Paul Jacobson

Facebook Chat? Bah!

facebook_chat.pngJeez, I feel like I should carry about a pack of roller towel with me when I read about Facebook Chat with all the slobber coming from the blogs raving about it. Before I continue I’ll just point out that when I think about Facebook I have a slightly queasy sensation in my stomach. I’m not sure why, maybe it is the vaguely perceptible Microsoft influence (I have been allergic to Microsoft since the OOXML debacle recently) even though I continue to build my network on Facebook and occasionally visit the site.

A number of bloggers have said that Facebook Chat isn’t meant to replace your IM services, it is “about connecting with people in realtime”. Yeah, sure, that is exactly what is supposed to happen. People are going to use their IM client, Skype and Facebook Chat … for sure … eyes rolling. My favourite quote from what I have read so far is from the marvellous Stii (I say this sincerely despite my generally sarcastic tone):

Now, Facebook chat raised the bar significantly. I can now connect with people in real time. I no longer have to send the messages and wait for them to respond in a couple of hours or more. I can chat to them then and there. No other social network, as far as my knowledge goes, can say that. That is quite significant! Others are bound to follow, I’m sure, as it is quite a handy feature.

So basically Facebook is coming to terms with the trend away from email and similar messaging towards IM. So now what is happening is that Facebook owns you in yet another space – IM (yes, whether you describe it as IM or chat, it doesn’t change what it is). It already has your social network and how you keep in contact with that network via more traditional messaging. So now you are going to spend even more time on Facebook chatting, messaging, posting photos and sending out vampiric zombie pirate fight club application invites. Your day is so screwed and you’ll be lucky if you have time to think about getting some work done, never mind experiencing that increasingly rare phenomenon us older fogies like to call “physical contact” or “face to face interaction”. One thing is for sure, if your company wasn’t blocking Facebook before, kiss that blue logo goodbye cause its gone baby!

So you say you are going to be using Facebook even more now? That is great, I am really happy for you. What does it all mean for me? Not much except for the fact that I will probably not be seeing my wife anytime soon … what with Scrabulous, friends’ changing profiles and now Chat. How do I explain this to my baby? How do I explain to him that he hasn’t seen his mommy because of Facebook? Damn you Facebook!!


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13 responses to “Facebook Chat? Bah!”

  1. Stii avatar
    Stii

    Geez, Paul, thank you for the compliment! I really appreciate it.

    You raise some serious issues here, which I have not given much thought to really. My opinion is pretty low on Microsoft ever since the Microsoft, SCO vs Open Source Linux issue. I think they employ extremely shocking tactics and they are an evil company. That is how I see them. Whether it is true or not, doesn’t matter. What matters is that Microsoft is involved and now owning me in a different space. Who knows what they are doing with that data? If they can protect their source code for so long, so effectively, there is no saying what they do behind closed doors…

    Even so, its not really about Facebook for me. Yes, regrettably Facebook were the first to implement this. It is about the communication aspect of it. It is about taking Social Networking to a new level, and not about how awesome the feature is. I do have to admit, I have some sense of admiration for how its been done from a technical prespective. I think it works great! I’ve said it many times before. I do not like Facebook. Like you, I build my network, but do so feeling almost bullied into it. Not by anyone in particular, but simply due to the fact that if I’m not there, I’m missing out on hooking up with my non-techy friends.

    Dude, I feel your pain regarding your wife. It almost seems to me that that is the real issue for you here! 😉

    Reply
  2. Stii avatar
    Stii

    Geez, Paul, thank you for the compliment! I really appreciate it.

    You raise some serious issues here, which I have not given much thought to really. My opinion is pretty low on Microsoft ever since the Microsoft, SCO vs Open Source Linux issue. I think they employ extremely shocking tactics and they are an evil company. That is how I see them. Whether it is true or not, doesn’t matter. What matters is that Microsoft is involved and now owning me in a different space. Who knows what they are doing with that data? If they can protect their source code for so long, so effectively, there is no saying what they do behind closed doors…

    Even so, its not really about Facebook for me. Yes, regrettably Facebook were the first to implement this. It is about the communication aspect of it. It is about taking Social Networking to a new level, and not about how awesome the feature is. I do have to admit, I have some sense of admiration for how its been done from a technical prespective. I think it works great! I’ve said it many times before. I do not like Facebook. Like you, I build my network, but do so feeling almost bullied into it. Not by anyone in particular, but simply due to the fact that if I’m not there, I’m missing out on hooking up with my non-techy friends.

    Dude, I feel your pain regarding your wife. It almost seems to me that that is the real issue for you here! 😉

    Reply
  3. Stii avatar
    Stii

    Geez, Paul, thank you for the compliment! I really appreciate it.

    You raise some serious issues here, which I have not given much thought to really. My opinion is pretty low on Microsoft ever since the Microsoft, SCO vs Open Source Linux issue. I think they employ extremely shocking tactics and they are an evil company. That is how I see them. Whether it is true or not, doesn’t matter. What matters is that Microsoft is involved and now owning me in a different space. Who knows what they are doing with that data? If they can protect their source code for so long, so effectively, there is no saying what they do behind closed doors…

    Even so, its not really about Facebook for me. Yes, regrettably Facebook were the first to implement this. It is about the communication aspect of it. It is about taking Social Networking to a new level, and not about how awesome the feature is. I do have to admit, I have some sense of admiration for how its been done from a technical prespective. I think it works great! I’ve said it many times before. I do not like Facebook. Like you, I build my network, but do so feeling almost bullied into it. Not by anyone in particular, but simply due to the fact that if I’m not there, I’m missing out on hooking up with my non-techy friends.

