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August 14, 2009

Facebook Etiquette 101

Posted: 07:05 AM ET

By Writer Keith

If you haven’t heard yet, Morning Express with Robin Meade has a new Facebook page. And I can tell you one thing: Writer Keith likes this. It’s a great way for us, the entire show team, to hear from you as the morning goes on. Plus, it gives you a way to hear what is going on in the world of news, sports, and entertainment. It’s a way for you to talk with other viewers and many mornings your comments could make it on TV. You can even see if Robin is coming to your city to sign her new book (which actually comes out on my birthday, September 10th. Coincidence? I think so.)

Please keep your status updates to things like 'Making spaghetti for the kids.'
Please keep your status updates to things like 'Making spaghetti for the kids.'

Now I am sure many of you have already signed up for Facebook. It’s a great way to catch up with old friends you may not have seen in years. I’ve found all sorts of people I had forgotten about from high school and from middle school (more on that in a bit). If you are still on the fence and are reading this blog, why not join? It don’t cost nothing. So if you are new to the site or an old pro that needs some reminders, I wanted to go over some stuff I’ve noticed about what people post on their “wall” and other benefits of the site. Some good, some not so good.

1) Please do not post status updates that are WAYYYYY too personal

Sure, posting stuff on the site can be fun. “Alyssa is making pizza,” “O’B is driving to New Hampshire,” “Max is cruising the freshman dorms.” But sometimes, people seem to air a lot of dirty laundry on there. Do I really need to know about all of the problems you are having with your significant other? “John says he knows why divorce is so expensive ... it’s worth every penny.” “Mary thinks her boyfriend better sleep with one eye open. I know about your affair and I know where the crazy glue is.” I have had to block some people off of my list because of them venting about divorce, break-ups, infidelity, everything. Folks, let’s just keep it to making spaghetti. And please don't write about how drunk you are. Your employer, or future employer, will see it.

2) Old pictures: It’s a two-way street

Many of us have had the moment: Looking at old pictures and cringing because of the crazy hairstyles and fashion. Well now they can be posted for the entire world to see on people’s Facebook photo album. At first I thought it was funny. I saw some old pics of classmates from St. John’s elementary and middle school. The amount of big hair and claw hairstyles (that big poof that teenage girls used to do with their bangs) made me laugh out loud. But then a picture from my junior prom hit the web. Now the fashion wasn’t too bad (except that I weighed about 110 pounds and had the same 7 ½ hat size), but I thought I had all pictures of me destroyed from that dance. I had fun, but my prom date was a disaster. To put it in perspective, the prom was the same night as the OJ Bronco chase. OJ had a better night.

3) Do you really need to do that many polls or invite me to a game?

Many people like to do these polls or top 5 lists. Who are your favorite bands, do you agree with such and such policy. These are fun…every once in a while. There are some people who do 10 of these a day, clogging up your wall. Do you need to spend that amount of time every day letting people know that you would choose King Kong Bundy and Courtney Love as your body guard? And please: No more invites for fantasy games. If I want to join something I will. Please don’t ask me to hide a body from your Mafia War fantasy world.

4) Tips from other people and keeping up with things back home

Facebook has been a great help for me with getting tips for my new baby. It seems about 800 people on my friends list have had a kid within the past 3 months. In fact, three of the women from my high school class and two guys from college had a baby the same month as mine. So we all get to watch our kids grow at the same rate and give advice and empathize with each other.

It can also help out with tough times back home. Things you may have never heard about, you’ll hear about. A classmate of mine from high school recently passed away. I won’t go into the details, but it is always tough to lose someone you know at such a young age. Thanks to the website, I was able to keep up with the details and send thoughts and prayers to those who were closer to my classmate than I was. I am not sure if it helped, but I know it didn’t hurt.

Well that’s it. What are some of things you like/dislike about Facebook. You can post your comments on the blog or on our fancy new show Facebook group.

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Filed under: Facebook • Morning Express crew


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Fran   August 14th, 2009 8:31 am ET

Where are all the protesters when child molesters and rapists are set free with barely a slap on the wrist. I'd love to see the same outrage displayed for the children as there has been for the dogs. They're equally innocent

Bless the Beast and the Children...best said by Karen Carpenter.

Vick has done his time and will continue to pay the consequences for the rest of his life.

t keller   August 14th, 2009 9:45 am ET

I am very disappointed with the NFL allowing Michael Vick to return. His, Vick's, behavior not only shows disrespect for humane treatment, but disrespect for the law. The fact that football players are up in the front of the pac for children and adults to admire, means they should be held to a higher standard of behavior, fair or unfair. What this move has shown is it is ok to break laws, be inhumane, and if you play a game well, we don't care. Is this the type of character that any of us should imitate or admire? The lack of character does not change because time was served in prison, it is and will remain, lack of character.

