Thanks Ann. With your help, I'm no longer a member of Facebook, whose CEO just bought Instagram today for a cool billion. Stupid boy.

I like to think of the planet-runners as more like evil clowns than thugs. But, what Roger said.

Facebook to reveal more of the data stored about you --->

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-574...red-about-you/

It seems I am one of the few that doesn't "do" facebook.
I was thinking of getting an account. Maybe I'll rethink that.

Cyn,

Please don't let the luddites discourage you. Facebook can be very useful.

You should hear the woodworkers: "Why would I want one of them new-fangled feriegn table saws? Why, my grand-daddy's unisaw worked fine for him, and it works just fine for me! And it's good old american cast iron."

"Um, what happened to the blade guard?"

"Took it off back in the winter of '72. It was in the way. And who needs a fancy riving knife, anyway? I just jam a screw-driver into the kerf, and keep on pushing." ;)

Seriously, I know some people like that. They don't do facebook either... ;)

Thanks,

Bill

Facebook helps you to react to stupid things faster and with more energy!

For one thing, Facebook is a free source of advertising. So if you're trying to sell a book, an album, a concert tour... it's a very useful social medium.

Duncan

It's helpful, too, if you have a "friend" or two who "like" your advertisement but, more importantly, are willing to "share" it.

Tim - the reason I had that link to hand was because I had saved it to my "favourites"; I feel better knowing that getting out is that easy. Like the last-resort pills in the place of safety. It's about control.

I've been feeling less and less happy about Facebook for some time. I don't like what it can do to people - most of all me. I am becoming a snitcher, a sniper, a stalker. But not a Luddite. Oh, how I resent those accusations of techno-fear.

Remember when Google-plus was a topic on here? I was sceptical about that, but I did listen when people spoke of meetings and poetry readings and stuff and so, when I was gently twitted about being a-feared of progress, I just joined the bloody thing. I gave it a go.

But it wasn't what people said it would be. I used to go there from time to time and all I ever got was a couple of friendly communications from Karen and a brilliant video of a camouflaged octopus. I sent out a general cry of loneliness which Alex answered and then it all fell silent again. I quit. Nobody, I dare swear, noticed!

I warm to the person Bill describes. I'm not quite as "bad" as that, though. I did save up for an excellent reciprocating saw a few weeks ago and I haven't cut my arm off yet. And the state-of-the-art hoe I bought with the reading fee for last year's Ledbury Festival is a constant joy to me.

I don't "do" androids and blackberries because I can't afford them. I don't have a TV, come to that. But I embrace the technology that pleases me and does me good and reserve the right to reject what I find to be unnecessary or harmful.

And, yes - I still prefer to conduct my online searches without the interference of predictive text. So sue me.