date: Fri 02 Jan 2026 10:18:18 PM PST
subj: facebook why does it still exist? 
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I was something (not sure if I was lucky or stupid, probably
more of the later), against facebook from the beginning. In my
mind it had already been done. It was a glorified BBS, and
growing up in the computer age of BB-systems, although facebook
gamified collecting friends, to me it wasn't really a new thing.
I thought the major component of facebook had already been done
so there wasn't a reason I needed to join facebook. Also I was
still in contact with my friends via email, and what is better
than email? Of course myspace was there prior to facebook, but
still my time preceded these types of web based systems. I was
into tech but the web wasn't my specialty, I was into OS
systems, and infrastructure. Well It didn't take long before my
friends all abandoned email and went to facebook while I
remained in the dark ages.  

Later years and years after facebook had been out and
established I decided to get an account and see what it was all
about. That time in my life was very very difficult. I had no
money, I was in debt, I had no fun in my life, nothing to really
share, I'm not sure my life is that much different from the view
of sharing with facebook. I did get on there a few times, but
all I saw were friends who were very successful living out
wonderful lives, showing off beautiful families, and it left me
feeling like shit. I still struggle with comparing myself to
others, it seems as a genXer that was the thing to do, compare
ourselves or get compared, didn't matter if you wanted to be
part of that or not, it was just what genXers did to each other
and themselves. So I had a short time on facebook.

 I was pretty busy working on building a tech life and some sort
of life for myself, finally I felt I could post something. This
is during a time everyone wanted to post what they ate, where
they were, some form of status about themselves to show their
status, and in some way connect with others. I had some cool
friends posting about interesting places they were, and now that
I was standing in Kowloon park in Hong Kong, I could finally be
one of the people posting something that might be considered
interesting to the people in my friends list. Since nobody ever
posted anything technical, or about the oppression of the
worker, my simple location update might get some sort of
response in the positive realm; however, my post go no response
at all. So I did what anyone does most places, I just didn't go
to facebook. I guess I was way too late to the game of posting
where you are, that was old shit by the time I got to post my
awesome status. I wound up many places round the world for my
work, and was too busy or too tired from work and travel to make
a show of how I've been to some places, besides my hometown and
local residence. 

Since my time posting and going on facebook many many years have
past.... 

Well tonight my wife showed me facebook. It just looks like a
system for adds, and stupidity. A never ending stream of adds
mixed in with people posting things off topic, or ridiculous
tattle tail type shit. I can't understand why people are there,
and why it even exists. Bots are posting and people are
interacting with stupid bots. I get some of these people are old
and they don't realize bots are who they are having
conversations with, but still why the hell do people want to be
on facebook at all? It doesn't seem friendly or a place to
really connect, It seems like a place to receive adds and
hostilities. These days most of the internet social networks
seem to be a place to get a written beat-down on. Maybe even
this phlog is considered hostile. Well I can come up with a
reason for adds to be on facebook, and why add sellers are
there, but if a person isn't looking for adds, why the F would
anyone want to be on those networks? 

So in this seeing what looks like a system to create
frustration, maybe I am lucky I never got into facebook. I do
regret not being on social media, seems you don't exist without
being on social media these days. Linked in, Facebook,
Instagram, X or Twitter, or the others. An active presence on
social media as a means to prove existence and self promotion.
I'm not part of those systems, never have been, and I think I'll
get to suffer for it some how, but in some way I'm hoping others
see those networks for what they are, a place to get upset and
see adds. No need for the abuse, so let the bots have it all. 

I sometimes think regulating those big tech companies, and
require a real id of some sorts to use those systems. Then when
social credit lands on them, maybe people will not treat each
other so bad on those systems, and the collective conciousness
will change for the better. Or just let the bots take over all
of it, the people leave and go be in the real world where real
people see each other face to face again and remember what
reality is, what a real connection with another human is.