Social Networking

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Hey all, I'm new to the forum, I searched for information about this but could not find any so I'll start the thread.

What have you heard regarding social networking sites and applying to schools? I don't have a facebook but I am considering getting one because I know that social media and blogging have become especially popular in the science fields. On the other hand I have heard of many people deleting or deactivating their facebook upon applying to schools for fear that it may be detrimental for whatever reason.

So what are your thoughts? As long as you are a responsible person is it worth getting one? Or is it better to lay low when it comes to the internet?

Thanks in advance.

I changed my name for most of the admissions cycle on facebook (changed it back now). Don't post anything you wouldn't want an adcom (or your mom, lol) to read. As long as your security settings are tight and you don't have pictures of you getting drunk as your profile pic, you should be okay. Be smart about it

I think changing your name (some people do it to first name and middle name) can be confusing for anyone you meet during the admissions cycle (i.e. on an interview) to find you though it offers you good cover from prying eyes. I just keep my privacy settings reasonably tight so people who want to find me can send me a friend request (and know it's me) but not see more than my networks and a picture of me.

The "Grandma rule" is a good gauge: figure you shouldn't post anything online you wouldn't also show to your elderly grandmother comfortably.

I've had Facebook since 2006 and didn't bother deactivating it/changing my name during the application process. I just made sure I had very secure privacy settings (made my profile unfindable unless there were mutual friends). I also took care to ensure that my profile picture was PG13 (I was clearly at a bar/club in some of them but not holding alcohol or doing anything outrageous).

I think the spectre of adcoms checking fb is entirely overblown and incredibly unlikely that it would have any effect..

I could possibly see some employers for random businesses with tech-savvy management and only a handful of applicants running a fb search just to add a little assurance into their decisions, for sure..
although in that case they're probably just males more interested in finding some nice bikini pics rather than "unprofessional or reprehensible behaviour"


But an adcom? I'm sure it's happened before, but definitely incredibly unlikely.
Yeah i'm sure your best friend's dog once knew somebody who knew another guy who served on an adcom at Nowher University who said they used to run fb searches and look at photos...
But to think it's being regularly incorporated into the average vet school's admission decisions, when there's already so much that goes into the application process as is?

come on, don't be so credulous..

I've never understood the issue of social networking being a problem. If you don't want your Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr/Myspace (for those who even have one anymore) to be seen, set it to private. If your stuff (whatever you are using) is completely private to where only people who are "friends" with you can view it, I don't see what there is to worry about. Also, don't add people to it that you wouldn't want seeing your stuff ie: co-workers (or God forbid bosses!). This is the only time I have been burned by Facebook, and it wasn't in the sense that I posted things I shouldn't have, but rather they were taken out of context to be used against me. Other than that it's pretty simple. I could say that your default could get you in trouble, but at this stage of our lives, if your main representative picture is you doing a kegstand or taking body shots off some chick laying on a bar, you need to rethink some things.

Not to mention, Facebook also has a "list" function in which you can set lists for specific people whom you have added. I sometimes employ the use of this function when it comes to something I don't want my family to see or people from school to see. I have several lists and if I want to post something I know might offend my fam (due to language, crass humor they wouldn't appreciate, etc.), I post it with that list as an exception to who can view it. It may sound weird or unnecessary but it's my Facebook, I can do what I want, without getting flack for it.

Regarding name changing on Facebook, if you REALLY don't want people to find you, disable the search function to where your name will not pop up when someone types it, or a version of it (ie: your first or last name). I, personally, have my search function disabled simply because I got tired of increasingly frequent pointless friend requests from nosy people I'd never met.

Originally Posted by New Foundland

I think the spectre of adcoms checking fb is entirely overblown and incredibly unlikely that it would have any effect..

I could possibly see some employers for random businesses with tech-savvy management and only a handful of applicants running a fb search just to add a little assurance into their decisions, for sure..
although in that case they're probably just males more interested in finding some nice bikini pics rather than "unprofessional or reprehensible behaviour"


But an adcom? I'm sure it's happened before, but definitely incredibly unlikely.
Yeah i'm sure your best friend's dog once knew somebody who knew another guy who served on an adcom at Nowher University who said they used to run fb searches and look at photos...
But to think it's being regularly incorporated into the average vet school's admission decisions, when there's already so much that goes into the application process as is?

come on, don't be so credulous..

