Steve; why not go on G+?

[ssandra]

I think it has all the features you liked on facebook, and none of the features that you complained about

You can add people in circles (post different messages for, say, family, and close friends, and different messages for your fans ).

The great thing is that it has a similar function as twitter, where you can post a message for everybody to see, and they can "follow" you and see that message without you having to follow them back...

[Johnny Metal]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Steve; why not go on G+?

(Mostly) dumb userbase.


The most active users on these sites use the service impulsively.

I've experienced a lot of silence and peace in my head since I've deactivated my account, and I've written about my experience here:
7 reasons you should never get a Facebook account

**** the antisocial networking, I'd rather be sitting in the sun, sipping on a cup of tea.

[ssandra]

You are funny. Especially this:

Cool people rarely even use real names when they hang out, they usually use nicknames, and extremely awesome people, like the author of this website, use pseudonyms. Faceboook doesn’t allow nicknames or pseudonyms, so you won’t find cool people there.

Maybe "cool" people don't use their real names... but all the amazing awesome people I know, do use their own names. (including Steve btw ).

And from reading your description on facebook and the comments your friends leave... yes, I can see how you might blame facebook instead of the use...

My friends and the people I connect with write awesome and inspiring posts. And if they ever complain about something, I know that it is real, and that soon they go back to taking responsibility again.

Sure, I could call each and every one of them to say how proud I am that I did exercise.... but that would take me hours. Writing a message on facebook (or G+) where they can see it whenever it is good for them takes about 2 seconds....

In the end, it is not the medium that is bad. It is how you use it.

[Andrew Brunelle]

I haven't really looked at Google Plus, and I don't think it is going to take off like Facebook did, but I could be wrong. Most people are already on Facebook, but then again, most people used to all be on Myspace, so you never know.

I'll wait a few months and see if it catches on, then I'll decide if I want to join.

[Le Roi]

I don't think g++ is workable for now for Steve.

There is still a limit of 5000 people that you can have on your circles. So if Steve wanted to add more than 5K people, he's still stuck like he was on Facebook. While more than 5K people could add him without Steve adding them back, it's still a limit for Steve.

[Johnny Metal]

Originally Posted by ssandra

In the end, it is not the medium that is bad. It is how you use it.

Exactly. That's why I said "(mostly) dumb userbase" when you mentioned the great technology.

I suppose I could fish out in a sea of piss, whining, and lolcats a couple of amazing people who write inspiring stuff, but even then, I don't wanna hangout with them online, I'd rather connect with them face-to-face.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Le Roi

I don't think g++ is workable for now for Steve.

There is still a limit of 5000 people that you can have on your circles. So if Steve wanted to add more than 5K people, he's still stuck like he was on Facebook. While more than 5K people could add him without Steve adding them back, it's still a limit for Steve.

Sure there is a limit... but I think that the limit was bothering him more because less people could enjoy his updates, and not as much because he couldn't enjoy the updates of as many people...?

(Steve; I could be wrong of course...?)

On twitter for example he isn't following anyone, yet 17,721 people are following him...

[Le Roi]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Sure there is a limit... but I think that the limit was bothering him more because less people could enjoy his updates, and not as much because he couldn't enjoy the updates of as many people...?

(Steve; I could be wrong of course...?)

On twitter for example he isn't following anyone, yet 17,721 people are following him...

I think he said it was because he couldn't add new friends that he wanted to connect with. Nothing to do with checking status updates.

On Twitter he isn't following anyone because he doesn't want to give people the impression that he has an inbox that he checks (since following someone lets them send you private messages on twitter).

In the end, from what I've seen recently, I doubt he's now interested in social networks anyhow. I could be wrong.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Johnny Metal

Exactly. That's why I said "(mostly) dumb userbase" when you mentioned the great technology.

I suppose I could fish out in a sea of piss, whining, and lolcats a couple of amazing people who write inspiring stuff, but even then, I don't wanna hangout with them online, I'd rather connect with them face-to-face.

I'd also rather connect with them face-to-face. And as soon as they invent a transporter I will Or as soon as I become multi milionair and get my own airplane...

Until that time though, it is a good enough substitute. Or actually, I shouldn't say substitute cause it isn't. It is a good enough addition to a real world, not online social life.

I also don't seek out people on facebook... Just like in real life, I meet people online due to mutual interests, and then add them on facebook. I have 0 friends who's status updates aren't at least most of the time interesting to me.

[cacheborn]

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits has joined G+.

