UnionBook is not Facebook
Facebook is -- at the moment -- the world's largest social networking platform. With tens of millions of users it aims to be all things to all people. As a commercial enterprise, it also exists primarily to make money. Because of its rapid growth, Facebook has attracted a very large number of software developers who've written many applications that make the site an attractive -- even addictive -- place to send time.
Obviously UnionBook cannot compete with that and we have no intention of competing with that.
Here's what we do that Facebook can't:
1. We're non-commercial -- and that means no paid advertising on our site.
2. We respect your privacy -- which means that we're never going to use your details for commercial marketing.
3. We're owned by, and designed to be used by, trade unionists. So unlike Facebook, we welcome unions to create groups here, to recruit members here, and to campaign here.
If you have a Facebook account, by all means keep it. Use Facebook for the fun things you already may use it for -- such as posting videos of your cat.
But when you want to do your union stuff online, we're working hard to ensure that UnionBook will be the best place for you to do it.
Last updated 455 days ago by Eric Lee
I Also thank you for the explanation. However one field where I could recommend you to actually learn from Facebook is in the field of integration. How to merge your online existence with other communities.
tis means import og contacts, calendard and other awareness of what is going on at your favourite watering holes.
/kurt
Kwesth 454 days ago
These are good points -- and we're working with the Elgg community of open source developers to constantly add new features including the ones you mentioned. Stay tuned -- we're constantly changing this site and remember that it's still in Beta ...
Eric
Eric Lee 453 days ago
On thing that I realize has made me not use union book is that I go on facebook because facebook tells me when someone I know has posted a note about something interesting by sending me emails to my email account everytime anyone who is a "friend" posts something on facebook. I don't have time to check unionbook or facebook every day, or check my all my friends postings on both everyday. But by getting those emails from facebook that alerts me when there is a discussion, or someone new has signed on who I want to connect with, or people are organizing a facebook campaign or cause. Without that connection, and being as busy as I am I end up not being enough to get me to take the time out of crazy busy days to draw me to check union book. So I turn away.
Kate Bronfenbrenner 414 days ago
Thanks for that, Kate. Valid points. We're constantly tweaking and improving UnionBook, and also the underlying architecture (the open source social networking software called Elgg) is chugging along, now on version 1.3.
Eric Lee 413 days ago
Hello Eric, thanks for this unionbook. Agreed with Kate points that needed email to alert us when somebody posted interesting note to this site...
indah budiarti 401 days ago
Thanks, Indah. Point taken.
Eric Lee 400 days ago
email alerts WILL be a plus. also of concern is cross-pollination. FACEBOOK allows one to Lists of friends which don't overlap, these Friend Lists have privacy settings which one may tweak to determine what content is available to each list. this would be a good feature here.
ed rosado 395 days ago
Ed - we'll have email alerts for groups by the end of this month.
Eric Lee 392 days ago
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Davide Barillari
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yes, it's very important to understand the differences between facebook and unionbook. thanks for the detailed explanation, Eric
Davide Barillari 455 days ago