The dean of our vet school told me once that he does check Facebook pages.

Here is a summary of any thread that contains the words "social networking" and "adcoms" it:

As long as you aren't immature or stupid about you post on your facebook page, you have NOTHING to worry about.

Also, there was a social networking thread not too long ago:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...ook+vet+school

Also, do not be stupid like these students:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...ook+vet+school
Don't jumprope with horse intestines and put it on Facebook. Although you may be sickened by the fact that some students think it is alright to do!

Originally Posted by dyachei

The dean of our vet school told me once that he does check Facebook pages.

But how??? Other than going through a third party website or company to get that information, it's not really possible.

Furthermore, what are these people supposedly looking for anyway? A picture of me drinking a beer? If I was 15, I could see someone having an issue with that, but being 24 years old, I'm allowed. It doesn't mean I'm a drunkard, but if I'm just having a good time with my friends, my clothes are on and everyone seems to be in control of themselves, there's not much to say about that. Ultimately, I fail to see what the "checking" of Facebook pages is supposed to accomplish. Find out the person is a pothead who pays for prostitutes? Great, mission accomplished. Find out the person is a daddy's girl with a Twizzler's addiction who cusses like a sailor? Incredible waste of time and resources.

On another thread of this sort in the past several months, I think sooprnova said it best:

First, it's private except for my name/profile picture, and second, it's a pretty accurate representation of who I am. If a job is going to reject me because I sometimes make jokes in poor taste, I swear fairly regularly, and I enjoy professing my love for a seriously hoppy IPA, then that's probably not the place for me.

Looking at people's FB pages is probably cheaper than drug testing their top applicants. .

Originally Posted by libster06

But how??? Other than going through a third party website or company to get that information, it's not really possible.

Furthermore, what are these people supposedly looking for anyway? A picture of me drinking a beer? If I was 15, I could see someone having an issue with that, but being 24 years old, I'm allowed. It doesn't mean I'm a drunkard, but if I'm just having a good time with my friends, my clothes are on and everyone seems to be in control of themselves, there's not much to say about that. Ultimately, I fail to see what the "checking" of Facebook pages is supposed to accomplish. Find out the person is a pothead who pays for prostitutes? Great, mission accomplished. Find out the person is a daddy's girl with a Twizzler's addiction who cusses like a sailor? Incredible waste of time and resources.

On another thread of this sort in the past several months, I think sooprnova said it best:

I COULD NOT agree more! I move around a lot and facebook is how I keep in touch with friends and family...I post pictures, locations of my son and I...as well as my friends and I...its an accurate representation of me. Like your other quote said, if a job is going to look down on me for going out on a Saturday night and having some drinks, I really doubt I would mesh in that atmosphere anyway.

Originally Posted by dyachei

The dean of our vet school told me once that he does check Facebook pages.

let's give dean the benefit of the doubt and say they're telling the truth, not just BSing people so they get in the habit of thinking twice before posting public things online...
(which is being awful generous)

then the dean is either A) checking the pages of existing students, or B) checking applicants during the app process..

A) If he's checking people who've already been accepted, then it's either to police them and make sure nobody is posting potential PR disasters for the school (Newsflash: Cornell student wears horse jejunum skirt in bizarre death ritual, posts pics online), or policing professionalism in students personal lives... The former is somewhat defensible but probably a huge waste of time, the latter is virtually pointless in that nothing will ever come of it (dean sees unprofessional public pics or posts, dean either lectures class on internet professionalism or personally lectures the student, which would be an admission that he was creeping the f*ck out of the student on fb).
Policing accounts for PR-disaster / animal rights fodder would need to be an ongoing process, and so would waste even more time, even if you're only policing those without privacy restrictions..


B) if the dean is checking applicants during admissions...
First off, how does he find them? Nobody has a unique name, not everyone uses their real name, most people dont list their hometown publicly, and he doesn't know their faces..
If he does find their account (let's say he greets them before the interview), 95% of young people don't list details publicly so he sees a profile pic and nothing more... mission accomplished dean, time well spent!
So when he stumbles along the account of one person who actually doesnt have posts and pics set to private... What does dean look for? drug use? talking junk about the interviewers or the school? deep dark secrets that everyone loves to post on their fb wall ? talk about them wanting to apply to human med?
What are the chances that the handful of accounts that have no privacy walls actually talk about these things in a way that is so dramatic as to justify denying them acceptance?

