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Agree with all of that -- well said.

I used the word "paranoid" about myself up there, and indeed I've been extremely cautious about any online involvement, since day 1. I don't put any sensitive material on a computer that's connected to the internet, ever, and I've been slow to join anything like Facebook.

I only joined after a "critical mass" of trusted friends and colleagues had been on there for a while and had a volume of experience that I felt demonstrated that it was all right.

I was on FB for about a month then got off. Most of the friends I would interact with already were set up in emailbox and other common websites etc. What I couldn't understand is that most of the content was much more than I cared to know about the daily duties and practices of people. Especially of people I was not on closely familiar territory. Such things as "going to the gym, baking cookies, getting a haircut etc" just didn't interest me. And I couldn't understand the fascination with the games that FB provided. Just not my cup of tea....But the final reason I left is that with all the privacy settings, identity protection, passwords etc., one of my nursing students ended up on my FB and vice versa. Don't know how it happened, FB couldn't tell me but I needed to sever that tie for sure. I might add, I also keep a separate computer for different aspects of my life. Because once it's in the machine, I worry it's there for good somewhere. Just my nickel. Jim

I'm in a similar professional situation, and that's the one kind of thing I can most imagine might make me discontinue.

I think that was the "Koobface" virus. A PC user friend of mine got it...I think it attempts to steal personal info from your computer.

Hey, Mr. Google is your friend on the Web of Greater Knowledge.

It's been rewarding for me as well; however, I won't be joining the PW group because I wish to remain anonymous.

Indeed, with all the time I waste spend on PW why would I want to add another opportunity to avoid practicing piano?

haha- ever since I've been on break, I've kept three tabs open: FB, PW and Wiki... I just meander to these sites when I take piano breaks... about every 40 minutes or so...
however, i don't think you have to give away your PW name on the FB/PW site...but the FB PW site is for people who don't mind revealing their faces, I guess. I agree that I like being anonymous and I reveal myself just in PMs or through FB. What goes on in the Facebook Piano World Site? (It's closed so I can't tell!!)

Facebook has always been good to me, so I requested to join.

I too would really like to know why I should want to join Facebook? What will I find there that I will not find anywhere else?

Dunno what else you're finding elsewhere, but I sure found a lot that I wasn't finding elsewhere.
It's a delight, and a gold mine -- or at least can be.

Some examples of "gold-mine delights" perhaps...?

Well, it's good for keeping up with friends and family who live far away. That's what I use it for. My family is scattered all over the country.

--reuniting with old college friends from 30 years ago!
--an alternative to email when sending messages,
--keep in touch with your college kids,
--join in with a new way of communicating (remember, when the phone was invented people snarfed then, too-- this type of communication is not ever going to go away.)
--a way to socialize when too busy,
-- a way to find out about social events
--it's just another medium, that's all... not worth too much more conversation, frankly- you can always check it out and then delete your account--

BTW...if you request to join the Piano World on Facebook, double check the profile picture and make sure it's the same icon as this site. There is another that is public. The Pianoworld group I'm referring to is private - so that wall posts cannot be seen by those who are not in the group. The group is very small, hence the reason for my initial question and this thread.

Sure......

-- I've gotten back in touch with about 15-20 old friends and acquaintances, just in the few weeks I've been on there, some of whom I absolutely would not have been able to get back in touch with in any other way that I can imagine.

-- You know how sometimes you're just curious to see what some person you used to know looks like or whatever, or just to see a little of what they've been up to, and you try to google them, and sometimes you get something but very often you don't?
Well, maybe you're not as "curious" as I am so maybe it doesn't apply for you, but it does for me.
Facebook is an extremely more efficient and effective way of doing that. And you don't feel as much like you're "spying" on people, because if they're on Facebook and they have their pictures on there, it means they're willing to be seen.

-- I've been able to enjoy seeing "collections" of people from the past, from various "groups" (that's what FB calls them, and it's as good a term as any) ......from various groups like my high school, college, summer camps, etc. Some of the people are ones that I never would have thought to look up, because I'd sort of forgotten about them, but nevertheless are people that I'm interested to touch base with again, even if just for a moment. And some of them apparently will become ongoing friends again. Plus, even aside from being in touch with any of them, it's a HOOT to see the collections of people in these various groups; it's a little like being time-traveled back to the earlier time for a moment.

-- Other things too, but I'll leave it at that for now.

Maybe some or all of these things are meaningless for you, but we're talking about what's been a "gold mine" for ME, right?

Cool......others have found a 'gold mine' there too!

That's my attitude, along with feeling generally overdosed on technology. I don't even have a cellphone or iPod. It's funny, because many years ago, I was usually the "early adapter" in my circle of friends and acquaintances, and now I'm almost the opposite.

I primarily use Facebook for staying in touch with old uni friends. It can be quite an adventure, believe me. Otherwise, I've no interest in joining Piano World on Facebook. My profile is far too revealing.