Comments for Mattdude's Blog http://www.mattdude.com Thoughts on Life, Work, and Other Stuff Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:41:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Buzzing Into the Future by Mattdude http://www.mattdude.com/1061/buzzing-into-the-future/comment-page-1#comment-2826 Mattdude Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:41:51 +0000 http://www.mattdude.com/?p=1061#comment-2826 Thanks for the comments guys, outstanding points all around (and Aaron I appreciate the compliment. :) It's true, most of the problems with Facebook that I mention can be attributed to an inability, or unwillingness, to really communicate. Unable (or too lazy) to convey an original thought, people resort to these "proxies"--joining groups, etc. I'm going to have to check out this "Idiocracy". :) Patchdude that is a really great observation about Facebook doing things on "their own terms" while Twitter gives you the flexibility to control your interactions. Never thought about it that way, but it's exactly correct. Everything about Facebook's platform involves steering you toward behavior that benefits them--pushing you to "engage" with friends, advertising pages and groups, etc. Plus, and it's difficult to explain why, but you never really feel like you "own" the content like you do with Twitter. Well, I got Buzz today and I am loving it so far. It seems to offer everything Facebook offers (well, all the GOOD stuff anyway ;) but is much leaner and quicker. I look forward to playing with it some more. Thanks for the comments guys, outstanding points all around (and Aaron I appreciate the compliment. :) It’s true, most of the problems with Facebook that I mention can be attributed to an inability, or unwillingness, to really communicate. Unable (or too lazy) to convey an original thought, people resort to these “proxies”–joining groups, etc. I’m going to have to check out this “Idiocracy”. :)

Patchdude that is a really great observation about Facebook doing things on “their own terms” while Twitter gives you the flexibility to control your interactions. Never thought about it that way, but it’s exactly correct. Everything about Facebook’s platform involves steering you toward behavior that benefits them–pushing you to “engage” with friends, advertising pages and groups, etc. Plus, and it’s difficult to explain why, but you never really feel like you “own” the content like you do with Twitter.

Well, I got Buzz today and I am loving it so far. It seems to offer everything Facebook offers (well, all the GOOD stuff anyway ;) but is much leaner and quicker. I look forward to playing with it some more.

]]> Comment on Buzzing Into the Future by Voidious http://www.mattdude.com/1061/buzzing-into-the-future/comment-page-1#comment-2825 Voidious Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:17:47 +0000 http://www.mattdude.com/?p=1061#comment-2825 > "the English language had deteriorated into a hybrid of > hillbilly, valley girl, inner-city slang and various grunts.” "heh! I know riiiiight????" I'm not sure what to think of Buzz just yet, but I'll give it a chance. If it can smoothly integrate activity from Reader, Twitter, and Flickr/Picasa, it could have a part in my daily internetting. But since I'll undoubtedly be checking Twitter and Reader separately from Buzz, anyway, it remains to be seen what extra value Buzz will offer me... I'm reminded of a tweet that never quite made it out of my head, something like: "Twitter happens on my terms; Facebook happens on theirs." Twitter is just laser focused on the ability to follow the information/people I want to follow and interact with them however I choose. My usage has evolved a lot over time, but it's always adapted naturally and easily. It's simple and obvious how to craft your Twitter experience. Hopefully, Buzz will be like this, too. Facebook seems to want to learn my social graph on its own and then decide what information I should be consuming from all of these people. It's like I'd need to trick it into giving me the experience I want. For me, Facebook is just a tedious and shitty experience compared to Twitter (or Reader). > “the English language had deteriorated into a hybrid of
> hillbilly, valley girl, inner-city slang and various grunts.”

“heh! I know riiiiight????”

I’m not sure what to think of Buzz just yet, but I’ll give it a chance. If it can smoothly integrate activity from Reader, Twitter, and Flickr/Picasa, it could have a part in my daily internetting. But since I’ll undoubtedly be checking Twitter and Reader separately from Buzz, anyway, it remains to be seen what extra value Buzz will offer me…

I’m reminded of a tweet that never quite made it out of my head, something like: “Twitter happens on my terms; Facebook happens on theirs.”