You actually think the highest level official at a university, with a 6-digit salary is spending their time like this? what a colossal joke that would be


in summary, I call BS.

as i said in my initial post, "Yeah i'm sure your best friend's dog once knew somebody who knew another guy who served on an adcom at Nowher University who said they used to run fb searches and look at photos"

I would have deleted my Facebook a long time ago because I just never used it. I think since I've started vet school I've been on it more than I've ever been - checking my class group mainly for information and updates. Which is the only reason I would recommend opening an account, not just to apply.

Originally Posted by that redhead

I would have deleted my Facebook a long time ago because I just never used it. I think since I've started vet school I've been on it more than I've ever been - checking my class group mainly for information and updates. Which is the only reason I would recommend opening an account, not just to apply.

Agreed! I really enjoy going on my c/o 2016 page and "meeting" people and learning about scheduling and roommates and all sorts of fun stuff. I think once vet school is closer to starting, I may use it to meet some of my classmates during that awkward time between move-in and orientation.

Originally Posted by that redhead

I would have deleted my Facebook a long time ago because I just never used it. I think since I've started vet school I've been on it more than I've ever been - checking my class group mainly for information and updates. Which is the only reason I would recommend opening an account, not just to apply.

Originally Posted by SnowyRox

Agreed! I really enjoy going on my c/o 2016 page and "meeting" people and learning about scheduling and roommates and all sorts of fun stuff. I think once vet school is closer to starting, I may use it to meet some of my classmates during that awkward time between move-in and orientation.

This is the essence of why Facebook exists. With as many flaws and issues that arise from it, the core of the purpose of Facebook (at least for most everyone I know who has one) is that they can keep in touch with people, those of whom not only are people they see regularly, but more importantly those whom they either never see. It's a way for people who may not have access to a phone or are on opposite continents to be able to keep up.

It's certainly smart to be cognizant of things you write on there. I know I sometimes delete things after I rethink them, or de tag stuff. But I don't see the need to be so afraid or anti-Facebook. The problem isn't Facebook, it's the people on Facebook. Nor does it really "cause" problems.... the only problems it "causes" are those stemming from either users choosing to post things that get them in trouble without considering who all may see it, or from people who use Facebook as a tool against others (ie: untrusting spouses, jealous friends or exes, creepers in general using Facebook to stalk under the radar).

Originally Posted by Trematode

Looking at people's FB pages is probably cheaper than drug testing their top applicants. .

Hahaha I will agree 100%.

Originally Posted by New Foundland

let's give dean the benefit of the doubt and say they're telling the truth, not just BSing people so they get in the habit of thinking twice before posting public things online...
(which is being awful generous)

then the dean is either A) checking the pages of existing students, or B) checking applicants during the app process..

A) If he's checking people who've already been accepted, then it's either to police them and make sure nobody is posting potential PR disasters for the school (Newsflash: Cornell student wears horse jejunum skirt in bizarre death ritual, posts pics online), or policing professionalism in students personal lives... The former is somewhat defensible but probably a huge waste of time, the latter is virtually pointless in that nothing will ever come of it (dean sees unprofessional public pics or posts, dean either lectures class on internet professionalism or personally lectures the student, which would be an admission that he was creeping the f*ck out of the student on fb).
Policing accounts for PR-disaster / animal rights fodder would need to be an ongoing process, and so would waste even more time, even if you're only policing those without privacy restrictions..


B) if the dean is checking applicants during admissions...
First off, how does he find them? Nobody has a unique name, not everyone uses their real name, most people dont list their hometown publicly, and he doesn't know their faces..
If he does find their account (let's say he greets them before the interview), 95% of young people don't list details publicly so he sees a profile pic and nothing more... mission accomplished dean, time well spent!
So when he stumbles along the account of one person who actually doesnt have posts and pics set to private... What does dean look for? drug use? talking junk about the interviewers or the school? deep dark secrets that everyone loves to post on their fb wall ? talk about them wanting to apply to human med?
What are the chances that the handful of accounts that have no privacy walls actually talk about these things in a way that is so dramatic as to justify denying them acceptance?

