Well, I finally succumbed. I had to. I made a Facebook fan page for myself.
Sigh.
When you sit in your office at home without pants on, writing about whatever you feel like, you can sometimes forget that what you do has an impact on the greater world. People from all over the planet read this blog (I’ll need to contact someone at NASA sometime to get it put in the ISS RSS feed reader), which is something I try to keep in mind when I write it.
I also love using social media, which is a great way to keep such a community together. I follow a lot of folks on Twitter, for example, and I use Facebook, too, though my list of complaints about it would reach from here to, well, the ISS.
One of those complaints is that there is a limit to the number of friends you can have. A FB page was never really intended for use by people to promote social media, but for some of us that’s what’s happened; for me it morphed from its original use as a personal page for IRL friends to something bigger. But I’ve run up against that limit, and cannot add any more friends.
So, to get around this, I had to bite the bullet and make that fan page (which has no limit). If you’re already a friend on my original page, then consider adding that as well. I’ll note that a while back someone started a fan page for me, which was very cool, and much appreciated. But I don’t control that one, and wanted one where I do, something more official.
I’ll start using the fan page more and more as time goes on. I have my Twitter feed going to my original page, and I’ve added it to the fan page too. I’ll eventually post more pictures there, and so on. If you join the page you can add stuff there as well. I can also add events to the calendar, more info about what I’m doing, and eventually, who knows? It may have some actual use!
January 19th, 2010 at 10:51 am
FAN!
With a goofy comment to boot.
January 19th, 2010 at 10:52 am
I was lucky fan number 13.
Any pointers to good “how to make a fan page” info?
January 19th, 2010 at 10:56 am
I’m fan #27!
January 19th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Speaking of twitter, PZ is promoting some reality-based people for Shorty awards (http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/01/a_pointless_poll_in_a_new_medi.php). He also happens to be winning the #Squid shorty, but it would be funny if Phil made a run at that one … I nominate @badastronomer for a Shorty Award in #squid because…whatever the reason.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Not going to be able to add until later today. Saw the other fanpage but since it wasn’t run by Phil I didn’t add.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:25 am
“We’re sorry, Dr. Plait. But you just have too many friends, leaving fewer for everyone else. We’re going to have to cap your friend-making. Please try to be less popular. Maybe offend a few people so they will transfer their friendship from you to someone less fortunate.”
January 19th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Stop being so popular. Its hard enough to keep up with you as it is.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Fan #236… slow off the mark…
January 19th, 2010 at 11:39 am
I’m framing that comment.
The internet is eventually going to make Mark Twain wrong.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:42 am
@Will
I see Bad Astronomy T-shirts with pithy quotes such as that on the back.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Good to see you jumping on the Fan Page wagon.
A friend of mine has maxed out her personal page, and is now concentrating on her fan page. Most of the people who are her “friends” don’t even know her, but want to be her friend because she’s a local media personality.
I’m sure you’ll get over 5000 people on your Fan Page now.
January 19th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
FAN! With a smarta** comment, too.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
About time you joined the 21st century!
January 19th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Sometimes I like to get a little freaky when blogging, I go pantless and shirtless. It’s fortunate I don’t have many house guests. But you’re not alone! Sometimes the 5 second commute to the office can be too damned stressful to have to remember pants.
Oh yeah, I’m going to fan you. Then I’ll have a look at your new Facebook page. (I know, I know, I’m on fire today.)
January 19th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Well, I’ll be happy to just be a fan. (edited to add: I’m number 1270!)
January 19th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
y’know, I tweeted this, but to reiterate for the Tweetless masses:
Now there are 2 classes of Phil Phans: the friends, and the fans. Those who freinded him before the fan page are the Elect, and are blessed in Phil’s sight, while the fans must follow Phil’s Commandments or suffer eternal shame and consignment to the Pit of Anti-Vaxxers, to spend Eternity listening to Jenny McCarthy explain the Crystal Child theory.
January 19th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
“A FB page was never really intended for use by people to promote social media, but for some of us that’s what’s happened; for me it morphed from its original use as a personal page for IRL friends to something bigger. But I’ve run up against that limit, and cannot add any more friends.”
Honestly, Phil – I would only use your own personal FB page for family and friends in your own privacy, then use your fansite for your fans. It’s important to keep that line between work and home, even if you do work at home. Especially if you work at home.
January 19th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
i found your facebook page like 3 days ago
January 20th, 2010 at 8:15 am
On a remote chance, are your “pants on the ground?” Oops, my bad.
If you haven’t done so already, check your FB privacy settings because the defaults might not be as you would prefer.
January 20th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Thanks BA. I’ve signed up.
January 20th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Gee a fan Facebook page now? Watch it, soon you’ll have an ego like Carl Sagan.
Just remember to throw clothes on if you decide to do a video blog.
January 20th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Just a side note, with an established fan sight already, I’m 99% certain that guy could have just made you an admin and given control over to you. You probably already have more “fans” anyway, so it’s not it like it was a wasted expenditure to have people move from the one to the “Officially Bad Fan Page”.