I actually *liked* the news feed, because it didn't really show anything to people who weren't already on your friends list and didn't show anything that wasn't already up there. It made my visits shorter as well.

But this open facebook thing - that's what people need to be worried about, and it pisses me off that everyone would rather bitch about news feed.

i think if facebook becomes openly public than it will end up being a mockery of its former self just like myspace.

yeah, i agree! i was one of the few that did like news feed. but i definitely don't like the "open" facebook idea. honestly, i didn't really like it when they opened it to high schoolers, so this is much worse than that. really, what is the point of facebook if it's open to the public? why not just be on myspace, then???

Facebook is the only networking site where my sister can't currently spy on me and try to get me in trouble with my mother. The 21 year old sister of mine will freak out any time something I say could possibly deal with her and I get in trouble for it, and this is the only place Im safe. I don't want her, or any other people I don't trust to be able to see my profile. She can wait to be accepted into a University to get on here.

I say we let them know we aren't going to take this.

If Facebook is open I'll leave:
http://hofstra.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2208978708

There was a reason that I left myspace.com, and that was because it was no longer "my space"...it became a medium for people to spy on one another and to creep the rest of us out. While at first I was kind of glad to see people adding me to their friends list, soon thereafter I found that these "people" adding me were artists trying to break out into the mainstream, people with nothing better to do than click the 'Browse' link and add whomever they found appealing, and even people who gave out screennames with the advertisement of "a fun webcam experience". I came to realize that I was not the only one whom this was happening to.

I would hazard to say that if facebook became open to anyone with an ISP and an email client, that our sacred space on the Web would become as tarnished as all of these other "networking" sites. I think the idea of "Big Brother" (in this case, our parents, school administrators, people we don't even know, and yes, maybe even the government) looking over our shoulders in the form of open networking is just plain wrong and indecent.

I agree completely with what you have said. Facebook started this whole spiral when they let advertisers and high school students become part of facebook. I believe the creators lost the vision they had when it was first started, a network for college students to easily be introduced to new people around their college, especially Freshman year when most do not know anyone around them, and for an event tracker, helping people know whats going on around campus and also getting to know the frats and sororities before making a decision if wanting to join. If Facebook goes open, my account will definately be deleted due to the fact, especially at my college, I dont want any companies able to see my personal information here. I understand that Facebook claims you can set your privacy levels, etc..., but the fact is the entire point of facebook is ruined. By making it open, people when they first join facebook that were once greated by aim addresses and emails and some information about the people they have not met yet in their class instead just see a picture and a name because the user is afraid of information being leaked.

I hate to sound like a bitch, but I joined facebook because it was exclusive. Because yes my family and people I don't like can't see my profile. I also joined because where I come from college isn't common, and it separated us. I hate myspace. I'm on it to catch up with a few people from home, but it makes me sick. Seeing 14 year old girls whore themselves out to have the most friends...that they don't even know? With facebook that isn't so much a problem. You knew that everyone on it atleast was smart enough to get into an easy school. Then opening it up to community college students and now everyone, that takes away the appeal of facebook. I know you are in it for the money Mark, but I will truly cancel my account--keep it the way it is. Facebook is about college...a common unifying ground. Almost every college has a greek scene, general education requirements, sports teams, some there where we all have a bond. I don't have that bond with someone who got a 700 on their SAT and go to a community college for welding...there is nothing wrong with that, but its not fair--let them have myspace and friendster. Sorry to be the bitch, but don't let us down Mark.

I love how everyone here assumes that just because someone goes to community college it means they got some shit SAT score and are to stupid to get into a 4-year. Have you every thought about the kids who don't have rich mommies and daddies to pay for college? No, you havn't because you are close-minded and only want something to bitch about. To you I say fuck you and you should be more open-minded. I hate myspace most of my friends who go to 4-year colleges only used facebook so it was hard to keep in touch when all my friends (including my boyfriend) were scattered about the country. When they oped facebook it was a sigh of relief and i canceled my myspace account immediatly because I could hop on here and have the chance to keep in touch with my friends. So, since you all seem to think it is such a terrible idea to have facebook open, set your account to private, grow up and stop bitching.

I'd like to second that fuck you. I'm pretty sure me and my 28 ACT could get into a prestigious school like UNC Ashville if I wanted to. But since I actually have to work to pay for my education I'm going to go to the community college that costs half as much and has a more flexible class schedule. Then I'll go to the "real" university. And by the way, I'm pre-pharmacy, not one of the small gas engines kids. Like Maddy said, open your fucking mind.