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AIBU

Really irritating Facebook posts

(65 Posts)
Antonia Sat 05-Aug-17 17:58:49

I don't usually rant about Facebook posts, but I have one friend who continually posts comments such as 'Please copy and paste if you know / care about someone who has cancer.' I feel like commenting and asking how this can possibly be of any use to anyone. I am fine with posts dealing with sponsored runs, raising funds etc, but this type of thing is just plain stupid.

Mauriherb Sun 06-Aug-17 14:02:37

I agree Anya. I know friends who have been reunited with stolen goods/pets through Facebook.
The campaigns you mention really have an effect

Anya Sun 06-Aug-17 13:57:19

FB can be a power for good too. There have been campaigns launched (e.g. Stop Funding Hatred) which have gathered so much support that some big advertisers are now withdrawing adverts (and this financial suppport) from newspapers who stir up racial, homophobic or other hatred.

Hit them in their pockets.

Mauriherb Sun 06-Aug-17 13:55:29

I agree that these posts are annoying and pointless but the ones that really get me are "can't take much more" or similar, then someone asks what's wrong and the reply comes " can't talk about it " . If you don't want to talk about it, then don't put posts on Facebook fishing for sympathy. ! AIBU ?

Caroline64 Sun 06-Aug-17 13:32:34

I just ignore these - I go through hiding any that I don't want to see but in particular the ads. I use FB for the messaging and humour. It is wonderful how one can chat informally when both online and a really good laugh is worth its weight...(eg Michael MacIntyre).

quizqueen Sun 06-Aug-17 13:17:59

Really, I have never seen the purpose of facebook unless it's to trace a long lost friend. Surely, if people want you to know about their lives they will email you privately and if they can't be bothered to do that then that tells you that you are not that close to them!

Marieeliz Sun 06-Aug-17 12:32:53

My friend and I have the same cleaner, she recently text us re a sponsored event she was taking part in. We do not know the charity, it was someone who had helped her son. i don't know what I was supposed to do? Tell how much I would donate?

I think it is a bit much for a cleaner to text a client though. If she had come and said I have just done a sponsored walk in aid of I would have given a couple of pounds. She knows I don't look at my phone often so I have just ignored it. Don't know what friend has done, but she wasn't too happy either. There is a disabled neighbour she goes to as well so it puts people in a difficult situation. As we all have people we support and stick to those.

HootyMcOwlface Sun 06-Aug-17 11:44:03

Same here paddyann especially when the post is written TO the deceased person. I just think "why??? do they get FB in heaven?!" Really really really annoys me! I've clicked the "see less from xxx" thingy to stop a lot of it.

HannahLoisLuke Sun 06-Aug-17 10:38:13

I just ignore them but I often wonder why they ask to copy and paste rather than just share? Can anyone enlighten me please?

Diddy1 Sun 06-Aug-17 10:35:58

Amen or other chain letters I ignore, or block them.
I have an aquaintance who every morning starts her FB page with "Good morning all you sunbeams" then a saying from somewhere, before she starts telling every detail of her coming day. I have blocked her as it is sickening to read, I know many read her "diary" every day, then laugh behind her back, thats sad.

angie95 Sun 06-Aug-17 10:20:34

I get them too, and can't copy and paste, so just tell them, sorry, I can't do that, I know, that people like to do this, but I would much rather see a happy post! smile

paddyann Sun 06-Aug-17 09:50:45

I dont share these posts or the sick kids ones that tell you to type amen ,or the you'll get bad luckif you dont ones.The ones that annoy me are the folk who put really personal stuff on about missing their mums or dads who died and really milk it for sympathy ,especially when I know them and they had no time for those same parents when they were alive.Isn't it amazing how dying can turn a neglectful family into these amazing loving kids that need to tell everyone how wonderful they are .

