Soapbox

I hear the term 'social networking' asociated with Tweeter and Facebook (of which I do not take part). Do fora such as this perform a different level of interaction... Is it indeed the same thing in a different wrapping?

Is OM 'social networking' or does it stimulate debate in an entirely different way?

Of course it's social networking, I've greatly increased my social network (and number of friends) as a result of chatting on here.

Metric Kate wrote (see)

Of course it's social networking, I've greatly increased my social network (and number of friends) as a result of chatting on here.

I am willing to accept that K8, perhaps I didnt ask the question in quite the right way. I do wonder if the acedemics of 'ITism' make a distinction between fora, tweeter, blogs, fatface etc?

Do I care if they do?

As a died in the wool non-Facebooker and, come to that, is the name of someone who is on Twitter a Twit....does it matter if they have grades of socil networking?

facebook is for people who want to have pretend friends having possibly outgrown dolls. also good for families to keep in touch who haven't mastered the technical intricacies of email or that you may speak to someone using a phone.

twitter is for people who just can't shut up even when alone.

what's a K8 - is it a mountain?

Parky Again wrote (see)

what's a K8 - is it a mountain?

GOF - you are very polite with your name for users of Twitter. I am not but I try to be polite on here so I won't mention what I call them. however each to their own. I personally don't use Twitter so I think it a good thing. It gives the users a place to be other than more useful places like OM. Each to their own and preferably Twitter users to their place and rest of us normals to Fora like OM.

I am on FB though but under sufference. It is often the only way to get hold of some friends to arrange outdoors stuff. I kind of have to use it. However I am forever deactivating it then when I need to contact someone on it I reactivate it for a while. It does get too much sometimes with the inane comments like someone telling you they are in a pub in another part of the country so you can't join them or someone posting photographs of their really nice and warm holiday when it is cold, very wet and windy over here.

GB - Don't forget the many salesmen and occasional saleswoman Paramo. There have been quite a few of those representing on here. It is not just Sub Zero's PR agent that works on here.

> Sub Zero's Marketing Director Mr Burley and or very own rocket scientist in the form of Cap'n Paranoia

John's the rocket scientist, not me...

Facebook is just a way to share a few words with people you know more or less well and allow other people to comment on them as well as upload pictures or reference an article or a video you like.

It's like a pub conversation online really. Just like a forum.  It's just one of many means of communications we have and it has no detrimental effect on face to face to contact. Billy no mates in real life are billy no mates online too...

Fora? Is that a low fat version of forum/s?

Despite having been 'socially' active online for nearly 20 years (starting with Usenet then bulletin boards and email lists), I'm pretty sceptical about more recent corporate enterprises like Twitter and FB (and, of course, Google) which data-mine personal info for sale to advertisers.

Is OM a 'social medium'? Of course it is - and, I'd contend, special-interest bulletin boards like OM are more conducive to genuine social interaction than the 'big name' services.

I couldn't agree more, Skip.

Special interest forum do limit a bit your horizons though (no garb intended), this is why I like something like FB or more generalist forums because I come across stuff from people that surprise me, in a good or bad way and discover new interests, learn interesting facts or hear of opinions that do inspire me (unlike some might think, I don't pay that much attention to what the Guardian has to say...)

Data mining for commercial purpose has been ongoing for a long time now, the libertarian ethos of the internet has long died since the glorious days of the EFF...

Gneiss Boots wrote (see)

I rely on Outdoorsmagic for 'social climbing'. What with numerous h'academics, international travellers (such as Bedouin), Sub Zero's Marketing Director Mr Burley and or very own rocket scientist in the form of Cap'n Paranoia it is a great place to move in more rarefied circles. There are of course also many on here also working under various nom de plumes rather than their established identity.....

Gneiss Boots wrote (see)

I rely on Outdoorsmagic for 'social climbing'. What with numerous h'academics, international travellers (such as Bedouin), Sub Zero's Marketing Director Mr Burley and or very own rocket scientist in the form of Cap'n Paranoia it is a great place to move in more rarefied circles. There are of course also many on here also working under various nom de plumes rather than their established identity.....

captain paranoia wrote (see)

> Sub Zero's Marketing Director Mr Burley and or very own rocket scientist in the form of Cap'n Paranoia

John's the rocket scientist, not me...

I am neither

I do like SZ because it is kit that I have continued to use for nearly 20 years despite 'sexier' alternatives being put my way. And I do know a few things about rockets too being what one might describe as an end user! (my job title says 'spacecraft analyst' but  satellite operations engineer is the more generally accepted term).

You can find me on facebook but it's a once-a-week visit on average. As I have friends from across the world I find it really quite useful for keeping in touch and much more likely to stimulate an exchange than just having someones email address. I certainly don't have time for twitter though and can easily see how these 'tools' can become addictions.

OM forum is a place where I count quite a few friends - met and unmet - so it has to qualify for social network to me.