boinky 0 #1 December 2, 2009 I have a 30 year old son who randomly calls or e-mails. That's fine, I'm not an overly demanding mother and I know that he has a life too. When I need something, I either drop him an e-mail or leave a message on his phone. But there is often a long space between my original contact and his responses. A few months ago, he literally begged me to create a Facebook account. He claimed that that way, I could keep up with his life, see pictures or other items of interest to him and get faster responses than when I e-mail or call him. I was shocked to hear that he is on Facebook almost every day, but rarely checks his e-mail or phone messages. But I wouldn't set up the account because I felt like I was his mother...and I should be somewhat special. I shouldn't hear about his life through a "chat" site where everyone else hears the same things when I do! Today, my 28 year old pregnant daughter and her husband basically said the same thing as my son did. "Come on mom. Stay with the times. Don't you WANT to see pictures of your granddaughters?" Shoot.......they even have pages for their daughters! She went into great detail about how great the site is and all the fun things I could do if I joined. She even semi-jokingly threatened to make a page for me and send me my new password! I told her that I'd refuse to speak to her again if she did. Of course, if I don't join, does this mean I won't be speaking to her anyway? My youngest son also has a page. He's almost 15. But he's a bit cooler about it. He gave me permission to use/look at anything I wanted through his page. I've always tried to be the "cool" parent and stay up with the times. But this time, I'm in a quandry. I don't do much "chatting" anywhere. Hell, I post an occasional personal subject for discussion, but I don't even use the "friend" thing here. Do I cave in and create an account? Or do I stand my ground and continue stating that I should be special and get e-mails/calls that were created just for me? (Oh God....am I sounding like my mother?) Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 December 2, 2009 The person that wants to communicate has to use the medium the person they want to communicate is using. Send smoke signals if you want, but understand the kids are communicating via Facebook and probably don't care to look out the window to see them.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #3 December 2, 2009 Quote understand the kids are communicating via Facebook and probably don't care to look out the window to see them. So her kids are using Macs?Come on Boink-ers, even *I* have a FB account.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
millertime24 8 #4 December 2, 2009 Seriously? You have grandchildren and you're asking a bunch of skydivers what you should do? Personally I think you should do whatever you want. FB is the medium that most people use these days to keep in contact and share pics/news/info about themselves. It's much easier to take 3 min to post an update than it is to check your voicemail, call that person back, then possibly get sucked into a conversation that could take a while. As a side note, what is this "I should be special" thing anyway? Information is information regardless of the medium used to convey it. What difference does it make if he verbally tells you or post's it on a page for you to read at your convenience?Muff #5048 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #5 December 2, 2009 Quote Come on Boink-ers, even *I* have a FB account. Yeah...yeah... But I owned a Wii before you did! Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guppie01 0 #6 December 2, 2009 My Mom & Grandma got on FB in hopes of reconnecting more. I talk to them just as much on the phone as I used to before FB. But, it has really opened up the lines of communication with the rest of our family - family that we haven't talked to in years. It's been nice. You can let it limit you, or you can use it as a tool! g "Let's do something romantic this Saturday... how bout we bust out the restraints?" Raddest Ho this side of Jersey #1 - MISS YOU OMG, is she okay? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #7 December 2, 2009 QuoteBut I owned a Wii before you did! Ok, but do you have the New Super Mario Brothers.Wii? Quite possibly the best Mario game ever made!--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #8 December 2, 2009 Quote you're asking a bunch of skydivers what you should do? Oh, like almost everyone here hasn't asked advice of skydivers at one time or another? Quote It's much easier to take 3 min to post an update than it is to check your voicemail, call that person back, then possibly get sucked into a conversation that could take a while. Isn't that what text messaging was created for? Quote what is this "I should be special" thing anyway? I'm the parent and think that perhaps I should receive a little more personal way of receiving information? What if, when they were kids, I'd said, "Oh, I can't tell you that right now. You'll have to wait 'til it's posted on a website first."Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #9 December 2, 2009 Quote Ok, but do you have the New Super Mario Brothers.Wii? No. Not yet. I am currently working on getting Guitar Hero 5, Beatles Rock Band, DJ Hero and Tony Hawk- RIDE with the skateboard controller. But I ordered Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story- for the Nintendo DS last night.Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #10 December 2, 2009 Quote Quote understand the kids are communicating via Facebook and probably don't care to look out the window to see them. So her kids are using Macs?Come on Boink-ers, even *I* have a FB account. there's about 1200 David L*&" on Facebook your missus accout was easier to find than yoursYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #11 December 2, 2009 I guess my problem with Facebook is all of the crap that shows up on a person's page. I like simple and clean! People share way too much information there! Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #12 December 2, 2009 They are very much grown adults and are way beyond the, "I'm your parent so you should do it my way" way of thinking. What's more important; making a stand or communicating and seeing pics of your grandkids?She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #13 December 2, 2009 My account is super secret. The trick is to find a mutual friend and then friend me. You shouldn't be able to easily find it in the regular searches.Hell, we even have 12 mutual friends! --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
