'm going to create a robo-phone message.
carguy123 wrote: This forum is a case in point. It is a social media.
no. this forum is a social medium.
I have an FB, I think the last time I went to it was a year ago? I guess that makes me a potential serial killer. Be careful around chez Curmudgeon.
i guess i'm a special kind of luddite-lite. i've been on fb since '09. in that time, i've never opened an ad or bought anything i saw advertised on one of fb's sidebars. i do shop online, but only for things i'm actively seeking. and even then, my first step is to ask my friends who either have or are also actively seeking something similar. to me, the presence or absence of a business on fb means absolutely nothing.
Apparently, I'm very much a luddite.
I'm a bad person, since I don't 1) post my status pretending that people care, or 2) I care about other people "status". I'd much rather see people face to face and interact in actual reality.
Honestly, I still have yet to see the point of facebook, outside of a great way to advertise. And an even better way to focus advertising. I'm sure the company I work for has a very active book of face page.
I'm also bad since I don't have a smart phone? Well, I may get one before July, but I don't think it's going to be some earth shattering thing- it will be a way to keep in contact with family who will be travelling with us at the same time. Other than that, I expect my iPhone to be a great game player, and not much else. Well, I kind of track my schedule with my iTouch, and I'll not have to take a camera.
But I have no intention to post my photos. They are my memories, not yours. May share them with immediate family, but I can do that when I see them, face to face, and TALK about the pictures.
This seems to be yet another way to get more involved with FB and smartphones, but instead of the old fashioned "be up with the Smiths"- it's now degraded to "join or else". Stupid.
carguy123 wrote: The article doesn't just say Facebook is the be all, end all. It's talking about all kinds of social media AND smartphones AND other modern conveniences. For a business Facebook is cheap, quick and easy. (and if you use Firefox and use the app Do Not Track Me plus Ad Blocker you don't get the downsides of the "free" Facebook) For a person, the Luddites I see being proud of not texting or using email, or having a smartphone and swearing they'll never go there. Always end up being the biggest converts and biggest users once they realize that they need to join the rest of the world. Without some of those things it's like being in a crowd and not being able to talk to anybody. C'mon guys it's the 21st century. We may not have flying cars, but we've got so much more than the Jetsons ever had. This forum is a case in point. It is a social media.
I have a smart phone, a google address, and i'm on forums.
I don't need or want Facebook.
That's all the article is about, just Facebook. It has nothing to do with luddites or blah blah blah, just Facebook.
I'm not a murderer because i don't have Facebook, and the fact that some people think it's suspicious that i don't have one just cements the feeling that we're on our way to Idiocracy.
I'm sorry you think i'm weird and suspicious.
I think you're weird and suspicious, even if you did have Facebook.
I come from a family of habitual luddites.
My parents do not have internet, cable TV, or cell phones (mid forties)
My grandparents do not have a computer, or even a checking account (late sixties)
I, however, am one of those people "born from the internets". I am a blogger for multiple outlets, I love my smart phone, I am "plugged in" for about 11 hours a day. I have not listened to anything but audio from my phone for the last 2 years in the car. There are three high performance computers in our house.
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