Read this before sending your next "private" Facebook message

An unexplained Facebook glitch flooded a Wall Street Journal reporter's inbox with 128 private messages written by complete strangers to their friends. He's sharing some of those messages with readers -- and at least one is upset about that. (Blogs.WSJ.com)

Comments

[Emperor Norton the 1st]

The Five Stages of Facebook Use
http://www.facebook.com/joshua.s.hotchkin?ref=profile#!/notes/joshua-scott-hotchkin/the-five-stages-of-facebook-use/489519970083

[MidtownCoog]

All computer glitches are human.

[oldewave]

am i the only person on the planet who has never been on facebook and has no intention ever to be?

[Torgo]

o_O

[David]

I'm only on Facebook for the games.

[Emperor Norton the 1st]

Only for the games? Stage 2.

[lynn]

lines up behind oldwave...me too...

[thomas]

Me three.

[thomas]

lynn;
send a note so i can write back atcha.

[Sheila]

oldewave, you are not alone.

[Torgo]

I only read Facebook for the articles.

[thomas]

LOL@ Torgo!
Ya got me bud

[David]

Torgo, that was awesome.

I forgot, I also like the YouTube links - those are articles, right?

[RockyMtnMac]

I only Facebook so I can flirt with Navy Chief. I send him epic IM's.. Hope they don't end up in the Wall Street Journal...

[kestrelmas]

I used to be on Facebook only for the games...

Then I cut back when I realized Sims was better. I don't check my friends' pages because they're all full of game apps...with viruses.

"Click here for your friend's stupid cow that got out! It needs a home!"

I'm on it mainly for family and my roommates now... And coworkers. :)

[Reno]

I'm on facebook so I can see how fat the high school cheerleaders are 15 years after the fact. It never disappoints.

[kestrelmas]

@Reno - kestrelmas likes this.

[RockyMtnMac]

Reno!
Take that back!
(*sitting on Reno)

[thomas]

Reno;
Anyone ever call you delightfully wicked??

[Navy Chief]

Back at ya, RMM. Well, Twerp, too.

[Reno]

@ kestrelmas - wanna be my friend? I can teach you how to block the apps so you don't have to sift through the crap... (among other things). Tempted?

@ RMM - I'll never take that back! Never!

@ Thomas - glad I hit your delight button. It's funny how honesty sometimes ends up being funny. :)

[kestrelmas]

@ Reno - Oh I have them blocked. ;) But I'll be your friend anyway! :D

[johnjohn]

Oldwave,

I too am a blank in the Facebook World (BLANK IS BEAUTIFUL!). Everytime I consider caving into the peer pressure to sign on, Facebook seems to make more headlines about privacy issues. So, no, you are not the only one.

Also, this just proves how far the once venerable WSJ has fallen. From the pinnacle of journalism down into the Rupert Murdoch cesspool of the FOX Media Family.

[Emperor Norton the 1st]

There really is no privacy left in our world. On the bright side, the world is also so populated that the content of our lives gains a sort of privacy through anonymity. I find it odd how humans are so entirely obsessed by privacy but seem unaffected by the increasing void of liberty. I have very little concern over my privacy, and in fact, prefer that the contents of my thoughts are open to others. You learn alot more about yourself when open yourself up to this kind of public scrutiny, and I think that discovering the complexities of ones self to be one of the most satisfying parts of existence.

[thomas]

johnjohn;
Right on about WSJ.
Murdoch gets the wall for cramming MORE mediocrity into our lives,,,,as if Fox Media wasn't enough.
Rocky Rococo at your cervix!

Emp 1st;
Vive la liberte!

Reno;
Lucky girl.
Ever win at slots? ;>)

[Reno]

kestrelmas, email me? cmayhew9@yahoo.com

Thomas, I rarely gamble. I usually try to lay my money on the sure things. ;)

[Emperor Norton the 1st]

@thomas: The great conundrum here is that until somebody liberates their own mind, they can never fully understand their lack of or need for more liberty. That is a very difficult thing to do, liberate ones own mind. There are shortcuts like entheogens, but an expanded conciousness and deeper awareness of the complexities of our existence doesn't come easily. As a result it doesn't come to a large portion of people for all of their lives, and the consequence is that everyone has to live in the cages created through consensus in the minds of the lowest mental denominator. It has been said "Free your mind and the rest will follow.", but thats like telling a tomato to pick itself. You say toe-mah-toe. Maybe tomorrow.