You actually think the highest level official at a university, with a 6-digit salary is spending their time like this? what a colossal joke that would be


in summary, I call BS.

as i said in my initial post, "Yeah i'm sure your best friend's dog once knew somebody who knew another guy who served on an adcom at Nowher University who said they used to run fb searches and look at photos"

Well, I know for a fact he policed current students. You can call BS, I'm just telling you what he said. I would guess they simply use it as a tool towards the end of the admissions cycle (after interviews, etc) IF they do use it.

It's up to you whether you get an account before you apply, but I would definitely reccommend setting up a FB page when you enroll. I don't know how other schools do it, but at PennWe do most of our class organizing through the facebook group. It has everything from who's sharing a study guide for that lecture to where the best place is to get drunk after an exam to where you can find vet-school-friendly housing.

The housing list is particularly important for first years and the apartment search starts in March or April, so you don't want to be late to that party. Dunno how other schools do it (but if they don't do it our way, they should! ).

Originally Posted by pooter

It's up to you whether you get an account before you apply, but I would definitely reccommend setting up a FB page when you enroll. I don't know how other schools do it, but at PennWe do most of our class organizing through the facebook group. It has everything from who's sharing a study guide for that lecture to where the best place is to get drunk after an exam to where you can find vet-school-friendly housing.

The housing list is particularly important for first years and the apartment search starts in March or April, so you don't want to be late to that party. Dunno how other schools do it (but if they don't do it our way, they should! ).

Not to mention it is the best place to bitch about classes/profs/exams/cockroaches falling from the ceiling/etc with your fellow students.

I didn't change my name, but I did hide my pictures and de-activated my wall during the whole admissions process. Only problem is, now I can't figure out how to get it back...

Originally Posted by dyachei

Well, I know for a fact he policed current students. You can call BS, I'm just telling you what he said. I would guess they simply use it as a tool towards the end of the admissions cycle (after interviews, etc) IF they do use it.

To be clear, i didn't mean BS to the fact that somebody somewhere might have used fb to check for gaffe statements a couple times.

policing current students is the most justifiable and logistically feasible use of fb creeping, so that doesn't surprise me.
As I said, all vet schools want to avoid serving animal rights activists anything on a plate, and the most likely source that fodder could come from would be a naive 1st year student.

Admissions process use of it? infinitely more wasteful of time, and infinitely less logistically possible

For the most part, any sort of social networking tool can be a really good idea. Just don't be stupid with what you put on it and be smart with your privacy settings. Some adcoms and professors do browse fb occasionally to see what students are up to, and truly out of line stuff typically gets reported by someone even if the admins can't find you, but by this point most people have more common sense than to be stupid on the Internet anyway.

I literally don't know a single person with a non-private Facebook.

Originally Posted by libster06

I literally don't know a single person with a non-private Facebook.

Most people would like to avoid stalkers showing up at their house.
The only people I know with non-private Facebook pages are the drama queens.
Like the girl who posted over 12 statuses in 7 days whining because she was sick (and not with anything that would kill her).

Do some people just have a Facebook to complain about everything?! Don't do that..

Well, of the 200ish people I have on Facebook, she's the worst for it.
Her counter argument was that I complain too much on Facebook.
When I complain, it is one status update on the subject. Not... 3... per day... for a week...
I have my parents AND a grandmother AND my brother AND my former boss on FB. They have been my radar. If I complain too much, they both point out that I need to stop being negative. Since I have not gotten that comment in months, I think I am doing a reasonable job, considering the circumstances (it has been one week since I ranted about the transit strike, which is amazing considering I wake up every day mad about it).

Like the girl who posted over 12 statuses in 7 days whining because she was sick (and not with anything that would kill her).

Crap, you can see my profile? Although I really did think I was going to die - thank you ER for drugs that worked!

Im def guilty of being a fb addict. I take full advantage of all privacy settings and lists to try and keep things under control though.

This girl was driving me insane because I was dealing with my dad being sick and a death and this is what I see when I log onto FB:

"I'm sick and it's a Sunday. Essentially that means I'll be in a comatose state on the couch killing my braincells with TV. How is this different that any other day you may ask? Simple: Phlegm."

