Discussion: Ap on FB!

So guys,

Just for fun I created an Attackpoint group on facebook - is open to all, feel free to join up if you want!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24654961936

Greetings,
Richard.

Hey Old Fox:
Could you please tell some of us old fossils what is the magic about Facebook? What could we do on Facebook if we join, that we can't do on A/P?

For many of us, A/P and Orienteering is My Life!

Thanks Richard,

Thirteen members in 15 hours, did you expect better?

I'm slightly less fossilized than chitownclark, and I don't get the whole Facebook thing, either... Is it a less cheesey version of MySpace?

I see that it has a photo for each member. That's kinda cool -- it would be cool to have that feature on AP.

The photo of each member is crucial to facebook. It began as an on-line gathering place for students and thus resembles a school yearbook. Unfortunately for the students, many of us ol' farts are intruding on their facebook space.

AP has the advantage (in the eyes of some) of being close to anonymous if you want it to be. Facebook is great if you're into stalking (like me).

What could we do on Facebook if we join, that we can't do on A/P?

As an "oldie" who uses Facebook, the main use of it I've found is to re-establish contact with lost friends and acquaintances (not all of whom are orienteers!). In this respect it's a bit like friendsreunited in the UK or classmates.com in the US, but isn't limited by country (which for those of us who've lived in multiple countries is very useful!). I know other people use a lot of the applications on there as well which enable people to challenge each other to quizzes, send virtual gifts etc.

My main use of AP is to keep track of my training, see how it compares with others', compare splits, and talk about orienteering. Completely different!

As a fossil, I aim to be the last person left on the planet who hasn't visited Facebook.

I see that is has a photo for each member. That's kinda cool -- it would be cool to have that feature on AP.

??? I have had my photo on AP for ages, just look at my profile.

As a fossil...

Ahem... You're only a bunch of underscores!

But that's ok, I haven't been to FB either. So you can be an honorable mention fossil. :-)

I'm in the group now - i have the first post.

...I have had my photo on AP for ages...

Jagge: Nice photo, perfectly capturing Finn orienteering this time of year: emerging from the gloom with a wary glance.

Would you mind telling us how you uploaded it?

His email address is part of the photo. When he entered his email address, he entered a link to a photo just like you would anywhere else on Attackpoint, with the "img src" HTML tag. Which is complicated to explain without having the explanation show up as a picture, but just go to his profile page, do View-PageSource, and search for "email" to see what he entered. You only need the part between the < and > symbols that has "img src" in there, and you obviously need to use you own picture. The picture has to already be somewhere on the web. (And I fear that that was not a helpful explanation.)

JJ got it right. My AP email address field is:
</a><img src=http://www.routegadget.net/j.jpg>

But I am sure Ken does not like us to misuse the address field like that.

email field seems to be restricted to 50 or so characters. /a tag can be dropped though.

Jagge: Hey, it works! Clever work-around! Thanks!

But how could Ken object, since you've inserted your email address into the .jpg file image. In this format, the .jpg serves as your internet "calling card," with your picture, complete with email address, popping up anywhere there is an html field. Do you use this trick on other sites?

Do you use this trick on other sites?

I don't use other sites. Why should I?

@ chitownclark : As I consider myself to be an old fossil I'll tell you what I get out of FB. As I live many 1000's of KM away from my old school buddies, Uni friends and family, FB is a great tool for keeping in contact and getting re-acquainted with people not seen for many years and separated by many miles.

Be that as it may, FB is still about getting what you want to get out of it, so the golden rule is, if you are uncomfortable with it, then don't use it :) Would be great to see you there though.....

I never expected to get 60 people signed up in 3 days though :) Isn't that great!

Congrats!

/a tag can be dropped

You need that tag if you don't want the picture to be clickable, sending mail to a nonsensical place (mail to the jpg itself!), but you can use tinyurl.com if you need to shorten up the URL of the picture. And without the /a tag, if you go in to edit your profile, it appears that the email field will be whacked out.

Right - so who's going to write the AP - FB plugin *grin*

Holly i thought started the group, but i guess i just got an invite to it from her. I'm part of some group for AP on facebook though. I love facebook!!! We are all posting all of our Interscholastics photos on it and wall posting like crazy lol.

@jjcote: thanks for the tinyurl trick. Could put in the /a tag again and my image is no longer clickable now.

Hallo All,

Facebook changed the goalposts and our group got ???? reassigned ???? - not really sure exactly what happened.

But the group is still there, you just need to sign up to it again :)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/24654961936

Chat soon :)
Old_Fox