millertime24 8 #14 December 2, 2009 QuoteIsn't that what text messaging was created for? Agreed. And why they choose not to use text's is not an answere I have. QuoteI'm the parent and think that perhaps I should receive a little more personal way of receiving information? What if, when they were kids, I'd said, "Oh, I can't tell you that right now. You'll have to wait 'til it's posted on a website first." So you prefere recieving information in a more personal manner. Great! Looks like you already know what to do then. In this case I think you should call them up and tell them exactly what you just told me.Muff #5048 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #15 December 2, 2009 Quote making a stand or communicating and seeing pics of your grandkids? Ummmmmmmmm.........yes? Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guppie01 0 #16 December 2, 2009 You can set your personal settings to block all that crap. g"Let's do something romantic this Saturday... how bout we bust out the restraints?" Raddest Ho this side of Jersey #1 - MISS YOU OMG, is she okay? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #17 December 2, 2009 Quote So you prefere recieving information in a more personal manner. Great! Looks like you already know what to do then. In this case I think you should call them up and tell them exactly what you just told me. Oh, I did...and still do....when they answer their phones. But I guess they are being even more stubborn than me. Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #18 December 2, 2009 Quote I guess my problem with Facebook is all of the crap that shows up on a person's page. I like simple and clean! People share way too much information there! Are you confusing Facebook with MySpace?quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hcsvader 1 #19 December 2, 2009 I live about 4500km away from my parents. IM lucky if I get home to see them every 1-2 years. Calling home every week gets expensive if were talking for a few hours. When I was home few years ago I showed my parents how to use facebook and how to use text messages. Both my parenst now think facebook is great. Even if I don't talk to tthem regularly they can still see what Im up to, see pictures of the foolish things im doing with my life. It has also allowed them to reconnect with some old friends they therwise wouldnt have found. I say give it a try. You just might like it!Have you seen my pants? it"s a rough life, Livin' the dream >:) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #20 December 2, 2009 Quote Are you confusing Facebook with MySpace? No. I looked at my youngest son's page. There is all sorts of "so and so did this" and "so and so fed their fish" and "who would you call?" and crap like that. It went on and on and on.......... Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #21 December 2, 2009 You have two options: 1. Act like an old geezer that doesn't need any of this new-fangled technology (maybe your grandparents thought that way about telephones. 2. Get on Facebook. But learn how to turn off the games and quizzes as soon as you sign up.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
millertime24 8 #22 December 2, 2009 Another thing you might try. I know a lot of people who actually have more than 1 FB account. Maybe you could convince them to set up "mom only" account where you are the only one on their friend list. That way everything they put up there or post there would be for you exclusively.Muff #5048 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VanillaSkyGirl 6 #23 December 2, 2009 Aw, you seem like a really sweet person, Boinky, and of course, you should be treated differently, since you are the mother. I don't think that your kids will be communicating with you like they will with their other friends on FB. Facebook can be as personal or non-personal as you'd like. For instance, you can have a FB page where your only "friends" are your children. Also, they can create special photo albums for just you. Plus, you can send messages to one another just like sending PMs on DZ.com. One more thing...you should feel happy that your children want to keep in touch via FB, since so many people do NOT want to be facebook friends with their parents. That said, I'm very surprised that you chat online to a bunch of strangers on DZ.com, yet you don't want to chat with your own children on facebook. Why don't you at least try it out on a trial basis? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #24 December 2, 2009 I don't know that I'd call myself an "old geezer" just yet. I own plenty of "newfangled" electronics and technology. I think maybe my attitude might be a little "old geezerish," though. I just couldn't even imagine asking my mom to step outside of her comfort zone to accomodate me, just so I only have to post in one place about my life. Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #25 December 2, 2009 It's not so much the "chattering," as I communicate here on occasion. When/What I choose, though. I can't really explain it, but I just feel sort of odd to be asked to share family experiences with a bunch of other people. I do try to stay in touch with my kids. And be "up to date" on things. But if I created a "family" only page and they had to respond to it, isn't that sort of defeating their purpose, though?Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