"I just asked my parents to sing 'Soft Kitty' over the phone to me... "mom" attempted to freeform jazz it... not the same..."

"Flu induced nosebleeds are the best. Not."

"And now for something completely different: Eye Mucus. I hate you cold."

"Roomate: 'Don't worry, I think you'll be all better by the end of the weekend'
Me: 'But it's only Monday!'
Roomate: 'Oh, um, in that case by the weekend...'
Me:'Thanks?.... *Cough cough sniffle*
Roommate logic win."

*random picture of Fisherman's Friends lozengers*

"Changing my text ringtone to the sound of the TARDIS landing gives me joy while I feel like ****."

"Bed death"

"Doesn't want to jinx it... But I think I'm finally getting better."

"Guys, I totally jinxed it. It's fever time, and not the disco kind... The turn me into a whiny 5 year old kind... The man cold kind..."

"Is it sad that when someone sings me 'Soft Kitty' I actually feel a little better?"

"I managed to pull a jerk move and gave my roommate back the cold that I caught from her in the first place. So now we're both sick. Party."

I knew a guy who took over his dad's FB page when his dad was dying of cancer. He updated less than this chick. It should not annoy me. But when all of the gloom and doom going on in my family right now, it just got to me a little. Unfriended. Her profile is still public though. Which is how I could steal some of those TMI status updates. Hopefully it made you all laugh... and gave some of you an idea of what NOT to do on facebook.

End of rant on overkill FB statuses.

Now we have 3 posts about 12 posts about 7 days of being sick. So many numbers!

I could make it #4...

I have everyone on my facebook grouped into lists. 1) People I trust - they see pretty much everything, there are about 10-15 people on this list (this is probably the only group that can see all the photos tagged of me). 2) General Acquaintances- this is for the majority of my friends, or just people I've met a few times and don't know as well. They get the wall, some photo albums, random stuff etc. 3) Family/Work - they see pretty much nothing, but can write on my wall, see my profile picture (but not go through them all) and see a select number of photo albums. No one can even friend me/search me! This might be overkill, but I didn't want facebook to be what didn't get me into school! Or what came back and bit me in the but, because I do love it for how I can keep in touch with people!!

I don't really use my facebook for status updates that often, just fun for sharing videos, pictures, friends, and NOW for vet school pages

Originally Posted by BlackDog618

I didn't change my name, but I did hide my pictures and de-activated my wall during the whole admissions process. Only problem is, now I can't figure out how to get it back...

Except now I have no clue how to change the extreme settings I have....

Originally Posted by libster06

Find out the person [has] a Twizzler's addiction...

Guilty.

Originally Posted by Psorophoraferox

Guilty.

The person I was describing was unfortunately myself...

So I have had facebook for the past I don't know how many years. I didn't deactivate it during the admissions cycle. I also didn't make any changes to my settings, though I had most things set to friends only. It didn't make a difference in whether or not I got in. At least I didn't have any indication it did.

Originally Posted by dyachei

Well, I know for a fact he policed current students. You can call BS, I'm just telling you what he said. I would guess they simply use it as a tool towards the end of the admissions cycle (after interviews, etc) IF they do use it.

The image of a school's dean sitting back and sifting through people's facebook photos is pretty creepy and, in my opinion, disrespectful. Is he that distrustful of students that he and his staff deemed worthy of being part of their program? I wonder if they would dig through students' diaries and journals and listen in on their phonecalls if were easy (and legal) to do so. Maybe monitor their extra-curricular activities with a GPS tracking device? I truly hope that the school that I choose to attend thinks of their students with more respect and trust than this.

Originally Posted by August West

The image of a school's dean sitting back and sifting through people's facebook photos is pretty creepy and, in my opinion, disrespectful. Is he that distrustful of students that he and his staff deemed worthy of being part of their program? I wonder if they would dig through students' diaries and journals and listen in on their phonecalls if were easy (and legal) to do so. Maybe monitor their extra-curricular activities with a GPS tracking device? I truly hope that the school that I choose to attend thinks of their students with more respect and trust than this.

Completely disagree. If you put information about yourself on a public forum, it is fair game. An employer or school wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't do their due diligence and make sure each person is acceptable to the organization.

Should they ignore your arrest record, your racist rantings in some neo-nazi journal, or your public calls for a holy war against vet schools? I think not.