Jaycee5 Sun 06-Aug-17 09:48:49

I use facebook quite a bit but I stopped having facebook friends as I really only want things on my newsfeed from sites that I am interested in and the oversharing was hard to stop. If you don't have any friends you are accused of being a fake account (even though I have lots of items of my home page that have been there quite a while). I follow a few political sites, plus people like John Oliver and Mark Steele, AJ+ and Atlas Obsura plus a couple of charities that I support. That brings up quite enough information without having friends that I don't know sending me random stuff. I don't really get the point - but then I am a bit self contained anyway which I prefer.

sunseeker Sun 06-Aug-17 09:42:02

The ones that really annoy me are the ones that say "if you miss someone who is in heaven share this" Why - is it going to bring them back? (I wish). I find them upsetting because I can be having a good day and they just bring all the pain crashing back

Theoddbird Sun 06-Aug-17 09:25:57

I just pass these by. It doesn't mean I don't care. Just ignore them.

Soniah Sun 06-Aug-17 09:20:03

I just paste these in periodically and, if someone continually posts these things say if they don't stop I'll unfriend them and why
If in doubt about a news item, share item etc check on hoaxslyer or snipes before you post
www.thatsnonsense.com/facebook-posts-that-ask-you-to-type-amen-are-exploiting-you/

www.snopes.com/luxury-rv-giveaway-scam/

Marianne1953 Sun 06-Aug-17 08:55:19

Ignore them, everyone else does. Unfollow her- she won't know that you have done that and if, periodically, you want to see what she's up to, just have a look, then you can select the posts you like.

TillyWhiz Sun 06-Aug-17 08:49:14

You can also make annoying friends Acquaintances so that they can't see everything that YOU post.

strawberrinan Sun 06-Aug-17 08:48:09

Two of my family members seem to be in some kind of competition as to who can forward the most upsetting stories first. These include articles about abused children and animals and they're ALWAYS first off the blocks to announce celebrity deaths. I had to unfollow them both for my own sanity because despite asking them politely not to share upsetting content they're just a bit thick.

Rosina Sun 06-Aug-17 08:45:40

Nanabilly is absolutely right - I was warned about these 'pass them on if you really care' items on either Facebook (which I don't use) or email, as they are often generated by people who can then garner information from addresses. Horrible isn't it? They play on sensitivities just to exploit others. Beware - I didn't know any of this until warned off by a really techsavvy relative. Also never reply to those emails that look like a genuine site (HM Revenue and Customs is a favourite, telling you that you have a refund due) Even if you just send a 'Do you think I'm mad enough to give you my details?' type of response, they can still engineer some kind of information from this.

harrigran Sun 06-Aug-17 08:43:31

I ignore all the clickbait postings on FB, they are there solely to gather information to target or scam you.

vampirequeen Sun 06-Aug-17 08:38:49

I hate the 'if you are my friend you will share and return this'

silverlining48 Sun 06-Aug-17 08:35:23

I didnt know there is a hide button...i will go now and search for it. Thanks.

Anya Sun 06-Aug-17 07:22:37

You don't have to unfriend, just unfollow. That means you still appear on her friends list but don't see her posts.

I have no problem with friends asking nicely to share a post but it really annoys me when they say 'I know who will and who won't' - that makes it more likely I won't share.

BlueBelle Sun 06-Aug-17 06:22:33

I ve noticed the awful Amen ones ( again from US) seem to have fizzled out or maybe I ve managed to sideline them
A lot get on my nerves too but I do as others, scroll past quickly or click the hide button They only bother you if you let them

Maggiemaybe Sat 05-Aug-17 22:41:23

Yes, for the sake of your sanity unfollow this friend. I have several who are lovely people, but post on an hourly basis - clickbait articles about poorly children and unwanted cats (mostly cats), lists of "the best beaches/films" you really need to visit/watch, inspirational messages, often involving aloe vera. A local group full to busting with lost pets and subsequently found pets, to the point where you just want to shout at them to shut the ruddy gate! I can barely see the posts I want to see for all this twaddle. Today I have noticed several "live videos" of FB friends just walking along a pavement or gurning to camera, so this must be the next delight to come. I have unfollowed so many people recently I may soon find I'm just talking to myself. grin

I do like Facebook really.