"Like" or "Dislike"

Geek Sugar recently posted a question to twitter asking Should Facebook have a "Dislike" button too?

My response is WHY? WHY do people insist on having a "Dislike" button?

Last year I got into a discussion on Facebook with a guy I knew in High School about this same subject. He had posted the same copy/paste that I had seen going around at the time. It was something like "Post this in your status if you want a Dislike button, we need 1,000,000 people to make this happen" so I responded asking why. Why did he feel the need to express his dislike of something someone posted when he could simply ignore it and move on. Ignoring something by NOT clicking "Like" or commenting on it is effectively a "Dislike" since you were so indifferent to it you chose to not "Like" it. He argued that ignoring it wasn't the same because he wanted to be able to express his dislike of what some people post. Eventually he quit answering me after I kept pointing out flaws in his logic and shooting holes in his hate veiled as an excuse. Put simply, he wanted a method to express his anger, hatred, or contempt for stuff that people post but he didn't want to go to the effort to actually comment or talk to the person. Pretty pathetic huh?

Now, as Geek Sugar points out, the point of her post is not for a general "Dislike" but more of a situation where you don't want to "Like" your friends post about their cat dying but you want a simple one click solution to show your dislike of the situation showing your sympathy for them. This idea is a noble one and one that would normally be ok but lets face it, 99.99999% of people that would use the "Dislike" button are not so noble. They want a "Dislike" button so they can express their opinion and disapproval of your post. Like the guy from high school, these same people lack the courage to post a comment and enter into a discussion on whatever the subject is that they "Dislike" or they'd already be doing that. They want a simple, anonymous, button to click to push their opinion on you in an effort to belittle your post or establish their self-perceived superiority over your post/opinion.

A "Dislike" button would lead to nothing but abuse by those without the strength to own up to their own opinions. If someone keeps posting shit you don't like, unfriend them or hide their updates. Stop asking for a tool to try and oppress peoples updates and opinions.

End Users

It never fails. Every day at least one person accuses me of "standing in their way" and "stopping them from doing their job". What they don't understand is that it's my JOB to get in their way. The tools and devices I manage are DESIGNED to stop certain things from happening until requested, justified, approved and implemented. Sadly though, end users are incapable of understanding the larger picture. They expect the Internet to be as open to them at work as it is from their virus-laden, bot-net participating, busted ass home PC. When they hit a block to a restricted category they immediately start the accusations and bitching and whining. When I see their little rant-fest this is the only image of them that comes to mind

Waaaaaaaa I can't hit Facebook!!!

You're stopping me from doing my job!!!!!!

Some users go to extreme detail explaining to me what Facebook is. They explain it like I've never even heard of it. They detail why its important to the company and why they need access "to contact customers" or "get important contact information". Yet many times, the URL captured by the block page (yes we see EVERYTHING you morons) is a link to the Farmville Facebook App or some other useless Facebook GAME. They actually think we're stupid and can't see what they were doing when they got blocked. One mental giant actually accused us of "holding up Millions of dollars of potential revenue" because he couldn't get to Facebook. He got his access but I'm still waiting to hear about the "Millions of dollars" he was going to bring into the company.

Facebook and Social Networking is the New Frontier for businesses these days. In the current social environment, a business that isn't on Facebook or Twitter is really missing out on many customer service opportunities. Society, via the Internet and Social Networking, has evolved to a state of instant news and information and people expect more from the companies they choose to do business with. Companies that once ignored and banned access to Social Networking are now beginning to embrace it so they can take advantage of those opportunities. This is a good thing. Its about time that businesses caught up and figured out what us geeks have known about for years. Just don't go around acting like its the only reason you have for being in your position and the world will end if you can't get to Myspace. Your screaming little rant-fest just makes me laugh and gets you pushed to the bottom of the queue.

Be nice or be last

If you call it Face book then you don't deserve the access

Something came up today that made me think. Its funny how the older, out of touch people (ie: execs/directors/managers) suddenly need access to the tools and applications of today (social media), yet they don't understand even a fraction of what its all about or even how to use it. All they know is its the "hip cool thing" now and they need access to it to figure out how to make MILLIONS from it. I shit you not, I had a request that once accused me of holding up millions in potential revenue because some guy couldn't get to facebook.com.

There is a reason that tv shows and commercials poke fun at executives that are clueless about their own company. Its well deserved.

I'm sure one day I'll be, in some fashion, in that same boat with something that is new and for a younger generation. Of course that will only happen if someone figures out a way to zap the geek gene out of my DNA and then locks me in a cave for a decade but it could happen, maybe.

Until then, its Facebook, not Face book you outdated old fossil

25 Random Things...

Currently making the rounds in Facebook is the 25 Random Things About Me list.

Rules: Once you are tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits or goals about yourself. At the end, choose 25 people to tag. You have to tag the person that tagged you.

Note: I got tagged twice in almost the same moment yesterday

1. Its true, I'm a geek

2. I think its a crime to actually bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, just eat it in its pure, raw form

3. I firmly believe that the concept of salaried workers being expected to put in 45, 50, 60 hours a week is complete bullshit. Random overages happen but for a boss to say (and I've had it said to me) "you're salaried and expected to put in 45-50 hours a week" is wrong.

4. Until OS X I was a mac hater, now I can't stand Windows but I do give it credit for getting me to where I am today.

5. I'm a Sci-Fi and Discovery channel nut, the 2 best stations on TV period.

6. Like most geeks I can quote the Holy Grail as well as a plethora of other movies. Inconceivable!!

7. If I had a nickel for every hour I've spent on the phone helping someone do something on their computer that would take me 10min to do, I could have retired last Thursday.

8. I have little to no patience with stupidity but I always try to be polite when dealing with it

9. I believe that CEOs of companies should follow the Steve Jobs model and work for $1. They should be paid for their companies performance via bonus and stock value ONLY. CEOs that make millions while their companies tank and employees get laid off should be taken out and shot.

10. My dream job is to be a Mythbuster

11. I am a Level 80 Pack Rat with a Cloak of Hoarding +50, Gloves of Can't Throw That Away +35, Armor of I Might Need That One Day +60, and Boots of I Can Fix That Later +25. Just ask Jessica or look in my Garage.

12. I am a cross between Tim "The Toolman" Taylor and Bob Vila and have the medical records to and scars to prove it.

13. I go completely and absolutely batshit crazy at Halloween with the decorating

14. I'm a sucker for natural redheads

15. My upper lip and chin haven't seen daylight in 20 years

16. I love to hike and dream of doing the AT one day, just gotta get in better shape

17. I love Guinness

18. I have read the Belgariad and Mallorean Series by David Eddings 10 times and will probably read it another 10

19. I am thrilled and ecstatic that Logan loves to read and absorbs books daily

20. I know there is life besides us in the Universe, Statistically its not possible for it to be just us with all that we can see from our little spot in space. If it is just us then its a awful waste of space.

21. Believe it or not, I have never smoked weed but believe it should be legal, just tax and regulate it. "Gateway drug" my ass, gateway to the Doritos, Mountain Dew, and a Nap maybe but hardly to other stuff.

22. I have not traveled as much as I would like to, I plan to change that one day

23. I believe that some groups need to focus more on their own house and not what others are doing in theirs. One groups beliefs do not need to become other peoples Laws. Manage your own flock and let the rest of the world do the same.

24. I'm an early adopter/gadget whore, always looking for the next new thing and usually end up getting it. (iPhone, Drobo, etc..)

25. Hearing Logan playing in his room with his turtles and having an active imaginative conversation makes the universe fall into place for me, it is very relaxing.