Facebook: The Missing Manual

Chapter 7. Facebook and the Real World: In-Person Events

Connecting with online pals in the real world is becoming more and more popular. Facebook’s event listings help you find out what’s going on in your own backyard—everything from birthday parties and gallery openings to study sessions and protest marches. And because RSVPing to events lets your Facebook friends see that you’re planning to attend, a tiny get-together can quickly burgeon (“Well, hey, if Bob and Muffy are going, then I’m going!”). This chapter shows you how to find out what events are happening in your area, who’s attending, and how to set up your own events.

Types of Events

Meeting people face-to-face raises privacy issues that don’t exist online. As creepy as someone might be online (leaving weird or threatening notes on your Wall, poking you a hundred times a day, or joining every Group you join), the worst risks you take are annoyance, embarrassment, and the possible filching of some personal data, all of which Chapter 13 helps you prevent. In person, though, that same creepiness could conceivably translate into actual bodily harm. So be extremely careful if you arrange a real-life meeting with someone (or a group of people) you met on Facebook.

To help deal with the privacy issues and safety concerns raised by in-person events, Facebook offers these event types:

• Open events. Any Facebook member can read about this kind of event on the event’s profile page and add himself to the guest list. Open events are great ...