Twitter is just laser focused on the ability to follow the information/people I want to follow and interact with them however I choose. My usage has evolved a lot over time, but it’s always adapted naturally and easily. It’s simple and obvious how to craft your Twitter experience. Hopefully, Buzz will be like this, too.

Facebook seems to want to learn my social graph on its own and then decide what information I should be consuming from all of these people. It’s like I’d need to trick it into giving me the experience I want. For me, Facebook is just a tedious and shitty experience compared to Twitter (or Reader).

]]> Comment on Buzzing Into the Future by Aaron Flynt http://www.mattdude.com/1061/buzzing-into-the-future/comment-page-1#comment-2824 Aaron Flynt Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:29:17 +0000 http://www.mattdude.com/?p=1061#comment-2824 Uncommonly well written, Matt. Your post illustrates what I feel is part of the problem. Few people can actually communicate their thoughts in an effective manner. In Mike Judge's Idicoracy the narrator, describing the future, says "the English language had deteriorated into a hybrid of hillbilly, valley girl, inner-city slang and various grunts." Some days I feel like we're already there. Uncommonly well written, Matt. Your post illustrates what I feel is part of the problem. Few people can actually communicate their thoughts in an effective manner. In Mike Judge’s Idicoracy the narrator, describing the future, says “the English language had deteriorated into a hybrid of hillbilly, valley girl, inner-city slang and various grunts.” Some days I feel like we’re already there.

]]> Comment on NYT to Charge for Content. Thank God! by Mattdude http://www.mattdude.com/999/nyt-to-charge-for-content-thank-god/comment-page-1#comment-2821 Mattdude Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:32:51 +0000 http://www.mattdude.com/?p=999#comment-2821 Good points bro. You're right, there is definitely some value there but not as much as they think (hope). It 's similar to the way music has value but doesn't necessarily warrant purchasing an $18 compact disc. There are so many ways to get free news online it's just mind-boggling for them to think they can charge for it. I'd go so far as to say that the value of a physical newspaper does not lie in the content itself, but in other more ephemeral qualities. For example, people like the smell of a fresh newspaper, or the ritual to flipping through it during morning coffee. I think your second point is right on the money, and again this mirrors the music industry. It seems that the seeds of their demise were planted long ago and are only now coming to light. I'll be curious to see if this "tablet revolution" will have any effect on their business, assuming the revolution is really happening of course. Good points bro. You’re right, there is definitely some value there but not as much as they think (hope). It ’s similar to the way music has value but doesn’t necessarily warrant purchasing an $18 compact disc. There are so many ways to get free news online it’s just mind-boggling for them to think they can charge for it. I’d go so far as to say that the value of a physical newspaper does not lie in the content itself, but in other more ephemeral qualities. For example, people like the smell of a fresh newspaper, or the ritual to flipping through it during morning coffee.

I think your second point is right on the money, and again this mirrors the music industry. It seems that the seeds of their demise were planted long ago and are only now coming to light. I’ll be curious to see if this “tablet revolution” will have any effect on their business, assuming the revolution is really happening of course.

]]> Comment on NYT to Charge for Content. Thank God! by Voidious http://www.mattdude.com/999/nyt-to-charge-for-content-thank-god/comment-page-1#comment-2820 Voidious Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:52:41 +0000 http://www.mattdude.com/?p=999#comment-2820 Sadly, I highly doubt this means we will stop hearing about the issue. :-( It's not like the NYT doesn't offer something of value. It's just that the value, in today's environment, is an order of magnitude (or more) less than what they wish it was. Most newspapers probably lost their edge long before the internets came along to bury them; they just had a strong enough incumbent force to carry their profits for years. Now that circumstances have forced the issue, any shred of innovation has already left their business management and they are just fucked. Sadly, I highly doubt this means we will stop hearing about the issue. :-(

It’s not like the NYT doesn’t offer something of value. It’s just that the value, in today’s environment, is an order of magnitude (or more) less than what they wish it was.

Most newspapers probably lost their edge long before the internets came along to bury them; they just had a strong enough incumbent force to carry their profits for years. Now that circumstances have forced the issue, any shred of innovation has already left their business management and they are just fucked.

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