has a Facebook status ever really helped?

[Dontunderstand01]

A relative has put a facebook status about how some people don't enjotly christmas due to lost loved ones. It is quite long and cleatly not how she would word her own status. It concludes with "copy and paste (NO SHARING!) To show thosd who are lonely at Christmas that you that you care".

Aibu to ask what this achieves? Is someone now going to read it and do some good in the world? I volunteer with older people- I bloody well know that there are lonely and sad people in the world because I actually speak to them.

Has anyone read a Facebook status and changed the world by copying and pasting.

[OfficeGirl1969]

Those things annoy me....liking and sharing things to support people with cancer etc etc....I guess I "get" that people want to do something, but I fail to see how sharing a photo or status can do anything!

However, earlier in the year when I was battling through a breakdown I did post asking my FB friends to tell me something happy and positive, or post a happy photo, to bring some sunshine into my life, and about forty people really came up with the goods and brightened my day no end!

[PastaPrincess]

It's just today's version of a chain email IMO. Good for people who like to think that they're doing their bit, without actually having to do anything worthwhile. YANBU.

[hefzi]

It's just today's version of a chain email IMO. Good for people who like to think that they're doing their bit, without actually having to do anything worthwhile. YANBU
^^ This PastaPrincess is spot on.

[goodnightdarthvader1]

I saw that one. I felt like saying, well, thanks, that's fucking depressing.

[Summerisle1]

That status has just been posted by someone I'd assumed had rather more sense! Quite honestly, if you were already depressed about Christmas I find it hard to see how seeing even more Christmas all over Facebook would improve things. Better, by far, if people just shut the fuck up and stopped copying and pasting things like automatons.

[gingerboy1912]

I don't like posts that tell me I can't like but gave to share as it pisses me off. I will like it if I want to. Anyway I digress, what I think these sort of posts do is make People more aware of different things, different conditions and illnesses.

[MrsBalustradeLanyard]

What's with the c&p instead of sharing? Rather negates the whole existence of the share button and social media in general!

[Dontunderstand01]

I know Mrs! Why is sharing inferior to copy and pasting?

A colleague informed me these are 'slacktivists' which I think is very accurate. Far easily to slap some bullshit on facebook than actually do anything.

Summer Isle I totally agree.

And officegirl- that is quite sweet and actually helpful. So I guess I am BU a teeny bit!

[Gottagetmoving]

I think people put those things on their status so that everyone will think how kind and caring they are.
It's bloody obvious there are lonely people out there and a bit sad that anyone needs Facebook to remind them.

[LurkingOne]

Can't find it now, but i did read somewhere that this "you must copy and paste" sort of thing is what scammers use to find possible targets. Makes sense, the kind of person who you can make write something on their status by tugging some emotional heartstrings are more likely to be successful scam targets. They then use software to search for people with poor privacy security who have posted these quotes and add them to the "sucker list"

Same goes for the "like" this picture of poorly child. Works slightly differently, they build up 1m likes and shares with the poorly child, who almost always isn't poorly or aware of the story, then flip the image and message to some scam site, with the benefit of 1m people on facebook having liked it to make it look legitimate.

Morale of the story, max out privacy settings and don't do this nonsense.

[LurkingOne]

Moral of the story even....

[ronT]

I'm afraid these 'chain messages' have nothing to do with 'supporting' people impacted by any of the issues covered. Think about it. Most of us have experienced loss or trauma of some kind. Are any of us likely to be 'comforted' by seeing a generic message that is worded to focus more on emotional blackmail than providing any form of comfort.

So why are these posts doing the FB rounds? Although the topics vary, certain elements of the message are always consistent: "Copy & paste. Do not share" and "Post this to your timeline for one hour". Why these obscure conditions? Why is no explanation given for why they should be copied and pasted instead of sharing or why for only one hour?

The reason is to gather data on the percentage of populations that will (a) comply at all and (b) will comply to the letter without question. These originate within the offices of Facebook and Facebook's primary product is data. Most of this data is sold to corporations to enable targeted advertising. However, FB's most lucrative clients are governments. You comply with the 'copy & paste' directive and this tells the database that you are prepared to comply with an intruction you don't understand and you will do so without question. If you comply with the 'post for one hour' directive, you are telling the database that you will even comply with instructions that are counter-productive to the objective... sharing for one hour only is hardly likely to show much in the way of support. The copy & paste directive also ensures that you have complete editorial control over what you paste on your timeline. If you consider the 'one hour' limit to be ineffective, you are able to delete that section. That tells the database that you are not entirely willing to comply with instructions you don't agree with unless there is a given reason.

This provides valuable data on the willingness of populations to comply without question and what kind of issues are most successful in getting people to comply. Basically, it is informing governments how best to manipulate you and how far they can push the populace.

Beware what you share. Things aren't always as they seem.

[Samcro]

they don't help. they are just rubbish.

[CallieTorres]

i hate them, you read through and think, oh xxx has been affected by xxxx and then you get to the end and read that SHIT about "can i ask you a favour ..." and i think, oh you fucking arsehole