Microsoft's Social Network Unveiled: Socl
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 16th Nov 2011 00:11 UTC
Microsoft OSNews writing about social networks? Yes, it happens, and today is one of those days. We all know Facebook is king here, with a massive userbase and a seemingly unbreakable hold over the market, with Twitter covering the more public side of social networking. Google does some stuff in a fringe somewhere with something called Google+ which tries to combine Facebook and Twitter, but it's effectively a ghost town with a confusing interface. So, if you're Microsoft, what are you going to do? Well, build your own social network, of course!
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Thom, your error
by allanregistos on Wed 16th Nov 2011 01:45 UTC
allanregistos
Member since:
2011-02-10

Google does some stuff in a fringe somewhere with something called Google+ which tries to combine Facebook and Twitter, but it's effectively a ghost town with a confusing interface.

Thom, it seems you've joined G+ without or few people in your circles, therefore your stream is a ghost town. I agree, but what you are trying to picture is generally, G+ is a ghost town which is FALSE and FALSE and WRONG and every bit of it is WRONG!

I posted something here for Google+ beginners, and as you Thom must be a G+ beginner( me an early adapter), we must have the responsibility to explore G+ more, especially to the journalist people like you.
It is intellectual dishonesty to post an article and report something as absolute truth, it is very obvious you did not do your homework as a journalist. By the way, I read most of your articles here and somehow favorable most of your points, but now you ruined it severely. I will now think twice and search more for proof and at the same time will doubt the veracity or validity of your articles from now on.

http://www.osnews.com/comments/25326?view=nested&perpage=10&order=o...

Here is my post:

Hey,
google+ is a ghost town because:
1. You have no people or few people in your circles
2. You want real friends in your circles instead of connections
3. As a result of #1, your stream is almost empty, thus it is a ghost town
4. You don't read things like: "Google+ for Beginners"

Here are sample that may help you connect people(not friends in real life) that shared the same interests as you have:
To address # 1 and # 21
http://www.gplustuts.com/beginners-guide/
http://blog.kissmetrics.com/beginners-guide-to-google-plus/
Find valuable connections:
http://www.gplustuts.com/find-valuable-connections-on-google-plus/

http://www.gplustuts.com/find-valuable-connections-on-google-plus/

Startup guide:
https://plus.google.com/photos/114831291174925522786/albums/56324637.......

Getting more out from your circles:
http://mashable.com/2011/07/26/google-plus-circles/

You see, there are so many ways you can populate your Google+ stream with quality contents rather than irrelevant game invites, friends' posts at your facebook stream.
I am talking about quality posts based on your *INTERESTS* your interests could be:
1. Photography(any type)
2. Graphic design
3. Web design
4. Programming
5. Religion
6. Technology
7. Science
8. etc.

numbers are growing.

So there.

Edited 2011-11-16 01:46 UTC

Reply Score: 3

RE: Thom, your error
by viton on Wed 16th Nov 2011 03:57 in reply to "Thom, your error"
viton Member since:
2005-08-09

2. You want real friends in your circles instead of connections

You've just described LinkedIn

Still I can't see the point of G+.

Edited 2011-11-16 03:58 UTC

Reply Parent Score: 2

RE[2]: Thom, your error
by JAlexoid on Wed 16th Nov 2011 06:18 in reply to "RE: Thom, your error"
JAlexoid Member since:
2009-05-19

At LinkedIn the public interaction is minimal and is stuffed into this feature called groups. And groups in LinkedIn are half-a**ed anyway.

Frankly, LinkedIn will not be anything like an active social network Facebook or even G+ are. It's just your CV with connections to people that could recommend you to someone.

Reply Parent Score: 5

RE: Thom, your error
by r_a_trip on Wed 16th Nov 2011 12:03 in reply to "Thom, your error"
r_a_trip Member since:
2005-07-06

Alan, all I see is self deluding ways of adding filler to a G+ account, so that the glaring lack of people you <u>really do care about</u> on G+ isn't so noticeable. Following people who do stuff that interest you, isn't building up meaningful circles with your friends.

I won't deny that using G+ as a way to get more direct insight in what strangers do in your field of interest can be interesting. That said, it is not the primary function of a social network.

So yeah, in terms of people one has met in meat space, G+ is a ghost town. At least the neighborhood where I haunt G+ is. That might be a Dutch phenomenon though. I'm up North in The Netherlands.

Reply Parent Score: 3

RE[2]: Thom, your error
by allanregistos on Fri 18th Nov 2011 02:22 in reply to "RE: Thom, your error"
allanregistos Member since:
2011-02-10

Alan, all I see is self deluding ways of adding filler to a G+ account, so that the glaring lack of people you really do care about on G+ isn't so noticeable. Following people who do stuff that interest you, isn't building up meaningful circles with your friends.


Isn't meaningful is just your subjective interpretation of how Social Network will function. Friends are located on Facebook, sure, because it has the momentum, you can't mass migrate people from Facebook, because most of our family and friends are there and in that respect, Facebook is the current leader.

I won't deny that using G+ as a way to get more direct insight in what strangers do in your field of interest can be interesting. That said, it is not the primary function of a social network.

Trying to say "not a primary function" again is your preference, and not for everyone. If we let wikipedia define us of what is social networking:

A social network is a social structure made up of individuals (or organizations) called "nodes", which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as *friendship*, *kinship*, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige


You see, friendship and kinship are not the primary functions of a Social Network, so Thom's description of G+ as a ghost town is a blunder.
It is you who only said that *friends* is the primary function of a social network which is false.

So yeah, in terms of people one has met in meat space, G+ is a ghost town. At least the neighborhood where I haunt G+ is. That might be a Dutch phenomenon though. I'm up North in The Netherlands.


I agree, at least in your experience, given with the factors(which you did not address)I posted above, but to say G+ is generally a ghost town is totally wrong.

Reply Parent Score: 1