Perhaps I just never noticed before but I see that links to Facebook and Twitter seem to have been added to the bottom of each post stream. Is this new or have I just not been looking?

What's the story Mr Huw?

and, given that I am one of the "old buggers" (i.e. born before 1980) what's the point 'cos I don't do the social networking thing?

Huw is no doubt responding to the needs of the Young Ones, Dave.

Either those, or the idle chavs with nothing better to do than fritter away their semi-waking hours (starting around midday, usually) with so-called "social networking".

You know, important messages like:- "I think I'll have Heinz Spaghetti for lunch today"*!

Everyone's at it, apparently. You know, those we all admire so much. Like "celebrities", politicians, journalists, footballers ... all sorts of "real" (or should that be "extremely sad") folk, in fact.

What's the point? None at all!

To be fair (?) I should imagine that, as far as this forum is concerned, it allows you to alert your friends (eh?) to new and exciting posts.

"Hey Dude, I've just made a really cool post on the ebme forum"!

What the more paranoid amongst us may care to bear in mind are the dangers involved in leaving digital footprints here, there, and everywhere. No doubt all those Tweets get stored on a hard-disc in some dark Data Warehouse someplace ... just waiting to come back and bite you in the butt sometime, who knows (cares?) when?

Did I say that back in 2010? Me? No way!

But just imagine all that, er, trivia filling up those RAID drives. I can only begin to wonder at the numbers involved.

PS: what about those (of us) born before 1960?

* Other popular brands are available.

If, like me, you were born before 1960 (and who's only formal computer training involved punch cards) then..........

Well, ya buggered mate !! (or at best trying very hard to keep up with things but the ol' eyes just don't focus as well as they used to, the knees creek, you can't remember where the hell you put the car keys and you would much rather get on with a spot of gardening than go to a party).

Ah, such is life. Bring on retirement, I can't wait

I read a piece yesterday about Ken Dodd.

Still doing five-hour shows at age 82 ... and still driving back every night (morning?) to Knotty Ash!

@Dave - I take your point, it's of no use to you if you don't use social networking, but a heck of a lot of people do.

@Geoff - I'm not responding to the young ones Geoff. Like it or not, Twitter & Facebook are a big part of peoples lives. I myself resisted it for a long time - but eventually dived in and got in touch with a whole load of old mates.

I don't see the point in being cynical about such things. I mean - this new fangled 'internet' thing, who'd be bothered with that?

Not me, that's for sure!

Cynical? All I got when I tried Facebook was someone hacking into my Hotmail contacts list, thereby causing much embarrassment to all concerned (but to me especially)!

Not too sure about so-called "old mates", either. Don't know about you guys, but I seem to be much better off with my new ones!

: tweet :
: tweet :

so, Huw, could you explain to an "old fart" like myself what the actual functional advantage of these links are (and were they new or had I just missed them in the past?) Perhaps I might be inspired to join the Now generation

Spreading the word Dave.
promoting communication...

When you Tweet or Like something, other people are informed of that fact and may come along and join in the debate.

It's just like skimming through a magazine you don't own and spotting an article that you wouldn't have ordinarily read but nevertheless find very interesting. (Sort of...)

so we are talking MARKETING here? (and nothing wrong with that, I have in the past held the title "sales and marketing manager")

I'm not complaining it's just that I don't "do" it myself (internet social stuff that is) so I don't really get it. I'm sure you are right to include this stuff for those who do.

Similar to the Email Post feature at the bottom right of a post (when you're logged in, that is).

I'm all for Spreading the Word. Let's hope that it leads to increased participation. Somehow I doubt that it will (but shall be happy to be proved wrong). Lurkers will remain as lurkers, I should imagine. Either that or they lack the time to make a post (too busy Tweeting).

For what it's worth (which is probably not a lot) I believe I do "get it" myself (despite being born during the Golden Age of the 1950's) ... but my take on it all is that real "social networking" is far better carried out, shall we say, face to face!

All this Tweeting* and such, just like emails and all the rest, can simply take over your life (to the detriment, in fact, of getting the actual work done) ... unless you lack the necessary (dare I utter the words?) self-discipline. In my experience, that is often very much lacking, especially amongst the young.

* Other "social networking services" exist, unfortunately.