OK, I think I've collected enough stuff to write that paper I promised about Facebook. In the meantime, I want to tell you about the mail function on Facebook. If you are not a member of the Facebook network, here's how it works:
--If you want to send someone a message, you do that by clicking the send-message link on their general or summary profile.
--Your "friend" then gets a message sent to his designated email address saying there's a message, from you, in Facebook.
--When your friend goes back to Facebook, he simply goes to his in-box.
Sounds brain-dead simple, right? But that's the beauty. Several nice things result from this protocol:
--Your friend gets the message that you are trying to reach him ... no matter what. Yes, he needs to go to Facebook to get the message. But that's easy ....
--The Facebook environment feels more intimate. Beats regular email, for that.
--Facemail is also more selective. You wouldn't use it for just anything. And for that reason, your friend might regard your message more seriously. Who knows, he might even become a real friend.
As a wiki guy, I am always looking for ways to reduce occupational spam. I think I've found a new way.
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