Anti-Social Networking

[ehowton]

I got a notification that someone new was following me on Twitter! Thankfully, because I didn't recognize the account name, the email included "A little information about" this new follower. I eagerly scrolled down to discover the identity of this mystery follower and perhaps glean a little something about who they might be if it turned out to be someone I didn't already know - the suspense was killing me! I finally reach the synopsis:

6449 followers
139 tweets
following 6549 people

What a let down. That tells me exactly NOTHING about this person. Its more than useless, its a damn nuisance.

So drax0r and I were on the phone when another request came in for someone to 'join' me on one of those numerous & viral social networking sites. It was a coworker we both know, and I mentioned to him that we needed to start our own social networking site, with much better options than the ones we're given now. Rather than either "Accept" or "Decline" we need an "Ignore." More to the point, we want multiple options with our choices button. Let's face it, sometimes the limited options are embarrassing.

Had I an optional reply with my button, I could select something along the lines of, "Look, I don't really use this account anymore, so it would be pointless for me to add you (to avoid hurt feelings of coworkers).

Then drax0r knocks one out of the park with this gem - an ignore choice that will *actually* decline the request, but which replies to the sender that I've accepted! That way everyone wins. It puts up a false page which makes it look like you've never updated, but no one feels left out.

Social Networking - Online Exclusivity Clubs. Only the names have changed, not the people who participate.

Comments

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

Social Networking. I remember when getting on my Huffy and going around the neighborhood to gather all my chums to play stick ball was all the rage. I remember making fliers and passing them around the high school and posting them at the local independent record store for a backyard kegger I was playing at - pretty darn fun. The options were: "My mom won't let me go out" or you just didn't show. No feelings hurt.

There should be a Anti-Social Networking site where nobody signs up and people actually get on their Huffys and meet people.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I think you may be on to something, as even us adults congregate and visit when we're on our bikes. (http://ehowton.livejournal.com/277008.html)

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

you sure do have a pretty bike there mister!

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

Then drax0r knocks one out of the park with this gem - an ignore choice that will *actually* decline the request, but which replies to the sender that I've accepted!

This is the best idea EVER. drax0r is a genius.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Isn't he just?

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

1.21 giga watts!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

That was FANTASTIC! I can't believe I watched the whole thing.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

That email can be useful. While it doesn't tell you anything about the person (hell, even if they included the bio, that's limited to 140 characters), it can tell you whether or not you're dealing with a spam account. If the handle doesn't sound like something your RL friend just starting on Twitter would pick and the account has little or not tweets, it's a safe bet that it's a spam account and you can go ahead and block it without repercussions.

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

???

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I know, right?

[unixwolf.livejournal.com]

Brilliant!!! Muuuu hahahaha Muu hahahahahaha

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Leave it to drax0r.

[wardlejew.livejournal.com]

Great Idea. I'll start working on it. How do we advertise it. "Join here if you don't want to be here."

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Well, I hadn't thought about it, but really, your "invite" seems too polite. "Feck off" might be more appropriate under the circumstances.

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

yourmother.com LOL :)

[irulan-amy.livejournal.com]

drax0r is pretty brilliant. :)

I've accepted some friends requests on Facebook (like my mom) and then added them to a privacy list which doesn't let them see anything...so it looks like I never update. :)