Pony request: Add Google+ to the Social Apps list in profiles?

June 30, 2011 9:24 AM

Pony request: Add Google+ to the Social Apps list in profiles?
posted by Jacqueline to Feature Requests at 9:24 AM (250 comments total)

Also, if anyone on MetaFilter is already on Google+, please add me, plus me, friend me, follow me, circle me, or whateverthefuck we're gonna call it on Google+. As one of my friends said, right now it feels like wandering around an empty mall. :(

(Sorry, I can't figure out how to Invite more people -- they seem to have turned that off, for now.)
posted by Jacqueline at 9:24 AM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

Is the new Buzz or Wave? WTF is it?
posted by desjardins at 9:25 AM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

It's Google's Facebook.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:26 AM on June 30, 2011

"Is the new Buzz or Wave? WTF is it?"

I haven't figured it out myself yet, but apparently it involves Sparking in a Huddle at a Hangout with my Circle.
posted by Jacqueline at 9:28 AM on June 30, 2011 [13 favorites]

Is that candy sprinkles on your ice cream? If so, I'm sorry, but I can't deal with that sort of weird shit.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:29 AM on June 30, 2011

BTW, I have no idea if I'm doing this right, but in theory this is me.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:29 AM on June 30, 2011

The Google+ project: A quick look

Who wants to be my "Epic Bro"?
posted by Jacqueline at 9:31 AM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

"Is the new Buzz or Wave? WTF is it?"

Previously on Metafilter.
posted by Kevin Street at 9:31 AM on June 30, 2011

It's so weird how people are so anxious to get in on something when they don't even know what it is. No offense to you, Jacqueline, but it just seems like such a pervasive attitude online.
posted by desjardins at 9:34 AM on June 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

Reminds me of people at clearance sales who think "I don't know what I'm going to do with this object, but it's 80% off so I'd better buy it!"
posted by desjardins at 9:35 AM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

It's so weird how people are so anxious to get in on something when they don't even know what it is.

"Milhouse jumped off a cliff?! I'm there!"
posted by bondcliff at 9:37 AM on June 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

This isn't really something that's technically "open to the public" at this point. Feel free to add it to the SocialStuffs page on the wiki which is how these requests are handled. If people want to make this thread into an "add me to your circle!" thing or whatever, please feel free, but request new social app additions over on the wiki.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:38 AM on June 30, 2011 [2 favorites]

A friend invited me so I signed up, but without more people in my "Circles" yet it's difficult to figure out what it's good for. Seems like a cross between Facebook, Buzz, and a live chatroom.
posted by Jacqueline at 9:38 AM on June 30, 2011

So I got in... and it's like being in an empty room, but you have pictures of random internet people that you can't do anything with.

Wait for the public release and the integration API.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:49 AM on June 30, 2011

I have an invite but I'm hesitant to join because it wants me to create a public profile. I don't wanna link my real name to it. I've (mostly) successfully kept my real name off the intertoobz so far, and I don't want to change now.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:49 AM on June 30, 2011

I'm in and it's the greatest.thing.ever!!!!

Not really. It's Facebook minus all the annoying apps, and for the time being, minus most of your friends.
posted by COD at 9:51 AM on June 30, 2011 [5 favorites]

I have an invite but I'm hesitant to join because it wants me to create a public profile. I don't wanna link my real name to it.

You might as well tell the world now, Professor X.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:52 AM on June 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

Pony request: Somehow fix diaspora so it's not all kludgy and is actually useful.
posted by klangklangston at 9:59 AM on June 30, 2011 [5 favorites]

You might as well tell the world now, Professor X.

Piss off, Logan.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:01 AM on June 30, 2011 [5 favorites]

I have added you, Other Jacqu*ne!
posted by jacquilynne at 10:03 AM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

If I am to plus friends, does that mean every comment I've favorited is now my BFF?

Because I plussed that "How to Dispose of a body" answer a while ago, but I'm not sure I want to hang out with it.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:12 AM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

This is a stealth bragging thread
posted by 2bucksplus at 10:22 AM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

I, uh, circled you?
posted by mothershock at 10:26 AM on June 30, 2011

You are trying to log in as me again.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:33 AM on June 30, 2011 [53 favorites]

I have an invite but I'm hesitant to join because it wants me to create a public profile. I don't wanna link my real name to it. I've (mostly) successfully kept my real name off the intertoobz so far, and I don't want to change now.

