Author Topic: Facebook birthdays  (Read 505 times)

oogyda

Facebook birthdays
« on: August 01, 2020, 02:25:19 pm »
I'm not a fan.  Especially since they added the "make a donation to XXX for friend's birthday" option.  I think it was last year when I started noticing those.  On my birthday, facebook oh, so graciously directed me to choose a cause for my friends to donate to.  I declined.  But I think that's when I became dispirited with the facebook birthday reminders. It all just felt forced and fake.

So I decided I wasn't going do birthday well wishes over facebook anymore.  Of course, I send some sort of Birthday Greeting to my nearest and dearest.  I either know those birthdays off the top of my head, or at least have them written down in that section of my address book. 

In the spirit of fair play, I also took my birthday information out of my profile.  You would be right if you guessed that I did not receive a single birthday greeting over facebook this year.  My nearest and dearest managed to get to me via other means.

I get that a quick little greeting that could brighten someone's day can be a good thing.  I get that some people keep track (cough, cough YDN).  For me, it's one more thing not to like about facebook.
« Last Edit: August 01, 2020, 05:14:02 pm by oogyda »

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Pandorica

Re: Facebook birthdays
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2020, 09:35:33 pm »
I decided last year to stop wishing everyone a happy birthday on Facebook.  If we're RL friends (or special in some way), I *might* post a message.  I do appreciate when someone takes a few seconds out of their day to write something to me on my birthday.

vintagegal

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Re: Facebook birthdays
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2020, 08:04:24 am »
I used to feel sad that no one sent me FB b'day wishes. Then I realized that My Settings did not allow anyone to see my b'day on FB. That explained a lot. I left it that way.

And as much as I would like to raise money for my favorite charity, nope, not gonna beg people on FB. I'll donate by myself.

It happens to be my b'day today. I got one card via mail from stepdaughter and family, and a FB message from stepson.

pierrotlunaire0

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Re: Facebook birthdays
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2020, 12:26:21 pm »
I actually like the birthday wishes from FB acquaintances. From friends in RL, it's up to them.

I detest the fundraising with a passion. It just irritates me unreasonably.
I have enough lithium in my medicine cabinet to power three cars across a sizeable desert.  Which makes me officially...Three Cars Crazy
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lakey

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Re: Facebook birthdays
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2020, 02:49:12 pm »
I almost never go to facebook, so I'm curious about this:
Quote
Especially since they added the "make a donation to XXX for friend's birthday" option. 
Does Facebook get a percentage?
At any rate, asking people to donate to something because it is your birthday just seems odd to me.
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gramma dishes

Re: Facebook birthdays
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2020, 03:07:11 pm »
I actually like the birthday wishes from FB acquaintances. From friends in RL, it's up to them.

I detest the fundraising with a passion. It just irritates me unreasonably.

No.  No matter how intensely you detest it, the degree of irritation you feel is not unreasonable!
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Codewoman1125

Re: Facebook birthdays
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2020, 12:40:27 pm »
I'm not a fan.  Especially since they added the "make a donation to XXX for friend's birthday" option.  I think it was last year when I started noticing those.  On my birthday, facebook oh, so graciously directed me to choose a cause for my friends to donate to.  I declined.  But I think that's when I became dispirited with the facebook birthday reminders. It all just felt forced and fake.

So I decided I wasn't going do birthday well wishes over facebook anymore.  Of course, I send some sort of Birthday Greeting to my nearest and dearest.  I either know those birthdays off the top of my head, or at least have them written down in that section of my address book. 

In the spirit of fair play, I also took my birthday information out of my profile.  You would be right if you guessed that I did not receive a single birthday greeting over facebook this year.  My nearest and dearest managed to get to me via other means.

I get that a quick little greeting that could brighten someone's day can be a good thing.  I get that some people keep track (cough, cough YDN).  For me, it's one more thing not to like about facebook.

I had to look and see if I wrote this post. Same issues based on the same reasons!
-- Formerly Codewoman (but I forgot my password, have changed email, etc.)
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oogyda

Re: Facebook birthdays
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2020, 12:56:59 pm »
I almost never go to facebook, so I'm curious about this:
Quote
Especially since they added the "make a donation to XXX for friend's birthday" option. 
Does Facebook get a percentage?
At any rate, asking people to donate to something because it is your birthday just seems odd to me.

I looked into that.  Apparently, the first year they did this they did take a 5% fee.  Since then, they don't take a fee for this type of charitable fundraisers. 

There are over 750,000 charities to choose from on their list and facebook has verified their non-profit status.  But, it's still up to you to investigate what the charity does with donations. 

Facebook does get a percentage + flat fee. of "personal fundraisers".  For example, if you're asking for money to get your pet donkey's ears pierced. 

DaDancingPsych

Re: Facebook birthdays
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2020, 01:36:32 pm »
It happens to be my b'day today. I got one card via mail from stepdaughter and family, and a FB message from stepson.

Happy Belated Birthday!!! (I hope that that best reflects your wishes.)

I appreciate the wishes, but I do tend to note who takes the time to acknowledge my birthday and who interacts with my posts throughout the year. Those are the people who I figure appreciate hearing from me and I will acknowledge theirs. But otherwise, I don't get crazy with it. But I'm also not a fan of the donation button.

A friend was using his Facebook page to post political memes that he deemed funny. The strange thing is that they were from various sides of the issues and not from just one political party. Apparently, this upset people and they messaged him in mass that he was confusing people??? (I didn't see it any different than if he supported one party that was opposite to me. If I didn't want to see his posts, I could scroll or use one of the features to hide them.) Anyways, I mention this as it caused him to close his page a week prior to his birthday. I had his birthday saved on a separate calendar, so I texted him my wishes. I have never seen someone so disappointed that no one else remembered his birthday; he really appreciated my message. I guess it's really a individual thing as to what you want.