[ambeckham]

Never been on no spacebook but every now and then like to see some old girlfriends on myface.

[LimeGreenLizard]

Emp, it's one's self... “apostrophe s”

That said, I deeply agree with both of your posts. Have you been drinking? (No sarcasm font)

"...I dunno. Gimme another beer"
Gary Larson

Anyone remember that one? I spewed.

[Emperor Norton the 1st]

Not yet, LGL :]

Seriously though, I am just exiting a relationship that became unsatisfying, which I believed has caused me alot of personal existential problems that have crippled my capacity for healthy interactions with other human beings. That being said, I am issuing a blanket apology for reducing many of my interactions here into name-calling matches. I am not saying it will never happen again, but awareness breeds improvement. Bitchiz ♥!

[Reno]

You know it's the right thing to do when the breakup brings joy instead of sorrow. Congratulations!

[me2]

Facebook? What's Facebook?

[RockyMtnMac]

Bitchiz ♥!
I resemble that remark...
Apology accepted.
Have an enormous weekend!

[ambeckham]

Never been on no spacebook but every now and then I like to look and see an an old girlfriend on myface.

[thomas]

Emp du Nort;
Tough to be a man, baby. Also admire your admission. Look forward to answering your last post to me tomorrow A.M. after sleeping over it. Many good minds and hearts here. You have my support and help if needed. Been there.
Also wishing you a great weekend, and hope you will go easy on the liquid depressants. What State do you call home?
Damned decent of you to apologize. Nobody who stays here long enjoys lenghthy bashing or finger pointing. That's for the trolls,,,and you are clearly better than that. Rest well.
thomas

[Krash]

I put about 11 photo albums up for old friends and my relatives to look at...one album has photos of 215 year old mill ledgers owned by family ancestors and 130 year old "photos" of great-great-grands for the novelty of friends and cousins. Its a great way to share with 25 cousins and their kids.
Other than that and finding people from High School, I really don't have a use for Facebook.

[Emperor Norton the 1st]

Thanks for the kind words folks!

I am a resident of Iowa City, Iowa.
My liquid sobriety, at least for tonight, is and shall remain perfectly intact. Too much last night at band practice.
I can be bothersome here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/joshua.s.hotchkin?ref=profile

[Allison]

I read the article, but it doesn't seem like the guy gave out personal information about anyone. He quoted some of the messages but not enough to tie any particular person to them.

[Charles]

There is nothing private about Facebook.

[mick monroe]

i think facebook is brill

[American Veteran]

I only go to facebook so I can watch porn of RMM & the Chief.
And, if you ever have to see either of them nakey, porn & puke start with the same letter.lol

Haven't seen them in a while so

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere they are~~

THAT COUPLE

[thomas]

Emp du Nort;
Wrote a modest dissertation based on experience to address entheogens, consensus, liberty, and enterprise.
Found it too personal to post here.
Suggestions?

[pookie]

I facebook to stay in touch with friends and acquaintances...no way could i afford the telephone bills i would have to pay for making calls every day to all of them.I don't send anything on facebook that i would not want anyone to see..In this day and time everyone can find out anything about anybody..and it is the price we pay for freedom...I know the state,local and federal government can look at and listen to us if they want to and the average citizen should realize that, too.

[kestrelmas]

Hey Reno! I emailed you! :) Add away!

[kestrelmas]

Apology accepted, Norton... :) Hope you find some happiness, within... and hope that person didn't spoil you for the next one. I've been kind of bratty to you as well, so I owe you an apology too.

::many hugs::

[Navy Chief]

@AmVet - If we DID videotape ourselves - and I'm not saying we don't - we CERTAINLY wouldn't put it up for public consumption. We want SOME privacy, after all.

[RockyMtnMac]

Yeah, AmVet! We ONLY put those naughty pictures up on Facebook where ONLY our close friends can laugh at us, not the whole world.. sheesh!

[Boba Fett]

Put me in the never been, never going to be in Facebook line...

[Emperor Norton the 1st]

@thomas: I wish I knew a forum for such things, but I have found none so far I like much. The best bet is in the forums at joerogan.net However, I'd love to read it- ImmaculusVonNorton@gmail.com

@kestrelmas: Apology accepted. Thank You! :) No, not spoiled, she is a great person. It was just us that wasn't working.

[Emperor Norton the 1st]

Dear Mr. Romanesko...
Perhaps a forum section here for discussions unrelated to OS&RR posts?
The posts themselves inspire a variety of ideas and discussions, it seems a natural extension.