If it is private, they have no right to check, but what you do publicly always has, and always will affect you. And it rightly should.

Now, if they are denying admissions because you "liked" beer, or dressed up in a weird manner, then I would have a problem. But in general you need to come to grips that what you allow to be publicly available about you, is fair game for anyone to analyze and judge.

Originally Posted by libster06

The person I was describing was unfortunately myself...

Twizzlers or dark chocolate were my rewards for each hour I spent studying ochem. I got a B both semesters! Thinking of sending the manufacturers thank-you notes.

Okay, confession. I am the IT guy for a school district, and I have done the grad school song and dance before joining Teach For America. In my opinion, it is always better safe than sorry. Just keep your Facebook clean. No one wants to see your cat pictures or your weekend documented. Weirdly enough, I am friends on Facebook with a Dean of a vet school I applied (Yes, I've know them personally for many years. I am not creepy.)

Be smart online. Big brother is watching you? No, just bored tech guys at work. I think Dwight Schrute paraphrasing Michael Scott on the office said it best, "Don't be an idiot. Any time I think would an idiot do that thing, I do not do that thing."

Originally Posted by lux0r

Okay, confession. I am the IT guy for a school district, and I have done the grad school song and dance before joining Teach For America. In my opinion, it is always better safe than sorry. Just keep your Facebook clean. No one wants to see your cat pictures or your weekend documented. Weirdly enough, I am friends on Facebook with a Dean of a vet school I applied (Yes, I've know them personally for many years. I am not creepy.)

Be smart online. Big brother is watching you? No, just bored tech guys at work. I think Dwight Schrute paraphrasing Michael Scott on the office said it best, "Don't be an idiot. Any time I think would an idiot do that thing, I do not do that thing."

Why does no one want to see my cat pictures?? lol

Originally Posted by NStarz

Why does no one want to see my cat pictures?? lol

I only want to see them if they have some cute "I haz" captions.

Originally Posted by StartingoverVet

If it is private, they have no right to check, but what you do publicly always has, and always will affect you. And it rightly should.

That's what we're talking about..... PRIVATE Facebooks...

Originally Posted by lux0r

Just keep your Facebook clean. No one wants to see your cat pictures or your weekend documented.

Psh, in that case, they don't have to look at them. So tell me, what DO people want to see on Facebook? So I can tailor my Facebook to what others would like to see on it (Deans, students, employers, my mom, my friends, IT guys).

Great question. IT guys see everything. They know about your pinterest addiction, love of crackle.com, bejeweled high score, etc. Be nice to the tech people.
I think it's at your own discretion to decide what you want on your page. My page is pretty PG-13 (Some foul language, a beer can or two, and too many indie bands listed... Have I become a hipster?). We are all human at the end of the day.

Originally Posted by StartingoverVet

Completely disagree. If you put information about yourself on a public forum, it is fair game. An employer or school wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't do their due diligence and make sure each person is acceptable to the organization.

Should they ignore your arrest record, your racist rantings in some neo-nazi journal, or your public calls for a holy war against vet schools? I think not.

If it is private, they have no right to check, but what you do publicly always has, and always will affect you. And it rightly should.

Now, if they are denying admissions because you "liked" beer, or dressed up in a weird manner, then I would have a problem. But in general you need to come to grips that what you allow to be publicly available about you, is fair game for anyone to analyze and judge.

Actually, she said that this policing was done after the students were admitted to the program. I would have less of a problem with this type of query during the application process. But once you accept the individual to the program, I believe that a little more trust and respect should be afforded. Monitoring their social networking while in school seems very invasive to me. A code of ethics should be dispensed on day one. That should be sufficient. If they doubted our ability to behave and follow the code, they should not have let us in.

Originally Posted by lux0r

Great question. IT guys see everything. They know about your pinterest addiction, love of crackle.com, bejeweled high score, etc. Be nice to the tech people.

From what you're saying, it seems as though being a "bored IT guy", you are choosing to look at Facebooks, those of which you wouldn't normally be able to see if you weren't an IT guy. I would think if you're creeping/hacking/whatever into people's private Facebooks that you don't really get to be picky about what you're seeing. Why should people care about what you like or want to look at if you're using your job as a technician as an advantage to see what others can't? It's no secret I'm addicted to pinterest (who isn't??) and cuss like a sailor and post more pictures of my dogs than myself...

