http://www.wikihow.com/Permanently-Dele ... ok-Account

Tells you how...

Once you've logged in, go to this link:
http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.ph ... te_account

It sounds like BD has more political issues with Facebook, but I have thought about the phenomenon when you want to delete something you use a lot, or want to force yourself to stop using the internet altogether, in the hope it will make you feel better.

In those times you feel down, it's easy to start associating those bad feelings with the things you do regularly. For instance when I was under a lot of stress a few years ago i started to blame this forum and photography and assumed that maybe cutting them out of my life would allow me to 're-evaluate' or would kick start some sort of change. What I found that once I discovered what the underlying problem was, I was much happier to take photography seriously again, I enjoyed using Facebook again, I enjoyed visiting this forum again.

So I wonder if that instead of 'deleting' Facebook you simply take the opportunity to fill your life with something else to the point that you no longer want to visit it all the time. However I found that many times I do stuff because 'this would be cool to share on Facebook', or this would make a good status photo etc. and it makes me do stuff with my friends in mind, it makes me read interesting links and share the ones that I find engaging, I find that Facebook is a sort McGuffin that provides a reason to 'do stuff' and that once you get in the habit of doing stuff, you can't stop, hence it can be a positive influence in your life. Maybe if you feel 'stuck in a rut'making it more difficult to engage with your friends is a bad thing? I have been on many an awesome night out which wouldn't have come about if it wasn't for a random status comment that sparked a converstation etc. So yeah make your FB as difficult to get to as possible, but maybe look at the bigger picture in your life before blaming FB for anything.

(8+0
*nods in total agreement*

Mark

Wow. What a superb post. Thank you.

I just don't like the fact that they've moved from a private, enclosed network with opt-in to provide third parties your information, into a wide-open network, with opt-out, if you actually find out that you've been opted in...


I was never really comfortable with Facebook and only joined it, because a couple of friends stopped using e-mail and started just communicating through Facebook. And that was back, when it was a private, closed network for friends, not an open network spewing all your information to any and all who want to look at it.

The constant erosion of privacy and the exposing of my information to people I've never heard of, or even to external sites, just puts me off. That isn't why I joined. Even if you say that you don't want your information shared on partner sites, if you share that information with Facebook friends, they can share your information on those partner sites for you, that is just wrong, IMHO.

I've only added stuff to my profile I'm happy for the world to know. I've also been through my profile and locked it down as far as I can, I don't join many groups (I think there are six, and only one of those is in any way active), and I block any and all silly games.

But then, I'm informed enough to know that. Many FB users are completely unaware of what information they put up there can be visible, or what to do about it.

The thought has crossed my mind about deleting my account in the past month or so. Then again, because I'm not sharing my entire biography up there, I don't feel as if it's any danger to me.

OMJF you as well! First Edd now you …
It's me isn't it? What am I doing that is clearing all my friends?!?

Mark

It's nothing to do with you, or any of my friends. No need to panic.

Like a lot of folk, I have been finding the interweb a distraction of late. I find it easier to waste a day futzing about looking at blogs and twittering and posting nonsense on Facebook than actually getting down and completing tasks I should be doing. It's a failing of mine, not being able to control this mild addiction, so I consider the options of dropping some of the things that feed the habit.

Perhaps now the ballyhoo of the election and aftermath is dying down, things will get a bit quieter and I will be able to concentrate without diving to the browser every tenth click.

In addition, I think there may be better ways to feed my desire to write and share than FB. Like a couple of the others here, I'm playing with Posterous as an outlet. The instantaneous nature of Twitter also helps, as it's more like overhearing a fleeting conversation, than having to follow up on various comments in lengthy threads.

I guess it's down to the fact I need to work out how and why I want to have a presence on the internet, and how I can use it to the best advantage for my future as well as keeping up with those I care about.

That was another annoyance, any interests in your profile now automatically join you to the relevant group...

They haven't for me, that I can see.

Yeah, it's totally you. And I'm not even your friend.



I'm exactly the same, but I think Leeds' post deals with that point to an extent, very nicely.

My profile is locked down to the max. I regularly check privacy settings and don't display any info about myself at all, not even to friends. I don't trust Facebook to keep it "private". However, that's not the big deal for me and it seems I'm not the only one.

(8+0
(8+(
Good! You're just a mean man! (8+p

Mark

It must be the poking…!

Do I poke too vigourously?

Mark

I'm not sure, I guess it depends on the vigorousness of the poke returns. I've never had cause to complain, but I recall reading about a poke war on my status feed.