I’ve created a Facebook page for wordorigins.org. Right now, it’s just a pretty basic profile--the old image of the Bayeux Tapestry, a link to the site, and a brief description. I’m not sure how to link to a Facebook profile, but if you are in Facebook a search on “wordorigins” will turn it right up. I think you may need to be a Facebook member to see it, but I’m not sure about that.

I’m pretty clueless about Facebook. (My only experience with social networking sites is with LinkedIn, which I use as an extension of my address book to keep track of acquaintances and business contacts with whom I don’t regularly talk.) So if anyone who is Facebook literate has any suggestions for features to take advantage of please make them here.

My goal is to try to get the site some more exposure. This isn’t a big initiative--I’m really just playing around and seeing what can be done with Facebook.

Question #1 is can someone who is not a Facebook member see the profile? If so, how do I make this happen.

Question #2 is should I create a Facebook “group” for people to join? From what I can tell, that would create discussion forums and such that would duplicate the main site’s current functionality. I’m not sure that’s what I want.

(I’ve also got my own Facebook page, which is me-oriented. If nothing else, take a look at my astrophotographs--a new hobby of mine.)

I don’t think you can get into Facebook at all unless you register. I just get the login/register page when I try to view the site.

If I am not logged in, I can search for wordorigins and find it, but I cannot view the profile without logging in.

I know it’s possible to have a public facebook page but I really don’t know how to do it.  My wife cajoled me into getting a facebook page but I hardly ever do anything with it.  She uses hers to great benefit; she’s gotten a lot of good contacts with it. I’ll see if she wants to stop by here with helpful tips.

If you log in to your Facebook account, on the top right you will see a “privacy” link that will take you to a page with a link for “Search” that will allow you to set the options for who can search for you as well as who can see your profile and all of that.

Loading up the “Personal” section on your profile with appropriate keywords will help people to find you.

Likewise, you can use those same keywords to search for other people and add them as friends to expand your networks of people and increase your exposure.

Facebook is a vast world of different ways to interact and so it pretty much boils down to how much time you feel like messing with it.

Sorry - I forgot your Question #2 - There is currently an “Etymology Appreciation” group with 99 members. Joining that group would certainly be a good idea.

I know these two don’t do much harm here, but shouldn’t they be removed?
And didn’t Facebook fall victim to a great “spamscam” recently?

So right. The posts are gone.

Dave Wilton - 04 July 2008 08:45 AM

I’ve created a Facebook page for wordorigins.org. Right now, it’s just a pretty basic profile--the old image of the Bayeux Tapestry, a link to the site, and a brief description. I’m not sure how to link to a Facebook profile, but if you are in Facebook a search on “wordorigins” will turn it right up. I think you may need to be a Facebook member to see it, but I’m not sure about that.

I am Facebook member and a search for “wordorigins” turned up nothing.  Mind you, Facebook interacts badly with my browser (Iceweasel), so it may just be more borkage.

Just a test to see if the system is working—there hasn’t been any activity on the board for over a day, and I’m starting to worry!

languagehat - 31 January 2009 06:22 AM

Just a test to see if the system is working—there hasn’t been any activity on the board for over a day, and I’m starting to worry!

Same here.

we’re all over at Facebook filling out our “25 things” thing.

Oy.

languagehat - 01 February 2009 11:59 AM

Oy.

Not me, mind....

Glad to hear it!  (And getting ever more nervous about the silence.  Is someone binding and gagging the posters of Wordorigins.org?  And when are they coming for me??)

Mmmmph!  Nffll urrrffr umffflll fmmg!

Are we on the blink again?