If you're not seeing them this way you can clarify, but that's what it seems like.

Originally Posted by libster06

From what you're saying, it seems as though being a "bored IT guy", you are choosing to look at Facebooks, those of which you wouldn't normally be able to see if you weren't an IT guy. I would think if you're creeping/hacking/whatever into people's private Facebooks that you don't really get to be picky about what you're seeing. Why should people care about what you like or want to look at if you're using your job as a technician as an advantage to see what others can't? It's no secret I'm addicted to pinterest (who isn't??) and cuss like a sailor and post more pictures of my dogs than myself...

If you're not seeing them this way you can clarify, but that's what it seems like.

Well stated. I personally, try to avoid the big brother aspect of social networking. However, I am not an employer. I do not watch computers all day.
Why do people love Pinterest so much? I do not get it.

Originally Posted by lux0r

Well stated. I personally, try to avoid the big brother aspect of social networking. However, I am not an employer. I do not watch computers all day.
Why do people love Pinterest so much? I do not get it.

I didn't mean to imply you did... I've known IT guys in the past, it's just a perk of the job... I'd probably do it to if I was an IT person. Not to say ya'll just sit around creepin and Facestalking.

As for Pinterest.... I can't tell you why. It's not just a bunch of pictures though. The pictures link to things and they have really good recipes to go with the pictures they have on the site as well as good DIY stuff to go with the decoration ideas. Also I just like wasting time clicking on things to go on my themed boards ("purple"... "shmanksgiving"...."halloweiner"...."tat ooze"...)

Originally Posted by libster06

I didn't mean to imply you did... I've known IT guys in the past, it's just a perk of the job... I'd probably do it to if I was an IT person. Not to say ya'll just sit around creepin and Facestalking.

As for Pinterest.... I can't tell you why. It's not just a bunch of pictures though. The pictures link to things and they have really good recipes to go with the pictures they have on the site as well as good DIY stuff to go with the decoration ideas. Also I just like wasting time clicking on things to go on my themed boards ("purple"... "shmanksgiving"...."halloweiner"...."tat ooze"...)

I always thought that IT guys could monitor activity and see how long you spent on various sites and how many times you visited each day. I did not think they were able to "hack" into private accounts or anything. Anyone can stalk facebook accounts. But are you saying that IT professionals can get into photo albums and read the walls of anyone's account regardless of privacy settings?

Originally Posted by August West

I did not think they were able to "hack" into private accounts or anything. Anyone can stalk facebook accounts. But are you saying that IT professionals can get into photo albums and read the walls of anyone's account regardless of privacy settings?

No, they cannot. I am speaking as a IT guy. I mean what is the point of that? I mean there are hackers out there, but your IT guy probably is just a broken person who fixes printers all day. Yes, that is what they do 90% of the time.
IT people can monitor network activity through the filter. That is how people get caught doing stuff at work that is counterproductive like: pinteresting, stumbling, WoWing, SDNing...
Luckily, your IT person is probably too busy fixing a printer to care about what you actually do on your computer.

Originally Posted by August West

I always thought that IT guys could monitor activity and see how long you spent on various sites and how many times you visited each day. I did not think they were able to "hack" into private accounts or anything. Anyone can stalk facebook accounts. But are you saying that IT professionals can get into photo albums and read the walls of anyone's account regardless of privacy settings?

I'm not an IT person at all, but I'd say that hacking into someone's FB or email is pretty easy (I'm not an IT girl, but I am a conspiracy girl....). Didn't you hear about that group that crashed the CIA website like last week or something? Okay I guess hacking and crashing isn't the same thing, but I wouldn't be surprised if a decently good IT person can hack into any 'private' facebook. So if anyone's trafficking, or holding someone hostage, or planning to murder someone, or suicide bomb anything... I think it would be pretty stupid to discuss it over FB !!!

Originally Posted by lostbunny

I'm not an IT person at all, but I'd say that hacking into someone's FB or email is pretty easy (I'm not an IT girl, but I am a conspiracy girl....). Didn't you hear about that group that crashed the CIA website like last week or something?

I need an IT assistant, you are hired.