Skip to Site Navigation | Skip to Content

Blog

I don't need another social networking site

A new social networking site comes out either by invitation or sign up in beta and every time I sign up for it or scramble for an invitation. Why? I don't know why I want to sign up for a site that is exactly like the thing I signed up for 3 months ago except this new one has a fancy new feature or two. I think I need to see a medical specialist. This can't be normal.

For a while, I felt like I was signing up for something new at least once a week. I wanted to be at the forefront of the next big thing and on top of that I didn't want someone else to get my screen name.  That screen name is meant for me and it is a part of me. All of my friends will know it is me if they see that screen name. I will carry that screen name torch proudly and others would just ruin it.  I can't let that happen.

So now, I'm just kind of Facebooked out, I've tweeted a little too much, I am too linked in to Linkedin and I don't Jaiku as much as I used to. Please don't get me wrong, all of these tools have their places and are good things when used in moderation. I just have a hard time moderating myself because I sign up for so many. Am I going to quit altogether? No, but I will be cutting back on the social networks I give my time to. I'm sorry, Facebook. It's not you, it's me.

Posted on Tue, July 1, 2008 by Chad Jaggers

6 comments (Add your own)

1. Drew wrote:
I here ya Chad. I did a social network fast about 2 years ago for a 6 month stunt. The funny thing I always notice when I do something like that is I go through a caffeine-like withdraw for three days and then I really don't miss it. All that to say...you're not alone.

Tue, July 1, 2008 @ 6:11 PM

2. Chad Jaggers wrote:
I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I understand their purpose and their benefits. I just feel like I am caught up in the hype sometimes. Someone did send me a link that talks about signing up for these social networking sites just so that you can get your profile name so that others dont, http://thelinkspiel.blogspot.com/2008/07/grab-your-profile-link-before-some-jerk.html.

Wed, July 2, 2008 @ 9:14 AM

3. Andrea Decker wrote:
Chad: at least you are an early adopter! I was just told by a programmer from our office (whose name will not be mentioned but whose initials are appropriately BS) that he knows it is time to abandon using a new app whenever the consultants at Element Fusion finally figure out how to use that app!

Wed, July 2, 2008 @ 12:20 PM

4. BS wrote:
Being a programmer, I'm too introverted for even social networks. I've signed up for my share, but that's usually the amount of commitment. It keeps the "You're not on ____ yet" people at bay. However, I think the perfect social networks are actually MMORPGs (nerdy side coming out, beware). Here you can kill some bunnies/evil warlords, voice chat with your friends (or type for the mic impaired), explore the landscape, or chill in town window shopping for new armor that goes with that new sword you picked up in the field. Adding social networking to these games is totally the next step, but us programmers are not gonig to figure that one out for a while. We'll need some of people who have been in the sun for more than a trip to the car and back to convince us otherwise.

Thu, July 3, 2008 @ 9:15 AM

5. Drew wrote:
youtube is the only site worth it.

Tue, April 28, 2009 @ 4:07 PM

6. webartsense wrote:
Social network websites such as FaceBook, Orkut, etc. have become popular in the recent times where people are developing interacting on different themes and finding solutions to their questions.

Thu, June 25, 2009 @ 4:58 AM

Add a New Comment

Enter the code you see below:
code
 

Comment Guidelines: No HTML is allowed. Off-topic or inappropriate comments will be edited or deleted. Thanks.