Linda   August 14th, 2009 10:00 am ET

I'm just glad it's not my team that hired Michael Vick. He may be talented, and he may have served his time. However, I can't look at him without thinkng about the cruetly he showed to animals. How would he like an electric shock every time he missed a pass or got sacked? He needs to be even more vocal about his opposition to dog fighting and cruelty to animals.

jim, mi   August 14th, 2009 10:08 am ET

what happened to nfl rules, reg's,and common sense?as an ex-con michael vick should not be allowed to play. Most of the dogs didn't get a second chance. KEEP THESE SPOILED ROTTEN PLAYERS OFF THE FIELD!!

Cyndee Ratledge   August 14th, 2009 10:21 am ET

M. Vick as a role model? As a star and thrown in our faces. No thanks. He tortured and murdered with his hands helpless animals what will he do to others,man or animal. There is something unstable here.

joman castro   August 14th, 2009 11:50 am ET

i look your program everyday in the morning
you are a women very beatiful please conserve you my e-mail

Rose Sarkees   August 15th, 2009 8:32 am ET

Great advice!

Dave   August 16th, 2009 7:59 pm ET

First time posting.
Reading the rules made me laugh, don't talk about how drunk you are– LOL- Really?-Some people!
I watch HLN for 30-40 minutes before going to work. Great cast. Clark Howard has some great tips.
Keep up the good work,--– and keep the good looks up. Even old guys like your smile.

miller   August 17th, 2009 6:50 am ET

so your a weak litle person? you think persona lthings about yourself are off limits..... or is it because you fear someone posting negative personal things about you?

dont like keith now   August 18th, 2009 8:44 am ET

Keith,

Contrary to popular belief, there are privacy settings in place on Facebook where one has the ability to limit access. How would this then get to a "future employer" unless someone like yourself is passing it along? And if you don't like personal updates or information on others – DON'T READ IT! Just like I can change the channel when I don't want to hear any of your writing!

Pam Collard   August 18th, 2009 10:34 am ET

I love your show! As a matter of fact, it's the only news show I watch. I find all the cast of the Morning Express to be funny, personable, and intelligent. I even look foward to the weather and sports. ha ha The reports are varied with human interest stories mingled in with the "top headline" stuff. I won't even read the newspaper anymore because of all the negative stories....where are the stories about good people doing good things? I feel that I get a well rounded report from The Morning Express. There is financial advice, travel advisories, sport's interest, what's going on in the world, and Robin Meade's wonderful personality to enjoy, what a treat!

Lynn   August 20th, 2009 1:56 pm ET

MIller--I don't think it is because he doesn't want personal things written about him. You have to do bad things before someone can post them about you. Just like learning how to type and spell, which you do not know. I think you are the weak one, not Keith.

Don't Like Keith Now-Apparently you are not on Facebook, but many people have "business" contacts on Facebook. I would not post a picture of me passed out drunk, and then come into work, and have co-workers talking about it. If you wouldn't do something in front of your co-workers don't post it. And I think your name is kind of silly, just because you don't agree with something someone writes is no reason to not like them. What would this world be like if someone agreed with you 100% of the time. That would be kind of boring.

Max Kennedy   August 22nd, 2009 3:43 am ET

Ahem, Max is not cruising the freshman dorms. Max is being a good graduate student and TA – lol :)

Phillip   August 26th, 2009 8:18 am ET

I'm cooking steaks tonight if you would like to come over for dinner, I know that sounds cheap but we both have to get up early ,

Sri   August 26th, 2009 2:46 pm ET

Mr. Keith,

With all due respect, please double check the grammar in "Facebook Etiquette 101".

In the second paragraph, the following was written " It don't cost nothing. " I think it should be " It doesn't cost anything."

Sarah   August 27th, 2009 12:30 pm ET

My Pro's and cons of facebook: Well first of all those games and stuff will clutter a computer big time with malware! 2nd, they have alot of programming issues. their chat is always locking up on me no matter what computer I am using. Sometimes you can't send email like you want etc... But all in all, i do love facebook. I have hooked up with folks i knew when i was 14 years old and I am 49 now!! It's been amazing!!!

Debbie P   August 27th, 2009 2:54 pm ET

Don't over-analyze. When your friends list grows, so does the amount of wasted information. Everytime you do anything, Facebook posts it to all of the pages of your friends. I miss a lot of stuff because of this over-crowding. If you're info stays on your page, I can read it there. I really don't think it's some deep-seated fear of criticism not to want to clog up your page. Let's use it for what it is. A networking site. Get a My Space Page if you need to "shine". Or Twitter. Then it will all about YOU. I am really floored at just how much more self-involved we are getting as a society. Aren't there any limits?!

steve   September 18th, 2009 4:14 pm ET

Facebook etiquette‏? Check out this site http://www.lamebook.com , it's where
all the poor etiquette from facebook ends up!

David   October 26th, 2009 3:34 pm ET

I am really starting to hate Farmville, it seems like everyone on my friend's list was a farmer in their past life... I hate the constant updates and they are all the same, everyone finds a stray cow, everyone earns the blue ribbon and it's a never ending game, there is no goal to reach.

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