Closing Down the FanSection

I guess Mark Zuckerberg has been reading my practicum blogs because the Facebook FanSection representatives have just posted a notice that they will shut down their Lakers FanSection on the network at the end of this year. In a brief and non-descriptive statement, the notice says, "Dear FanSection Member, Due to a changing business environment, we have made the very hard decision to shut down the FanSection sports communities effective Dec. 31, 2010." From there, they send their deepest apologies, and warmest thanks for all our continued support over the years. However, let's take a look back at the 3 main reasons for the FanSection shutdown:

1) Nothing Constructive to Say: Facebook is the wrong venue for sports fans to voice their opinion, (mainly because they aren't opinions; they are more like short outbursts of enthusiasm). To simply post "GO LAKERS!" or "KOBE RULES!" is not enough to generate discussion and debate. Because Facebook is a social network, fans treat the FanSection like it is a social forum rather than a place to critically analyze the team and its players.

2) Too Much Facebook: Facebook has become a necessity for most of its users, but it has also become a dependency for others. To avoid this dependency, fans, like myself, turn to other websites and forums to read & write about their teams mainly to just get a change of scenery. Facebook has evolved into a social network that many go to first when they turn on their computers, it does not need to be the only site they stay on all day, despite Zuckerberg's attempt to keep us there.

3) Not For True Fans: This has been my main argument all along, and continues to be my strongest one. To say the Lakers Facebook FanSection attracts "wannabe" fans is a bit harsh, but it certainly does not attract the knowledgeable ones. Fans that choose to blog about their teams are likely well informed about the entire roster, stats, etc... They want to surround themselves with fans on the same level. Facebook's FanSection is like the kids table at a wedding. Please sit me with the adults.