New Horizons

I've been starting to get bored with Facebook for quite a while. And after reading a news article about Facebook selling its users personal information for "targeted marketing campaigns" (otherwise known as "spam") I've come to a conclusion that it's probably a good time to stop using it altogether and close my account. But it's not that simple to do. Even if you chose to close your account Facebook only deactivates it, the information remains on their database for 12 months. During this time they can use the information however they like. "Hey, that sounds unfair!" I hear you cry. But it's right there in the terms & conditions that you have to accept when you sign up. What was that? You didn't read the T&C's?? Neither did I, but it's right there. Why do they keep your info? Their excuse is that it's in case the user changes his or her mind and wants to re-register, and all of their info is right there and ready to go. The profile will look as though you've never gone away.

It turns out the only way to actually get it deleted is by writing them a letter requesting full removal from their database. They're probably relying on the fact that most people can't be bothered to do this seeing as we're now in the age of the email and SMS. To actually put pen to paper, write out a letter, put it in an envelope, write an address, buy a stamp (most people don't have them lying around the house like they used to) and post it in a pillarbox is far too much of a chore.

Last October I signed up to Twitter. I didn't use it much at first but recently I've become addicted. If you're on there too follow me at @stevejbeck.

EDIT: BTW, that Twittercounter over there on the right is broken. It says I've got 8 followers!! I've actually got 19 (I know it's not many but when you've got this few they're precious!)

Happy Birthday to me!!

So, I'm now officially one year older... making me a ripe 33! Mum woke me up with a phone call at 8 to tell me "Only 7 years to go until you're 40!" Thanks for that mum, I don't need reminding.

Lisa's planned a meal with all my friends at Zizzi tonight. Looking forward to that.

I've already got 4 birthday messages from friends on facebook.

Oh, and I found out that Edgar Wright has added me as a contact on flickr.com. Cool.

Bad news: Our goldfish died overnight. She was 7 years old!!!!

Bored of the internet?!?

I dunno, maybe I am. I've not logged onto here for an update for a long time. I hardly use Facebook to talk to people. I occassionally log onto MySpace to check messages but ignore friend requests (There's 3 pages on my own profile and about 12 pages on Blind Voyeurs' profile) I've not uploaded to my flickr. I've posted once or twice on Solid Air messageboard and Never go to b3ta anymore (hmmm I must check that out)

These days I've mainly been on youtube. I've only posted 1 video about 3 weeks ago but I regularly log on to watch vids - current favourites being 21stCenturyCat (for a bit of vlogging and comedy) and SFLogicNinja (for really useful tutorials for Logic 8)

I'm often checking out news on digg.com - occassionaly commenting. But that's about it. I'm kinda bored of participating in conversations. I just use it to mainly read or watch stuff. I think it's just got to a stage where I've got so many profiles on so many different sites that it just becomes a chore to go to them all everyday. The profiles I've talked about here are just a few. There are a load that are more neglected than these.

Don't worry. I'm sure I'll snap out of it!

Facebook

Yep! That's me addicted, too!!

Everyone's been banging on about it fo rthe last couple of months but I had a look, didn't get it, and shyed away back to MySpace again. But now I've given it a proper go and I'm hooked!! Typical!

The funny thing is, just as I'd signed up and started using it properly, there was a feature about it on Richard & Judy. At one point they were interviewing random people in the street and some were saying they had, like, 400 friends! They must be using it like Myspace where you add random people because they're fit or they're a band or whatever. I'm gonna be using it just to keep in touch with people I know, I reckon.