During all the "Just" drama, I read women thanking the moderators for managing their Facebook groups. Not having a Facebook group myself, I thought, "How tough can it be?" So I started one. And guess what? It's not!
The group that I started is for a local sewing group. It is considered a "secret group," meaning it will not show up in a search. Instead, you have to be added by a member or a moderator. It may be the answer for my Lebo Citizens blog.
I won't get ten hits a day from Timmy, Jan Klein, or the PIO. I won't get hits from Tucker Arensberg when Timmy or school board directors gets cranky. Think of the benefits. Productivity would increase. Billable hours would be reduced.
On my Facebook group, I don't get anonymous comments where I am called a c***. Telling me to move out of Mt. Lebanon just doesn't happen. No hideous comments about my poor husband. Remarks about my "miserable life" are non-existent. I can still share documents, links, and photos.
I do see some disadvantages. You would have to be on Facebook. You would have to email me at EGillen476@aol.com, if you want to become a member or rely on another member to join. Circulation would decrease. But who cares? It would slow down the haters.
My Facebook group is a delight. I'm going to give this some serious thought.
20 comments:
This seems for the best. Most especially, all comments would have attribution, ending the monologues made to look like dialogues you reference above.
What about those of us who prefer to remain anonymous ?
If interested, send me a friend request on Facebook, and I can start a group there. When this blog was private, I could only have 99 members. But just like all the other Lebo groups on Facebook, there is no limit.
Elaine
Sorry, 2:48 PM, but there are going to be some unhappy people IF I choose to go via FB. Timmy blocked me all those years on Twitter, and at the same time, read my blog. I couldn't do anything about it. Then there have been the "anonymous" comments from certain municipal employees, yet if I am to comment on their FB pages, I have to do it through FB.
I learned quite a bit from my "Just" experience. The moderators don't have to deal with threats, trolls, or spam.
If you have to say something and need to remain anonymous, you probably shouldn't be saying it. You can always email me at EGillen476@aol.com. Or send me a private message through Facebook.
I am thinking of switching by February 1. I am expecting some big news in February and would like to share it "among friends." I can't set up the group until I have some member requests. I cannot add you until I receive a Facebook friend request from you.
Again, this isn't definite, but it is one of my goals.
Elaine
Please do.
Got my first friend request for the new Facebook group. Thank you! I will switch to the FB group on February 1.
Elaine
If we're already friends on FB, send me a PM, if you are interested in joining the Lebo Citizens Facebook group. Thanks.
Elaine
I'm not on Face Book. What about us ?
I'm sorry, 7:34 AM. Maybe it is because today is the saddest day of the year (the third Monday in January.) But I can't take any more of the horrible anonymous comments. I tried only accepting signed comments. That gets into the issue of anonymity. I tried making this blog private, but then I heard all about the evils of Google. Plus, it limits me to 99 people. What really ticked me off was the number of hits from certain people in the municipality and school district. They are supposed to be working on our dime, not lurking here.
I am going to give Facebook a try. The bottom line is that I won't please everyone, but this might be the best solution for me to stop the trolls.
Elaine
I have a suggestion for those of you that would like to remain anonymous publicly. In private facebook groups, you can direct message the group administrator (in this case, Elaine) and ask to post your comment anonymously. That is, of course, if Elaine is willing to do that. At least this way, she knows who is commenting but the public at large does not.
Very interesting, 9:45 AM. Must they be members first?
Elaine
Elaine, yes, they need to be members of the group first.
Thanks for the info, 12:49 PM. Readers have always had that option here by emailing me, but generally, the ones who are submitting the hurtful comments don't want me to know who they are. True bullies.
I do have a suggestion. Once I have accepted your friend invite, unfollow me. You would still have access to the Facebook group, but you don't have to put up with all my sewing posts.
I chose "Secret Group" rather than "Closed Group." A closed group allows anyone to find the group and can see who's in it.
Elaine
I’m betting you won’t survive the lack of attention.
I'll be fine. How about you?
Elaine
Lol I agree with 2:36. All of your followers have the same mind set, you’ll be complaining amongst yourselves.
Get it out of your system, while you can. I love how some of you don't consider yourselves readers of this blog.
Elaine
I certainly don’t deny being a reader, but do you acknowledge the hypocrisy? Have you published all of my comments? Of course not, but keep suggesting it’s about transparency. The lack of attention, comments and controversy will bore you to tears, but moving this blog to a private FB group will serve the community well. As they say in social media, “Bye Felicia!”
7:42 You are inaccurate. I think it's her haters that are going to have a hard time dealing with the fact that they can't see what she's going to expose next. Some of the comments that Elaine HAS published have been some of the meanest, nastiest, most hateful things I've ever read about a person online. And, PLEASE, stop using slang, it's giving me second-hand embarrassment for you.
I don't want to mislead anyone. I was hoping to be able to share some news with everyone on Lebo Citizens Facebook group, but it looks like it will later than expected. Sorry for the delay.
I am still going to switch over to Facebook Feb. 1st, if I have something to post. If anyone who is on there now wants to say something, feel free to do so.
Sign ups are slow, which I expected. I do have my twelve readers though. There will not be a rush for sign ups, considering the ones who read this blog the most are elected officials, those employed at 710 Washington Road, or work on Horsman Drive.
If there are reports of a missing person, or something equally important, I will still be using the blog. Knowing that there are times in which our local public information offices seem to drop the ball, I will do my best to keep you all informed. If anything, you can count on reading Timmy's Tweets, if you are still blocked.
Send a friend request to me (Elaine Trigg Gillen) or if we are already friends on Facebook, just let me know if you want me to add you to the group. Thanks.
Elaine
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