Facebook: Five things to avoid

[Gerald]

Joanne Fraill, the juror who contacted a defendant on Facebook, is facing a spell in jail for contempt of court when she is sentenced later on Thursday.

She has learned the hard way, but for the rest of us there are some essential "don'ts" if you want to stay out of trouble on Facebook. Don't......make friends with people you shouldn't.


Men attracted to amputees befriended Charlotte Fielder.

Add as a friend? Think before clicking "confirm". Ms Fraill didn't. The juror said it was empathy that led her to track down Jamie Sewart - a defendant in a drugs trial - on Facebook and later become "friends" with her. The contact was disclosed to the judge and in less than a year Ms Fraill was back in court, this time in the dock.

While this case is a first in the UK to involve the internet, it is not the first time Facebook users have picked the wrong friends - and certainly won't be the last. Nathan Singh, a prison officer at HMP Leicester, was shown the door after serving inmates were found to be among his Facebook friends.

But bad choices are not always obvious. Charlotte Fielder, who was born missing a hand, unwittingly befriended men on Facebook who pretended to have lost a limb themselves, but were, in fact, sexually attracted to amputees. Later, she found her profile image had been copied and posted onto a pornographic website, where obscene comments were made.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13775479


Note: 16 June 2011 Last updated at 00:57 GMT

[NeonSamurai]

I avoid facebook entirely

[Gerald]

And I have no account at all, and no interest for that matter!

[Syxx_Killer]

I joined Facebook initially to play some of the games. I have since lost interest in those as they all suck. Anywho, I only keep my Facebook account now to keep in touch with a few family and friends. I also use it to follow some interests like TV shows, bands I like, sports teams and such. I deleted what personal photos I uploaded. Now, if I post an image it is just some generic image that I might find funny and want to share.

One thing that I really tire of on Facebook are stupid posts like "I'm tired" or "So bored". I find that whole thing pointless and irritating.

[Sailor Steve]

I joined facebook because my friend Neal Stevens had a page there for his website. My long-lost daughter contacted me there on my 60th birthday, and I now keep up with both my girls and their families, as well as some old friends. Like any internet site it's an easy target for abuse, but I also find it a useful tool for staying in touch with real friends. I can easily avoid the fake ones.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I agree with Steve, it can be a great thing if used correctly. I have friends and family all over the world and facebook just seems to be able to conveniently tie everyone back together. Letters are okay, but take a long time to be delivered (compared to anything e- or i-), and always forget something. Phone calls again the distance can be a problem, costs and time zones, and I don't want a good friend in Afghanistan to use his 20 minute allocation phoning me when he or she could be speaking to his or her wife/husband and kids (rather, they wouldn't want to be.... and I don't blame him/her/them). Not everyone has Skype.

It obviously has it's more seedier side, but what doesn't these days?

I'm not stupid enough to add people I don't like, or my bosses. I don't play any of the games on there, I did but not for long. And I don't fall for these 'click here to see who's been checking out your profile'.

It is nice to see many friends' pictures, and it's a great reminder for birthdays.