Loomio

Facebook - should we/shouldn't we? A general social media discussion

Rad Routes is not really 'out there' on social media, though there are occasional tweets. Should we have a Facebook presence?

JP

Jed Picksley Sun 15 Jan 2017 8:48PM

So this here is the loomio, empty and serene, which people don't use so it's a secure, private sort of RR discussion place, where hardly anything happens.

If RR were on Facebook, public and lively, it would definitely become a discussion place (+), with all sorts of nonsense being spouted by people with a lot of cheap-screen-time (-), which people would then be compelled to spend time deleting or refuting(-).

For those seeking good information though, links away would hopefully be helpful(+). There are already many great links to campaigns and projects involving RR co-ops (like https://www.facebook.com/IffleyOpenHouse/?ref=br_rs currently part of Dragonfly's activity in line with the principles of RR) on facebook which could be tied together somewhat (+).

Personally, I see the risk of facebook as a test of how good RR people can be at not getting upset by nonsense, or losing valuable screen-time into pointless discussion, which, like The News fades fast anyway. Such perspective is easily lost in the whizz-bop of Facebook, where true to its name, people become compelled to try and save and generate 'face'.

It would also be a test of RR diversity-acceptance. The campaigns that might be connected through an RR facebook would be massively diverse, which I find a plus, but some people might be pained by some associations!

I am interested to see the pros/cons that were produced by publicity group at the gathering though - I hope someone adds them to this very place, now I've started something/asked,
Sincerely,
Jed

J

Jonathan Mon 16 Jan 2017 9:05AM

I'm new to RR but not to thinking about Facebook; being sceptical about its corporate owners I've refused to get a login. It's like being vegan, you can understa

J

Jonathan Mon 16 Jan 2017 9:24AM

.. (con't; Sorry pressed enter by mistake)

... It's like being vegan, you can understand that you're in a minority - and it's a free choice. My kids, my Mum's generation, everyone around me seems to be on Facebook. Am I missing something? Maybe, but I'm very happy to be in this minority.

I'd be interested to know the balance between "Facebook non-members" and "Facebook members" in RR, to help inform this decision. Bearing in mind that non-members CAN see basic Facebook pages and discussions, but Facebook makes it hard/impossible to go further and see photos etc. without joining; and ridiculous half-screen invitations to join pop-up - and stay up, so it's hard to read the screen.

When people get on Facebook, they mostly seem to decline in using other websites, no surprise, they go where the action is. It will be sad if Loomio use dries up. I like this Loomio; 'it works for me' and I use it for a couple of co-op discussion lists. It's more organised, and helps me respond thoughtfully. but I can see that Facebook has advantages. I'll follow the discussion but at this stage I'd vote to stick with Loomio, whether or not it gets developed with some of the better characteristics of social media.

Thanks for reading my anti-Farcebook thoughts :)

CMI

For clarification
- most people in RR haven't yet bought into this Loomio thing, inter-gathering discussion is still email based.

- I'd be interested in whether the Facebook presence could be almost entirely outward-facing and mainly used for announcements and 'related' stuff, rather than internal or organising stuff.

I'm not on Facebook myself, so I have no idea whether that's basically impossible, because people will talk about whatever they talk about and will use the platform they personally find most convenient.

CCC

Chris Croome (Webarchitects Co-operative) Wed 18 Jan 2017 10:17PM

I don't really care what does, or doesn't happen on Facebook as I'm not on it and don't intend to join it.

@jeapicksley said:

So this here is the loomio, empty and serene, which people don't use so it's a secure, private sort of RR discussion place, where hardly anything happens.

It is clearly true that almost nobody involved with Radical Routes is using Loomio, I'm not so sure however how secure and private it actually is given that it is built upon and makes extensive use of corporate services.

If something is wanted that doesn't depend of corporate services and therefore doesn't leak users date to corporations by design (as Loomio does) then an application hosted on a secure, co-operative virtual server, running whatever services are wanted would be my suggestion.

However given the extensive use of corporate platforms and services by radical activists and the apparent lack of an interest in any alternative then perhaps the Facebook users involved with Radical Routes should simply get on with it?