Mathew's comments - Latest Comments in Irony alert: Facebook Catch-22

Re: Irony alert: Facebook Catch-22

300baud — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:40:02 -0000

"(yes, that's his real name)" I don't get it.

The majority of the traffic the Internet carries is either a copyright infringement, unsolicited commercial or fraudulent communication, or pornography. There are other uses for the Internet (like there are other uses for Facebook besides socializing) but those other uses are the aberrant cases, so the gov't should just ban the Internet during working hours. Right, Raul?

I've heard that water coolers encourage a similar social effect. Never actually seen an office water cooler, so I'm not sure. Maybe they're already on top of this one.

Re: Irony alert: Facebook Catch-22

Bob — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:26:51 -0000

Or you know, Mr. McGuinty could stop his crusade to turn Ontario into the ultimate nanny state. I'm well past the age that this new law would effect and don't even drive anymore but I still think it's ridiculous.

Re: Irony alert: Facebook Catch-22

mathewi — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:11:26 -0000

Thanks for the comment, Raul -- and I appreciate that not everyone uses or wants to engage with the Premier through Facebook. But at least several hundred thousand people seem to want to (at least in some way), and I think that makes it a pretty good venue.

Re: Irony alert: Facebook Catch-22

Raul — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:05:54 -0000

Hi Matthew,

I don't use Facebook even though I am on every other Web 2.0 application. Ordinarily, I would agree with you (since I do like your thoughts and writing). But I disagree here. Facebook is primarily used as a social networking (friend) application. The government can engage in dialogue using non-Facebook Web 2.0 tools (Twitter, blogs, YouTube, etc.). I frankly would not take the Government of Ontario engaging with me using FB as a platform. If, of course, I were on Facebook!

Re: Irony alert: Facebook Catch-22

mathewi — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:36:28 -0000

Good point, Mitch. Thanks for the comment.

Re: Irony alert: Facebook Catch-22

mitchjoel — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:28:11 -0000

It won't come as a shock to you that, by law, I believe he must respond in both official languages as well. I do a lot of events for Governments across Canada and in those presentations I always say that the rules have to change. Well, they're going to have to change faster if the Government really does want to be a part of this. They will soon have to move away from their "one voice in both official languages" policy.