Should RB have a facebook presence?

[BRickAstley]

On the other hand, we definitely should update and improve the RB front page(s), which have been a wasteland for years. I've long regretted the fact that such an active community wasn't reflected at all in the front pages. This is important enough of a subject that it deserves its own separate thread.

Completely agreed. I'm heading into the really busy end-of-semester time of the year, but once I get through that, I'll be working to get a handle on what's needed to update the front page, and start a discussion/suggestion post for aspects of that.

[Bigger]

If you chose not to interact with it, then it would have no effect on you,

That is why I was most interested in hearing why people would think it is a BAD IDEA.

I believe it could be problematic because it might split the community if certain important updates/messages are shared via Facebook. Imagine a team game, where half of the members decide to communicate through a private Facebook group...
Additionally, all announcements would have to be triple posted: In the forum itself, on the new portal/frontpage and on the Facebook site.

this is silly. most of us are on gchat already. I really doubt facebook would replace that (facebook chat is rather bulky, especially for more than 2 people) and IF it did it would be because the people on that team made the decision that is more convient. teammates decide the most convenient method of communicating, not adding another option because you fear the old option going away just makes you sound like an old man complaining about newfangled technology. its not like any of us own stock in google.

extra options and conveniences are almost ALWAYS a good thing. If they are less efficient than the old way of communication, then they won't be used - so what? again, there is potential for benefits and no potential for harm here.

[KingOfPain]

I was more worried about either trying to specifically advertise as a goal or having any sort of content moved over there, which would result in that segmenting of people off and on facebook instead of just having the RB site as the main focal point.

I believe it could be problematic because it might split the community if certain important updates/messages are shared via Facebook. Imagine a team game, where half of the members decide to communicate through a private Facebook group...
Additionally, all announcements would have to be triple posted: In the forum itself, on the new portal/frontpage and on the Facebook site.

Now you are talking. Definitely something to be concerned with if we go social media.

[Yazilliclick]

ok, I guess I'm going to have to inject some reason in this discussion - there is a lot of snobbery and nonsense talk here. YES, rb should have a facebook. This seems such an obvious no brainer to me - in that there is potential for good, and almost no potential for harm. All I see is "well I would never use it, so we shouldn't get it." That's completely irrelevant.

There's no reason to call other people's opinions unreasonable and silly, just make your counter point.

And if you want reason (not that there hasn't been already) then having a proper facebook page and maintaining it takes time and effort. Having a wasteland of an official facebook page is counter productive in that it takes time to implement at the start and then gives a BAD impression of the community when it's not updated or active in any way shape or form. That effort is much better spent other places for the time being and time and effort is a finite resource.

[Bigger]

have you ever liked a facebook page brick? do you frequently go visit the pages you like, or even spend time thinking about them?

I use facebook frequently to keep in touch w/ friends, and have "liked" plenty of groups - and mostly forget about them afterwards. there is almost a nil chance of people not visiting RB because they are hanging out on a RB facebook page instead. that's bordering on paranoia, tbh.

the only facebook pages that actually get traffic are ones putting out a lot of content\meme's.. like George Takei's page, for instance. considering how quick we are to update the front page, that seems highly unlikely

[Jowy]

I see absolutely no problem with a Realms Beyond Facebook group. Those who use FB can join it, those who don't wouldn't be forced to.
Pretty much everything and everyone has a FB group these days.
Just make sure it's all optional. I hate forums that require you to Facebook connect to post.

[Bigger]

ok, I guess I'm going to have to inject some reason in this discussion - there is a lot of snobbery and nonsense talk here. YES, rb should have a facebook. This seems such an obvious no brainer to me - in that there is potential for good, and almost no potential for harm. All I see is "well I would never use it, so we shouldn't get it." That's completely irrelevant.

There's no reason to call other people's opinions unreasonable and silly, just make your counter point.

And if you want reason (not that there hasn't been already) then having a proper facebook page and maintaining it takes time and effort. Having a wasteland of an official facebook page is counter productive in that it takes time to implement at the start and then gives a BAD impression of the community when it's not updated or active in any way shape or form. That effort is much better spent other places for the time being and time and effort is a finite resource.

that's a reasonable point. I assumed the idea wouldnt have been brought up if there wasn't someone willing to put in some effort.

I see absolutely no problem with a Realms Beyond Facebook group. Those who use FB can join it, those who don't wouldn't be forced to.
Pretty much everything and everyone has a FB group these days.
As long as it's optional it's fine. However I hate forums that require you to Facebook connect to post.

agreed, that would be quite annoying.

What forums require that? I don't think I would spend any time on a forum that did that

[BRickAstley]

have you ever liked a facebook page brick? do you frequently go visit the pages you like, or even spend time thinking about them?

Yes I have, and yes I do. I've been on Facebook for 6 years, so I'm well familiar with the advantages and disadvantages. But I've already answered where you're going with that.

[Ichabod]

I'm sort of a Facebook noob, but would a RB Facebook Page need to be updated at all? Wouldn't it be just a place with a link to the forums/front page/PBEM list/etc. and a brief description of the community? That would be just a fixed amount of work to do, I guess, so no big deal (especially if we copy most of the front page introduction) - of course, I'm not the one doing the work, so I really shouldn't comment on that. Maybe we could get some more members through that.

[Bigger]

you get out of it what you put into it, like anything. if it was just a simple page with information about the site, it would drive SOME traffic. if it was regularly updated and engaged people apart of it, it would obviously be much more effective.