Hotel CaliFacebook

June 12, 2008 at 11:19 am

I decided this morning to quit Facebook. I agree that it has its uses, but it recently struck me that there are probably more people – my facebook ‘friends’ – who have access to information about me than I would normally want. So yesterday I started restricting access to my profile information. But then I got thinking about the things I have gained from being on Facebook. Yea, it has helped me find old friends whom I probably would not have found if there were no Facebook. But that that was about it… I don’t care so much for being slapped, turned into a zombie, getting sent pictures of small girls telling small boys about how they would control their lives with the thing inside their panties. So I set about looking for how to delete my account.

Hotel California
I remember someone likening Facebook to Hotel California, a place from which you can check-out but can never leave. Well, it was close to that once I decided to delete my account. I looked under the accounts tab but the only thing I got was a link to deactivate my account, but then there was this:

Note: Even after you deactivate, your friends can still invite you to events, tag you in photos, or ask you to join groups. If you opt out, you will NOT receive these email invitations and notifications from your friends.

But that was not what I wanted. I wanted to be off it so that I would not be tempted to log into it again. So I googled and I got these results. I clicked on the search result item from Facebook and it took me to a page where I could fill in a form for them to delete my account. I thought I should be in control of whether I want my account to be deleted or not; Facebook does not give me that kind of choice. I filled in the form and got this message:

Thanks, your inquiry has been forwarded to the Facebook Team.

That is how they treat a request to have ones account deleted – an inquiry.

Then I got this email in my mailbox:

Hi,

The Facebook Team has received your inquiry. We should get back to you soon. In the meantime, we encourage you to review our Privacy and Security Help page (http://www.facebook.com/help.php?page=433). There, you’ll find answers to many common questions.

Thanks for contacting Facebook,

The Facebook Team

I want to get my account deleted but it is an inquiry, a response to which might already be on the help page of Facebook. All I can do now is wait. I hope getting out of all the other social networking sites is not as long-winded and convoluted as this.

http://www.aloofaa.blogspot.com/ Chris

I hate to hear that “Even after you deactivate, your friends can still invite you to events, tag you in photos, or ask you to join groups”

It’s just another way of saying one can’t really get out of facebook.

I’m fighting my demons too
http://www.aloofaa.blogspot.com/ Chris

I hate to hear that “Even after you deactivate, your friends can still invite you to events, tag you in photos, or ask you to join groups”

It’s just another way of saying one can’t really get out of facebook.

I’m fighting my demons too
http://www.aloofaa.blogspot.com Chris

I hate to hear that “Even after you deactivate, your friends can still invite you to events, tag you in photos, or ask you to join groups”

It’s just another way of saying one can’t really get out of facebook.

I’m fighting my demons too
http://www.nigeriancuriosity.com/ solomonsydelle

I’m trying to find a way to punish one of my friends who, despite the fact that i use my blog name of fbook, told a fellow blogger who I really am. I won’t lie, I was upset. I joined fbook to network with my readers, not to meet old friends or make new ones, no offense to anyone. Anyway, I am also beginning to think that aborting fbook (even though it will take ages to truly accomplish) might be the way to go.

Hope all is well.
http://www.nigeriancuriosity.com solomonsydelle

I’m trying to find a way to punish one of my friends who, despite the fact that i use my blog name of fbook, told a fellow blogger who I really am. I won’t lie, I was upset. I joined fbook to network with my readers, not to meet old friends or make new ones, no offense to anyone. Anyway, I am also beginning to think that aborting fbook (even though it will take ages to truly accomplish) might be the way to go.

Hope all is well.
http://loomnie.com loomnie

@Chris. Yea, it gets a little freaky once you try to leave and find out these things, as if it is not freaky enough when you realise, after thinking about it, how much information about you is on facebook.

@SolomonSydelle. I understand that you are upset… in fact I think you should be. People should respect and understand it if we choose to keep some of ourselves private.

By the way, my account has finally been deleted.
http://loomnie.com/ loomnie

@Chris. Yea, it gets a little freaky once you try to leave and find out these things, as if it is not freaky enough when you realise, after thinking about it, how much information about you is on facebook.

@SolomonSydelle. I understand that you are upset… in fact I think you should be. People should respect and understand it if we choose to keep some of ourselves private.

By the way, my account has finally been deleted.
http://www.lifelib.blogspot.com/ T

Control freak!
kidding
http://www.lifelib.blogspot.com/ T

Control freak!
kidding
http://www.lifelib.blogspot.com T

Control freak!
kidding
http://dave-lucas.blogspot.com/ Dave Lucas

Of the various social networking sites I’ve joined, FaceBook has proven to be the least useful. MySpace is, so-so. My passions are writing, reporting and blogging. As such, I seem to have gotten the most out of MyBlogLog. After all, Loomnie, that’s how I got to know you!

Peaceful Blessings!
http://dave-lucas.blogspot.com Dave Lucas

Of the various social networking sites I’ve joined, FaceBook has proven to be the least useful. MySpace is, so-so. My passions are writing, reporting and blogging. As such, I seem to have gotten the most out of MyBlogLog. After all, Loomnie, that’s how I got to know you!

Peaceful Blessings!