Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
So I was researching ways to make Facebook less annoying when I found this article. The gist is that if someone not on your friends list sends you a message, FB doesn't notify you and stashes it away in a folder marker "Other." This folder is easy to overlook with a browser, but apparently inaccessible on the mobile app.
If you haven't checked this folder lately, take a look right now. Chances are it will just be spam and other things you didn't want to see anyway. But maybe you'll find something else entirely, like I did.
I might post about what I found a little later, once I wrap my head around it. That will probably take a while.
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
I had no idea it was there and I had 50! ( mostly junk )
I just found the folder a few weeks ago. :)
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
There are scam messages sent to the "other folder"....just fyi.
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
Yeah I've had all sorts of random shit come in there... lots of strangers hitting on me, some spam, some people who were legit trying to get hold of me.
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
Most of the stuff in my folder was junk. People saying they went to high school with me but not mentioning which school, or even their names. Updates from pages I liked and unliked a long time ago. The usual stuff.
There was a very sweet message from my vet, who I really like, expressing her condolences after the loss of my dog last year. This was doubly sad as it was also a good-bye message; she was moving on to a new practice. But it turned out that her new clinic was just close enough to drive to, so it more or less worked out. Still, I hated that I missed that message and didn't get to thank her.
The message that made me start this thread though, was different. It was like an atom bomb. I didn't believe it was real at first, but there were details that meant it had to be true. If I had read this message when it arrived, it could have had a major impact on my life.
The message was sent on August 12, 2012.
So it's just been sitting there for almost three years. I have no idea what to do with it now.
Why couldn't FB make their "junk" folder a little more obvious, like every e-mail service ever?
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
IMO fb is sensitive about the amount of stalking and harassment that happens on there so they made the "other" folder to put the obligation on the page owner to check it.
Sorry you got a atom bomb-like message. On the bright side, those things are what make life interesting. I've deliberately made my life as boring as possible for the past few years and I often get sad/depressed b/c I feel like people forgot about me. (In reality, that's a side effect of shutting doors in life that need to be kept shut.)
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
Yeah, I really wish this folder was more obvious. A couple years ago, I lost my purse while I was out. EVERYTHING was in there - cards, checkbook, cash, SS card, IDs, all my good makeup, my day planner, even my keys. I had to go through a bunch of shit to replace everything. About 9 months later, I randomly discovered that Other folder and 2 guys - roommates - had both tried to contact me the day after I lost it to tell me they found it. I was so irritated. I contacted them to explain what happened and thank them for trying to get ahold of me. It made me feel better knowing my ID wasn't floating around out in the world (I had a bad experience with losing my ID and having it end up in the WRONG place before). They told me they still had it in their basement and I went and got it. I got a few random things back plus knowing all my sensitive info was officially safe, but man it sucked to not get that message when I was frantically trying to prove my identity to replace my entire life.
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Aurora_Sunset
Yeah, I really wish this folder was more obvious. A couple years ago, I lost my purse while I was out. EVERYTHING was in there - cards, checkbook, cash, SS card, IDs, all my good makeup, my day planner, even my keys. I had to go through a bunch of shit to replace everything. About 9 months later, I randomly discovered that Other folder and 2 guys - roommates - had both tried to contact me the day after I lost it to tell me they found it. I was so irritated. I contacted them to explain what happened and thank them for trying to get ahold of me. It made me feel better knowing my ID wasn't floating around out in the world (I had a bad experience with losing my ID and having it end up in the WRONG place before). They told me they still had it in their basement and I went and got it. I got a few random things back plus knowing all my sensitive info was officially safe, but man it sucked to not get that message when I was frantically trying to prove my identity to replace my entire life.
Oh that sucks.
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
If someone really wants to get a hold of you, and don't want the message to get stuck in that folder, they can pay a dollar with their credit card, and the message will go to your direct inbox.
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
I have decided to think of this as a message in a bottle, floating through time rather than water. Now I have to decide if I should open it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SnuffleUffleGrass
I've deliberately made my life as boring as possible for the past few years and I often get sad/depressed b/c I feel like people forgot about me. (In reality, that's a side effect of shutting doors in life that need to be kept shut.)
I can relate to that, definitely. It's kind of what this situation is about- a door I thought had been shut a long time ago. Nailed shut and a large boulder placed in front of it. But people change, right? Maybe there's a reason I found this message now instead of back then.
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
Met someone on FB today with another "lost message" story. Hers was about three years old, too. It was from the brother- from Russia- that she never knew she had! Makes me wonder how many more stories like that are out there, all because of a clumsy design...
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
All I got today in my 'other' folder was a message from my fiancé's ex gf, bitching that he still has some of her stuff and she wants it.
I never get anything good in that folder, it's always people I don't wanna talk to... At least sometimes my physical junk mail has coupons for good restaurants in it!
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
Quote:
Originally Posted by
R-209
So I was researching ways to make Facebook less annoying when I found
this article. The gist is that if someone not on your friends list sends you a message, FB doesn't notify you and stashes it away in a folder marker "Other." This folder is easy to overlook with a browser, but apparently inaccessible on the mobile app.
If you haven't checked this folder lately, take a look right now. Chances are it will just be spam and other things you didn't want to see anyway. But maybe you'll find something else entirely, like I did.
I might post about what I found a little later
, once I wrap my head around it. That will probably take a while.
This sounds like the introduction to a really excellent creepypasta. So much suspense and mystery in three short paragraphs!
Re: Facebook's "Hidden" Messages
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kaninchen
This sounds like the introduction to a really excellent creepypasta.
Or a Twilight Zone episode. Or a romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks. Who knows what might have happened?
After receiving what I chose to interpret as a sign from the Universe, I decided to answer the message. But then I realized the reply would most likely be lost as well. After further thought, I chanced a friend request, only to discover Facebook no longer allows you to attach a note to a request. So I can't explain that I never saw the original message but thought it was very sweet and would like to further discuss the sentiments expressed therein.
And yet no one is using Google Plus...