[GeorgeMagister]

Originally Posted by Johnny Metal

7 reasons you should never get a Facebook account

Those are generalizations that could be leveled at any utility or medium. The failings of the masses are never any reason to dictate your own personal behavior (in this case, avoiding something).

I think the primary issue is to surround yourself with quality people, in person and on utilities such as Facebook (with Facebooking practices it also means curtailing impulses to affiliate with people just out of opportunity). Your observations aren't wrong (described with a cynical bent, I'll give you that), yet they don't describe a compelling case to not adopt it. If anything, with a different spin it'd be a guide to avoid shallow interpersonal exchanges and shallow planning of your personal life.

[Asten]

Originally Posted by Johnny Metal

Exactly. That's why I said "(mostly) dumb userbase" when you mentioned the great technology.

I suppose I could fish out in a sea of piss, whining, and lolcats a couple of amazing people who write inspiring stuff, but even then, I don't wanna hangout with them online, I'd rather connect with them face-to-face.

Your blog is awesome. Made me laugh--because 99.9% of the time, it's true.

I unintentionally turned Facebook into a place for me to store quotes and inspiring articles. 90% of my Facebook is PD related stuff now, and it's all just there because it's a convenient place to keep track of it.

However, when it comes to the people I have added--95% use it exactly the way you described. And I'm still addicted. I've been tracking my Facebook use with a program, and I think when I see how many hours I've used up on it that I could be doing great things will I'll crap myself.

G+ will hopefully be less abusive (haven't used it yet), but addiction-wise I doubt it and I know most people will still post mainly trash and complaints on it. Nature of the game. Deactivation is in my future.

[Artelus]

Here are reasons Steve will like Google+ over Facebook:

Steve doesn't have to "friend" anyone at all. It's kind of like twitter. Anybody can add Steve to their circles (possibly the "following" circle, though some might add him to "friends"), so the 5K limit won't affect the number of people that can get Steve's updates. Plus I'm sure this limit will be removed as Google+ grows and becomes more stable.

Secondly, Steve will love Hangouts. He already video chats with several people. If he wanted to, he can open a public hangout and let whomever he want join him. Or he can create a hangout only open to his close circle of friends.

And I haven't added any dumb users on Google+ yet. :P

I do look forward to seeing Steve's inspiring updates on my Google+ stream though.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Artelus

And I haven't added any dumb users on Google+ yet. :P

And this is so true!!

For those complaining about facebook (and extending that to G+) about all the dumb users...

Why on earth do you add those people? And if you didn't know before... why don't you delete those people? Or at the very minimum their status updates?

[jellybeanpimp]

I think people who have problems with facebook are the ones who want to use it the most, like crack addicts or something. I never felt the need to get on facebook or twitter for more than 5-10 minutes per day.

So yea, in my opinion the people who think social networking is a waste of time are actually the ones who are more prone to let something like social networking waste their time.

It's totally neutral, using it normally has a lot of benefits. But I can definitely see how some people just straight up don't like social networking.

[Le Roi]

Originally Posted by Le Roi

In the end, from what I've seen recently, I doubt he's now interested in social networks anyhow. I could be wrong.

Well, I was wrong...! Funny to see Steve try out G+. Though, as he said, he isn't going to use it for a social network, but more for something like twitter. So I'm wrong that he wouldn't try G+, but correct that he isn't interested in connecting with people on a social network.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Le Roi

Well, I was wrong...! Funny to see Steve try out G+. Though, as he said, he isn't going to use it for a social network, but more for something like twitter. So I'm wrong that he wouldn't try G+, but correct that he isn't interested in connecting with people on a social network.

Which is what I liked. Cause if he is involved or not, there were some very interesting discussion on facebook regarding some of his status updates. It is always nice to have those type of discussions...

[Le Roi]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Which is what I liked. Cause if he is involved or not, there were some very interesting discussion on facebook regarding some of his status updates. It is always nice to have those type of discussions...

How does the discussion get moderated? Does Steve have the ability to delete comments that he finds attackish and ban someone from posting on those discussions?

[st33med]

Originally Posted by Le Roi

How does the discussion get moderated? Does Steve have the ability to delete comments that he finds attackish and ban someone from posting on those discussions?

He can block or delete a comment. So can you!

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Le Roi

How does the discussion get moderated? Does Steve have the ability to delete comments that he finds attackish and ban someone from posting on those discussions?

And at the same time, I'd be perfectly fine with unmoderated discussion.

First off, if Steve doesn't participate, he won't be bothered by it

Second, I prefer to believe that those type of comments won't happen