Tech readers rally against Facebook

On December 13 2007, I sat down and wrote a quick blog about what I perceived to be the decline of that buzzing networking site, Facebook. In my eyes it's been degenerating rapidly to the extent that it is now circulating the same drain that MySpace drowned in over a year ago.

Read: This is why Facebook is going down the toilet

Read: Faceook: One more step towards the gutter

There's too many third-party apps. Too many invitations to be a Zombie. Too many things to clutter up people's profiles - profiles that once looked refreshingly clean in comparison to those revoltingly customised MurdochSpace ones.

I had no idea that these opinions would resonate so well with readers of the site. I've had so many emails with regards to that blog post, that I've decided to publish a collection of them here. As it turns out, there are a great many people out there who feel they're being turned away from Facebook, and this is why...

"I just read your posting about Facebook and I'd have to say I couldn't agree with you more. I'm sick of zombie invites and all the other third-party crap that has been added. The best thing for Facebook now would be to restore an old backup from a year or so ago." - Matt.

"Hey dude, I read your post about Facebook and I agree its becoming another peace of c**p friend thing. I liked it at first because there wasn't all this s**t everywhere, it was a simple way to stay in contact with friends. Now its becoming another moneymaking marketing scheme, and I know it sounds emo, but just like all good things in this world.

I honestly dont think there has been one good addition to Facebook since I started using it." - Xander

"Just read your interesting comments on Facebook, agree with you about most of the silly applications, I have dozens, thanks to my daughter. I don't bother with them - I don't even feed my rabbit! Will get rid of them.

There is one however that I love - it is Scrabulous. You can choose your speed and spend as much time as you like. I usually have a few games going at once. You can chat to your opponent whilst playing if you wish, and get to know them a little. There are the usual morons who just want to talk "dirty" but I just ignore them." - Sue

"I 'stumbled' upon your article regarding Facebook and it's slow descent towards destruction.. or becoming a clone of Myspace. Myself and a select few are in total agreement with you, those that have not fallen under the spell of third party applications and a dumbed down interface.

"Even though much has changed since I first joined the college student social networking site, I find myself trapped within because it is still an efficient way to communicate with friends.

Years ago, Facebook was exclusively for college students. Now we are plagued with "Applications" and mindless drones flaunting them about as these window lickers hope for praise in return. It will be a long wait before you see any useless application added on my Facebook profile. In fact, you can expect me to add these meaningless wastes of time right after I get my testicles laminated!" - Jon

"I find your position on the "is" to be a very interesting and compelling argument. I think your position reiterates the very reason why Facebook has ended up being more enjoyable and classic than My Space. Precisely for the same reason, your argument stated: vanity. Recently, I experienced the exact feeling of what your "is" argument like to affirm about Facebook. I really loved the effect that especially the Notes and Updates left on me. I understood and felt the value of knowing what my friends are actually up to. However, I feel guilty, myself, of appreciating some of this inclination toward vanity. Only today, I updated my photo with a piece of art, rather than another picture of me or of me and my friends or family.

Okay, that's all I have to say. I read "stumbled" on your article. I think it's cool I'm writing someone a long email right now, just to let him know that the article he wrote made some contact and created/caused a response." - Minal

"I was actually curious about how much space these apps take up, so one day I printed out my own Facebook profile and printed out a friend's who sends me a lot of these app invitations. Mine checked in at about a page and a half including recent wall posts. My friend's took up 12 pages.

I think Facebook should implement an option to disallow app invitations, which would make it less ridiculous for people like myself. Also, while I see your point concering the removal of "is" from status updates, some of my friends disregarded the correct prose and just typed whatever they wanted into their status update anyway. So while it would make a difference for some, it surely wouldn't make a difference for all." - Tyler

"I am one in opinion with you that facebook is slinking into the abyss day by day. Nowadays fb has become i business market littered with advertisements, dating commercials etc. the most annoying bit is that probability is joining facebook. most of the programs use probabillity to figure out. like the pirate vs ninja and especially the petrol head application. the time will come when facebook will slink lower by allowing people to edit facebook itself and open itself to piracy and phishing." - Anon

What do you think of Facebook? Do you like it more? Or has it become Failbook in the last year,? Email us to have your say.