Feedback wanted

[MBH]

I would hope that you are never "forced" to take it seriously. That would be as bad as being told which newspaper you could read and hiding the existence of any other newspapers...

I'm thinking of the situation where it is 'believed' that "Everybody uses Facebook" and therefor to connect with customers, clients, etc all organizations need to do so as well. It is a surprise I've not been pressured to put the LIAZe Bus on as a way of bringing an 'online community' together. I come on here because I like you guys and the regular magazines give us all more to talk about - but the idea of going on Facebook to see what other people are doing is alien to me.

Often people learn to do something in a particular way and even though there may be a simpler, more straightforward (and sometimes better!) way to do it, they will stick with the first thing they learnt because it "feels" right. (This is especially common with computers, as I'm sure MBH will agree!)

Too right. I'm told that AOL used to stand for "Amateurs On Line" Of course the accusation of staying with what feels right could eaqually be levelled at me for my attitude

[LAT]

I would hope ... ...scary.

I'm trying to work out if you actually answered the question as to if you have ever joined Facebook.

[Redfraggle]

Would any of you consider a FB account using your 'usernames' on here? That way no connection would be made to the real person.

[gill216]

Yes, I would.
I do have a face book account in my own name but (with a few exceptions- ie- people on here ) if anyone contacts me then I usually politely reply that I'm the worst facebook friend anyone could possibly have because I don't go there. In the interests of PB then you can call me whatever you want. Just don't put up a photo of me!!!! Put one up of my imaginary dog or whatever - but not the real thing!!

[Redfraggle]

Ok, I'll add you to my list. You'll appear as gill216 on there so there'll be no connection made. People will have to request being added to the group. I'll send you a username and password via PM. Trust me on this - I know what Im doing - just dont ask me to cook

[gill216]

Asking me just not to ask you to cook is probably the best thing that would ever put my trust in you.

For those who don't know fraggle as well as some of us, then trust us. She will be house elf (she's been mine on more than one occasion ) she will do aything asked of her- BUT DO NOT ask her to cook. Actually she's the master of not cooking, you might not even notice she hasn't

[supersleuth]

What's wrong with @freeserve.co.uk may I ask

It's done me well for many years, and can easily be accessed via the Orange site as well as by Windows Mail.

[Redfraggle]

It doesn't really matter what email is attached to your FB login. No one HAS to use it. But if we try advertising puzzlebrains.com through FB - the only way to spread the word is via actual puzzlers. I would add people who I know in person (who aren't nutcases like myself). Then they could get a taster of our puzzles - who knows it might entice them to try it for themselves.

[Snoopy]

Using FB to advertise PB seems like a good idea sez me who has a grand total of 6 friends.

I don't visit FB very much but I would be willing to help advertise PB. Would this mean I would need to find more friends?

[MBH]

What's wrong with @freeserve.co.uk may I ask

It's done me well for many years, and can easily be accessed via the Orange site as well as by Windows Mail.

I thought it had been taken over, and then THAT group taken over - I had no idea that it would still operate

[Redfraggle]

FB works like dropping a pebble into the water. It has a ripple effect - it spreads outwards. Im up to 747 members through Belfast Streetgames. I can start a ripple effect in there with people i know. So Snoopy - my answer's no - you wont need to find other friends

[Bunnylump]

What I'm thinking, is that if you are posting a puzzle with links to PB, would it be worth posting a NEW puzzle, and then getting a load of us to post comments on there AS WE SOLVE IT? That way, other people could join in with it "live"...?

It would mean that we would have to just post our comment either just on there or on here and on there just for that puzzle...

[supersleuth]

What's wrong with @freeserve.co.uk may I ask

It's done me well for many years, and can easily be accessed via the Orange site as well as by Windows Mail.

I thought it had been taken over, and then THAT group taken over - I had no idea that it would still operate

It was taken over by Tiscali, then by Wanadoo, now by Orange but have always kept my original address

[LAT]

What I'm thinking, is that if you are posting a puzzle with links to PB, would it be worth posting a NEW puzzle, and then getting a load of us to post comments on there AS WE SOLVE IT? That way, other people could join in with it "live"...?

It would mean that we would have to just post our comment either just on there or on here and on there just for that puzzle...

I'm not sure about that - it would need to be a puzzle that we were able to solve with possibly a bit of collaboration. The whole thing would fall down if it was one like those FISH. That would be a sure way to put everyone off for good!

[giraffe]

we could always put an old one up and then post comments like.

"I've done the wordsearch, but I can't see what I'm supposed to do? "
" Are we supposed to use one of the words as an answer?"
" Usually they have several stages"
" I have 26 words so that gave me an idea"
"Well I think I can see a message."

So pretend to solve it. We could even have someone write the script so that it drip feeds, and doesn't go straight to it.

[LAT]

That sounds a plan!

[strep98]

I wouldn't know what to do with face book if it jumped up and bit me, but if it helps I will join, if someone tells me how.

[supersleuth]

I've come a bit late to this Facebook discussion.

As some of you know, I have recently been involved in setting up a charity, and it was pretty much a given that we should have a presence on Facebook, and in fact also on Twitter. Which I have now subscribed to, although I never thought I would.

If left to me, I wouldn't have got involved with either, and it was the younger people around (30 and less) who pushed for it. Now, I can say this as I am one of the oldest people in the forum, and what I am going to say is, who are we trying to attract? I think that people of an age that many of us are on the whole (obviously with exceptions) don't get engaged with Facebook etc. If we want to appeal to younger people, I think we have to broaden out our approach and embrace these "new technologies".

And if we do suddenly attract a lot of people in their teens and twenties, who show enough genuine interest for us to suggest they join the forum, we have to be aware that the forum will change, and will really have to change, dramatically.

I'm not saying that this is a good thing or a bad thing, but if we want to attract new people I think we need to (a) be aware of the possible impact and (b) be prepared to move well out of our comfort zone. The forum is very comfortable and safe at the moment with a comparatively small number of people posting who all really more or less know each other.

This sounds as if I am saying, don't get involved with Facebook as it will lead to problems. This is absolutely not at all what I am saying - what I am saying is we need to be targeting who we are aiming at. My own view is that we should aim to be as inclusive as possible, but should also recognise the impact that this might have.

[Redfraggle]

I think Giraffe has hit the nail on the head! That's what we need. What we DO want to do is attract people who are able to solve these puzzles. Remember they wont be directed to this forum - but to the Puzzlebrains publication in general. I think it can't hurt to try.

[Bunnylump]

No, I think it's a very good idea. And as Fraggle says, they won't actually be ON HERE unless we choose to invite them. I must say that I don't do facebook, but actually quite a few of my friends do (who are the same age as I am).