discussion Facebook, love it or hate it?.

[Guest]

for many years I have used Facebook on and off. I usually get to a stage when I really wonder if I want to know what 'friends' and family had for tea or where they are having a cup of coffee. Not to mention a vast, if sometimes humorous, amount of cat videos.


So, occasionally, I just delete my Facebook account and walk away from it. Obviously, I end up coming back to it and sometimes I send Facebook messages to my better half who is sat at the other end of the room or 'speak' to my eldest daughter who I could just ring up or pop round and see, she only lives ten minutes away. Occasionally, just like everyone else, I 'check in' when I treat myself to a Café Nero flapawapachino..... but I get bored and leave and so the cycle continues.


However, last time I left I came back with a different idea. I only linked my Facebook to modelling groups and as 'friends' to the odd (sometimes very odd...) person who models that I actually now or I have found to be knowledgable and willing to share. Of course, there is also The Scale Model Shop Facebook page too.


I have no actual friends, as in people I actually know and meet. This relates to reality as much as Facebook in real life . Nor do I have any family members linked to my Facebook. It does not compete with this forum which, to me, is totally different but I do get a lot more from Facebook using it as a modelling tool rather than a, so called, social media site.


Does anyone else use it or have a separate account just for modelling? I must admit I have learned a hell of a lot from it. Some of the groups and pages I have linked to, I have decided to unlink or leave as they may not suit me as much as I thought they would.


Knowing it is just there for modelling and that I will not get dragged into family stuff is quite refreshing. I would certainly recommend it.

 

[Guest]

I don't use it.


I have no interest in gossip.


For modelling info I use youtube.

 

[monica]

much the same as how Ralph has said it,like wise for me,


not one for that type of thing,

 

[Ian M]

Having family in all corners of the world, I find it handy to keep contact with them. We have no land line telephone and its a bit pricy using a mobil.


Found a few good model sites and get the news on releases from the most manufacturers. Also a couple of gardening and wood work sites.


never understood the need to tell the world that you have just eaten this or taking a dump.

 

[peterairfix]

I am the same as monica have no interest in it and I never will its not for me.


As I can get all my modeling advice here.

 

[PaulTRose]

i must be different then lol


a long time ago i was a member of a large community forum, made lots of 'internet friends' all around the globe, the time that it self imploded coincided with facebook becoming popular, so a lot of us kept in touch via facebook


when it comes to model related groups the only ones i follow really are SMM and an IPMS group....tried lots of others but they dont seem to hold any interest.....deleted one only yesterday


i visit daily for a laugh with old friends basically............oh, and the cat videos

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I must be the odd one out as I'm constantly on it, I do use the Check in tab and I often post updates as to what I am doing.


In my defence though I also have a little page called Adrian Reynolds Hobby Page, where I post builds, odd reviews and old build pictures, it's also very good for most company pages like Tamiya, Dragon and Eduard.


Would be interesting to see if its an age thing? I'm 49 and use it but is there a relation to forum members ages and whether or not they use Facebook? I'm not saying anything about peoples age and what the do or do not use btw


Adrian

 

[Guest]

I have an account, but I rarely use it. Although my circle of real life friends is small by choice, I have no desire to have a vast multitude of cyber friends.

 

[Guest]

I totally agree about the gossip thing. As I said in my post, this is exactly what I have stopped doing. But the amount of modelling info that is on there is amazing.


It is not, nor will it ever be, the same as a forum like this. I treat it more like a modelling daily news. In fact it is a group on there that has helped me start having a serious go at painting 1/35 figures using a fairly simple method.


I do post some of my builds on there so a couple of actual modelling buddies who I do see every now and again, but not often enough, can follow what I am up to and take the micky out of it and vice versa


I don't know about the age thing Ade, but at nearly 65 and with a 'friends' list of about four people, it could be

 

[john i am]

I use Facebook on a regular basis but never post what I've had for tea or where I've had my latest coffee.


I'm not on there all the time but would miss it if it wasn't there. And for a little fun you can always "poke" someone I'm 52

 

[rickoshea52]

I gave FB the heave after getting bored of reading that my wife's cousin couldn't decide on whether to have chicken or mushroom soup while waiting for the train in a howling gale in Runcorn - get a f***ing life or go to the pub.

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I've got 47 friends on there and with the exception of one ( the son of a friend ) I have met all of them, some have even been round my house.


There are a few on there that I met through here like John, Andrew and Scott.


I agree with Graham the amount of info that can be found on there is great but prefer to have a forum for chat and direct questions


Adrian

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Are we not guilty of the same thing, we all post our latest purchases and what shows we are going to? lol


Adrian

 

[Gern]

I don't have any mates apart from you guys on here so I have no use for it - and I have better things to do than post an hourly/daily/weekly list of my activities.

 

[Guest]

I go on Facebook and have an account, I don't post daily activities, nor do I read other people's doom and gloom crap I mainly use it to keep in touch with family and friend's.


It does have it's plus sides though, for instance. I only found out on Sunday, that an old friend and employee, is in hospital having heart surgery.


So it does have it's benefits, I also like to go on the various model group/pages and the model for sale/swap groups, and I will admit that I do get the odd bargain or two from these group's


Plus there are some great reference group/pages on there for modellers, history group/pages are rife on fb, so yes, I find it more than satisfying, and go on it daily, it all depends on what you want to use it for.


Some go on it to wallow in their own self pity, some go on it to brag, and some use it simply for information and for keeping in touch with friends and family, I personally use it for the latter

 

[Guest]

Facebook is a tool. If you use it for what YOU want it for, it is well worth it. There is nothing on Facebook that says you have to follow individuals that you don't want to. If you don't want to see who is having a coffee or who is having a dump then don't, I certainly have no interest in them.


However don't just dismiss what can be a useful modelling tool and resource just because others use it for what they want. You may be surprised how much serious stuff there is out there. I am finding tons of stuff on 1/35 figure painting and diorama building. I repeat, it does not replace forums like this one, this is a totally different thing.


And, if you get to meet other modellers and chat, is that a bad thing? Most of us do this hobby in isolation so any channel that allows me to be in contact with like minded people is good to me.

 

[Guest]

only use Facebook through our modelling club, that's all I use it for after all the crap u see in the news about social media I keep well clear of it.


Scott

 

[BarryW]

I have a FB account and link to a lot of modelling pages and well as poltical, economics, news and business pages, not to mention friends, business associates etc. That makes it a real mix up of stuff so your idea having more than one account for each matter of interest seems a good idea. I do hate all the dross you get on FB, pictures of your breakfast and all that crap!!!

 

[Guest]

I'm the same as dubster have an account but hardly use it, the missus though she's on it all the time, and gleans loads of info from it, she like I mini detective.

 

[Guest]

I haven't any account there....and any interest to sign up, as well