Stella your views are your views. We make the choice in life of what we do and what we dont. I have made the choice that I am not a member of facebook so am unable to get the 'free' designs. Does it bother me, no or I would have joined. Dont twitter either but I do text. I do think many are using FB as a marketing method as its free. It will be interesting to see what others say

I don't do facebook and etc. either. So, I don't collect from those sites. I'm not very trusting either in regards to those.

I know how you feel, I feel that way too, but everything about u or me can be found on the computer, if we like it or not! so I have joined face book, have not put my picture on yet, but I am sure if I searched I"d find one.
Aleene

I made the same choice I to don't use facebook, but my choice and if i miss out oh well... I don't let it bother me. Enjoy your day HUGS

I do facebook to keep up with my gd's in California, pictures, updates, etc. I made the mistake of checking out a freebie that was listed and after I hit the "like" I could dl the freebie. Well, I didn't like it so didn't dl it. Now, I get a zillion and one adds from them. Haven't figured out yet if there is a way to get rid of them. Oh well, live and learn. Hugs..Carol

Stella, there certainly have been some privacy concerns regarding facebook over the years. I do believe that if you set your privacy settings appropriately you should be safe, however you do need to be aware of how to do this. I have been a member of facebook since it's very early days and it helps me to keep up with friends and family that I may otherwise lose touch with. I have never had a problem myself, and my privacy setting are very low because I have a business and I want to be found.
The reason that these sites being the big thing in marketing these days. It is considered advantageous to have lots of facebook "fans" on your facebook page. So you get offered a freebie to become a fan. I have a facebook page myself but I never offer up free stuff to my fans because I want people to go to my website. I think that these people may be a bit misguided with their marketing strategies but that is what they are being taught in the current online marketing techniques.
If you really want the freebies I would suggest that you go ahead and join facebook and get someone you know to set your privacy settings really high. Otherwise you just need to accept that this is what people are doing these days and they are going to keep on doing it.
Alice.

I do have a facebook account, but I never connect with companies. I much rather do without the freebies. Facebook is very intrusive and recently connected my real name and picture with another companies Login Name. I found out because I googled that peticular log name.

I don't belong to FB either. I have more than enough designs. I don't need to go looking for free designs anymore. I think everyone should be free to do what is right for them.

No Facebook for me, either. It's too junky, too complicated, and everything seems to be linked to everything else. I have more to do with my life than reading what my facebook "friends" had for dinner, or getting bombarded with advertising because you 'like' something. Thanks, but no thanks. Free designs aren't my life. If I like something, I'll buy it. If younger people want to waste their lives playing on the computer, that's their choice. I'd rather have one or two "real" friends, that I can talk to, go to lunch with, look at fabric with, than hundreds of fakey 'friends' on facebook. I guess I'm just not "with it", and I'm not gonna GET "with it", either, hee hee hee. If I had a business, I'd have a website, not a Facebook page. So, we're all different. Those who like it can have it, and I don't need their designs, there's plenty of others out there. Hugs, Marji

I agree, I do not like face book either. Like marjialexa I do not need to know what others have for dinner etc. If I need to keep in touch with my grandchilden I do it through my and their normal email. Hugs Sgirley

I too am not on face book nor will I ever be. do not twitter or text either... I agree with you. Suzanne

I just pass if it requires you to log into Facebook to get the freebie...I have tried it and it's a royal pain...and half the time, I would get an error message on the download page and have to go back again and again to try...I enjoy a freebie, but I do have my limits...and for me, Facebook exceeds them...

You are so right .. "freedom of choice" ... it is your choice ... I guess if you want that "Freebie" bad enough ...You will do what ever it takes .. even tho it is being offered in a venue that you don't like ... Unfortunately sometimes it seems to be all about "Freebies" .... I think some digitizers are trying to get their name out there and are using any venue to do that .. Good for them .. what ever works.. I have found that FB is where some are offering their "Freebies"... as of right now I am not aware that you can buy designs that you want from a designer off of FB .. you are usually refereed to their web site where you can "Buy" any design you want from their site .., Just my OWN experience and opinion .

You can create a facebook account using an alias. If you don't put anything on your page there is nothing for anyone to get, therefore it is safe. A name is all you would find on my page, and it is not my real name. I also have a seperate gmail account for this sort of thing.
I have had no problems.

