If you do not want to see the facebook widget slowing up your loading times, I got the solution:

You need Firefox and Adblock Plus Plugin for Firefox (google them if you don't have it.

After installing the Adblock Plus Plugin, click on the arrow of ABP logo on your top right corner. Open blockable items, then in the search bar type in facebook. Click on the first, right click and click on block this item. But use a custom rule:

*facebook*

That's all you need!

At work, the firewall bars us from visiting social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, so the widgets don't appear for me. I only see them if I come here from my home computer.

yeah. Personally I dislike facebook.

Is there a way to do it if you use IE and do not want Firefox?

If you have blocked this and want to see wall posts use the handy RSS feed - now get updates without going on facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/feeds/page.php?format=atom10&id=353617646254

Spinnything: Unfortunately no. I recommend firefox as I have got a adware by simply browsing the internet using IE and that have never happened when I switched to firefox. A hosts file change might work:

facebook.com 127.0.0.1
static.ak.connect.facebook.com 127.0.0.1
fbcdn.com 127.0.0.1

Hiding facebook have a lot of advantages:
Faster page load times
Your left sidebar will no longer be stretched because of facebook
No facebook widget that does not fit with the forum's color style
Facebook can't track you (Facebook has said that they can retain what pages you visited for at least 3 months)

I don't find either of those widgets useful although I imagine I'm not the target audience since I already follow LDW/VV on both Facebook and Twitter, so I'd most likely have already seen any new announcements. They are aimed more at getting new users for FB/Twitter.

I have found that Lailai's initial post quite useful. Thanks Lailai. I was noticing that there were times it was taking forever to get the whole page to load and usually the SB was the last to load. The SB is an important feature for me and if I am navigating around the forum while I am conversing in the SB, I don't want to wait for Facebook to load so I can carry on my conversation. I do Tweet somewhat but have no desire to use Facebook or Myspace. I lead an uneventful life and have nothing productive to post. I have my Twitter account and my Youtube account and that fits my needs quite well. Oh, and of course I have my account here as well So that just about takes care of my "Social Networking" needs.

Sorry I been on Face book a lot and I feel guilty for not participating as much as I use to here. I t was the massage I got today wishing me a happy birthday from LDW that I only been visiting briefly