    Dude, I feel your pain regarding your wife. It almost seems to me that that is the real issue for you here! 😉

    Reply
  4. Stii avatar
    Stii

    Geez, Paul, thank you for the compliment! I really appreciate it.

    You raise some serious issues here, which I have not given much thought to really. My opinion is pretty low on Microsoft ever since the Microsoft, SCO vs Open Source Linux issue. I think they employ extremely shocking tactics and they are an evil company. That is how I see them. Whether it is true or not, doesn't matter. What matters is that Microsoft is involved and now owning me in a different space. Who knows what they are doing with that data? If they can protect their source code for so long, so effectively, there is no saying what they do behind closed doors…

    Even so, its not really about Facebook for me. Yes, regrettably Facebook were the first to implement this. It is about the communication aspect of it. It is about taking Social Networking to a new level, and not about how awesome the feature is. I do have to admit, I have some sense of admiration for how its been done from a technical prespective. I think it works great! I've said it many times before. I do not like Facebook. Like you, I build my network, but do so feeling almost bullied into it. Not by anyone in particular, but simply due to the fact that if I'm not there, I'm missing out on hooking up with my non-techy friends.

    Dude, I feel your pain regarding your wife. It almost seems to me that that is the real issue for you here! 😉

    Reply
  5. Melissa avatar
    Melissa

    Hi Paul, I have friends who have been apprehensive or scared about using any IM apps in the past (yes, these people do exist) however for some reason they have embraced Facebook.
    My feeling is that FB chat will seem more accessible to them as they don’t have to install any additional programmes, by using FB chat it’s likely that they”ll be more open to the concept of instant messaging as a whole and investigate the uses IM has personally and professionally.
    Let’s wait and see but based on my personal feeling I have to agree that it’s a good thing.

    Reply
  6. Melissa avatar
    Melissa

    Hi Paul, I have friends who have been apprehensive or scared about using any IM apps in the past (yes, these people do exist) however for some reason they have embraced Facebook.
    My feeling is that FB chat will seem more accessible to them as they don’t have to install any additional programmes, by using FB chat it’s likely that they”ll be more open to the concept of instant messaging as a whole and investigate the uses IM has personally and professionally.
    Let’s wait and see but based on my personal feeling I have to agree that it’s a good thing.

    Reply
  7. Melissa avatar
    Melissa

    Hi Paul, I have friends who have been apprehensive or scared about using any IM apps in the past (yes, these people do exist) however for some reason they have embraced Facebook.
    My feeling is that FB chat will seem more accessible to them as they don’t have to install any additional programmes, by using FB chat it’s likely that they”ll be more open to the concept of instant messaging as a whole and investigate the uses IM has personally and professionally.
    Let’s wait and see but based on my personal feeling I have to agree that it’s a good thing.

    Reply
  8. Melissa avatar
    Melissa

    Hi Paul, I have friends who have been apprehensive or scared about using any IM apps in the past (yes, these people do exist) however for some reason they have embraced Facebook.
    My feeling is that FB chat will seem more accessible to them as they don't have to install any additional programmes, by using FB chat it's likely that they''ll be more open to the concept of instant messaging as a whole and investigate the uses IM has personally and professionally.
    Let's wait and see but based on my personal feeling I have to agree that it's a good thing.

    Reply
  9. Anthony avatar
    Anthony

    I have to agree with the sentiments about Facebook. Interesting for a while, but the novelty has worn off (altho’ I do still enjoy the odd game of Scrabulous).

    Besides that, I pretty much only scan statuses. It’s a way of staying in touch with lots of people – getting a quick snapshot of how they are – rather than using it as a platform to interact with them (altho I use email occasionally). It will be interesting to see if FB Chat changes that.

    Reply
  10. Anthony avatar
    Anthony

    I have to agree with the sentiments about Facebook. Interesting for a while, but the novelty has worn off (altho’ I do still enjoy the odd game of Scrabulous).

    Besides that, I pretty much only scan statuses. It’s a way of staying in touch with lots of people – getting a quick snapshot of how they are – rather than using it as a platform to interact with them (altho I use email occasionally). It will be interesting to see if FB Chat changes that.

    Reply
  11. Anthony avatar
    Anthony

    I have to agree with the sentiments about Facebook. Interesting for a while, but the novelty has worn off (altho’ I do still enjoy the odd game of Scrabulous).

    Besides that, I pretty much only scan statuses. It’s a way of staying in touch with lots of people – getting a quick snapshot of how they are – rather than using it as a platform to interact with them (altho I use email occasionally). It will be interesting to see if FB Chat changes that.

    Reply
  12. Anthony avatar
    Anthony

    I have to agree with the sentiments about Facebook. Interesting for a while, but the novelty has worn off (altho' I do still enjoy the odd game of Scrabulous).

    Besides that, I pretty much only scan statuses. It's a way of staying in touch with lots of people – getting a quick snapshot of how they are – rather than using it as a platform to interact with them (altho I use email occasionally). It will be interesting to see if FB Chat changes that.

    Reply
  13. Facebook chat brings IM to the masses « Melissa Attree

    […] a lot of comment about Facebook chat over the past two days, this morning I posted a comment on Paul’s blog in response to his anti-Facebook […]

    Reply

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