I also do not bother with freebies if it means involving Facebook. More and more embroidery sites are now doing things this way - unfortunately. Sarah.

I love facebook and was at first a fiend of sort. then after the newness of it died down i will check it through out the week to see whats up and if i hear about a certain design i will go check it out. If i want it free bad enough i will enlist my families help especially if its my daughter that wants the design on my Grands outfit.lol it's a great free source of advertisement. Not as good as yahoogroups because you get a updated list daily of designs added but you have to remember the freebies get you there in the hopes of spending more. I am currantly collecting 39 alphas and its a pain everyday but even if i miss a design i still keep the alpha because i will eventually see it offered again. I spent far to much time collecting than sewing and that is what kills me if some great cutie could figure out a way to sign up to have them all delivered at once we would all be fontaholics.... :)

I don't do FB, twitter, etc, and am annoyed to have a business refer me to their FB page to learn more about their products. If I want to talk to someone I pick up the phone. If I want to do business with a company I go to their website. I don't understand why a business would post a vide on on their FB page and not on their website where everyone can have access to it. Oh well.

I do use Facebook AND I totally agree with you. BUT... If I am going to keep up with grandkids and friends' kids, and some friends who live far away and only keep up this way - it is worth it :-) Like you, I don't go to the Facebook sites to get freebies. On my site, I have only "shared" what I want to share, information for people who already know me to be able to find me - but not even my phone number, no house address. I post a few photos - not many. I just join in the conversation - but not as much as I do here on Cuties . Would my life be complete without it? Probably. But, am I enjoying knowing about what is going on in so many dear people's lives, former students, extended family? Absolutely. Find me on Facebook - I'll be your friend :-) Jan Wharton

What I find irritating are all the contests that the only way to participate is through facebook. Not fair.
I'm un-subscibed from websites over this. If there contest isn't open to me, I'm not open to receive their email. I've read 40% of those on-line at NOT on facebook. Do these entities really want to turn away 40% of their potential customers?

I also stay away from the Facebook enviroment (and I'm an Computerperson) too much personal stuff involved and available to others you do not know.If that is the case I will not have the design; than that's they way it should be.

I don't do Fb,Twitter,or Yahoo. As it is I spend too much time on the computer and not enough time doing other things...like sewing,embroidering ,and just being creative.It is so easy to get caught up in topics and freebies from here & there and then I kick myself for not just stitching...!! :-)
Just me.
Hugs, Nadyne

I feel the same as you. I do have FB, but only for my family and friends. I will not join any group on FB and I think they will loose alot of customers this way. I think a good majority of embroider's are of the older generation and we want all the new technology. I like things simple.
Hugs Jerri

I definetly agree. I don't have time for all that. Life is to short to spend hours in front of the computer. I refuse to do that ! Same for hunts and such. My time is much too valuable to waste. The freebies are fun to collect but how many ever get used ?? God bless !!

I agree with you. I don't do Face Book either. However I do have an account just to be able to access the freebies. I understand why parents and grand parents want to keep up with the children there. My granddaughters are not old enough yet to belong and when they join, I will probably try to keep up. Kay

I am sorry you feel that way about fb, but it is of course your choice to choose not to have one..same as the Yahoo groups. I have fb and love it..YOU control your privacy settings on fb and I have had no problems with it at all and have had my account for a long time. I have gotten some nasty viruses via embroidery sites so I feel safer on fb believe it or not. I love the idea of sharing pictures and seeing everyone's work as well as exchanging information. I wanted to add that because of fb we were reunited with a stepson that we hadnt seen since his mother abandon him 33 years ago..we typed in his name and voila! there he was and we contacted him by pm and when he accepted the message it was confirmed that it was him..fb has many wonderful things to offer & it's really just learning how to use the site the same as many of us cuties here learning the ropes of this site..Have fun and remember it is YOUR CHOICE.. *4u..

Agree with you.

I HATE FB..so sick of having it in my face everywhere I go .."LIKE US ON FACEBOOK". Even our network tv stations. But I find it so funny that people say they 'keep up w/family & friends'. DUH! Telephone? Email? Letters? And have I not heard of people having their personal info compromised there? I'd never join that site..even for free money. I'm doing just fine without it. And Twitter--that anyone would want to follow someone around in 140 characters-ridiculous. I'm an old fogey.