Omigod Scott Adams.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:34 AM on June 30, 2011 [2 favorites]

Your genitals aren't that great. COME ON!
posted by Mister_A at 10:34 AM on June 30, 2011

I actually went to high school with Jim Google and the bastard won't send me an invite. Seriously dude, how long are you going to hold a grudge about that swirly?
posted by Mister_A at 10:36 AM on June 30, 2011

I don't think we should allow this until I'm in the club.
posted by TwelveTwo at 10:42 AM on June 30, 2011

Is Google+ actually different than the old Google Profiles, in terms of the public facing side?
posted by smackfu at 10:49 AM on June 30, 2011

Jim Google was a dick.

No, really, his name was Dick Google, but after 'google' became a verb he thought it was better to change it.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:51 AM on June 30, 2011

Google+

Flagged as noise.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:51 AM on June 30, 2011

This thread may already be a lost cause, but...

Why would I want this when everyone I care about connecting with in this way is already on Facebook...? I'm being serious here. All these "benefits" of Google+Plus seem to be features of Facebook - granted, some of then are a little obtuse, like the whole "lists vs. groups" thing, but they are there, and Facebook is nothing if not prolific with feature rollouts.

So other than the fact that Google is not Facebook - what's the pitch?

(I happen to be of the opinion that Google's pretty nasty-evil, so I'll admit upfront that the whole "well, they're not Facebook" doesn't hold much attraction for me... I need features, godamnit, big money features I can boast about amongst friends..)
posted by OneMonkeysUncle at 10:53 AM on June 30, 2011 [2 favorites]

Google+ is what it shows when your search is pregnant.
posted by TwelveTwo at 11:00 AM on June 30, 2011

I'm in and it's the greatest.thing.ever!!!!

Not really. It's Facebook minus all the annoying apps, and for the time being, minus most of your friends.

Well if by minus most of my Facebook friends, then that doesn't sound too far from 'greatest thing ever.' Or at least better than Facebook.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:02 AM on June 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

You know, it is tremendously like Facebook under its "Stream" page, and it combines Video Chat. I'm not quite sure yet how Google attempts to usurp Facebook's userbase with this, but damned if I wasn't impressed with the thoroughness of how easy it would be to replace Facebook with it if someone was pointed at it.
posted by cavalier at 11:03 AM on June 30, 2011

Well if by minus most of my Facebook friends, then that doesn't sound too far from 'greatest thing ever.' Or at least better than Facebook.

Yes. This. I'm surprised they don't have a facebook connect doodad so people can import their facebook friends. As it is, I have all of two people on g+. On the upside, that already makes it marginally more useful than google wave.

If you want to, erm, circle me, here's my profile
posted by suncoursing at 11:10 AM on June 30, 2011

So other than the fact that Google is not Facebook - what's the pitch?

That's actually a pretty good pitch.

One of the reasons I use Twitter more than Facebook is because none of my family is on Twitter or knows how to use it or even understand it.

Google+ will probably be where more techy nerds hangout. Whether this is a good thing or not is a matte of debate.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:14 AM on June 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

GOOGLE RON PLUS PAUL
posted by blue_beetle at 11:15 AM on June 30, 2011

OneMonkeysUncle: " So other than the fact that Google is not Facebook - what's the pitch?"

It's simplified, far less noisy and as far as I can see, a hell of a lot better integrated with my Android phone than the facebook app. Haven't delved into it yet, but privacy on posts and uploaded content is also better implemented. None of these are compelling reasons to switch, imo. But people who loathe Facebook will probably be interested in checking it out.
posted by zarq at 11:17 AM on June 30, 2011

but without more people in my "Circles" yet it's difficult to figure out what it's good for.

This is exactly the problem I had with Wave, I wanted to believe, I wanted it to be awesome, I wanted it to make a bit of Firefly lingo a new e-ubiquitous term for a type of communication on the internet.

But alas, it was not to be.
posted by quin at 11:18 AM on June 30, 2011

OneMonkeysUncle writes "Why would I want this when everyone I care about connecting with in this way is already on Facebook...? "

Better privacy policy? I know that's a pretty low bar in Facebook's case as line drawn on the floor might be a better description than bar.

In general? Competition is good.

suncoursing writes "I'm surprised they don't have a facebook connect doodad so people can import their facebook friends"

Extension for Chrome
posted by Mitheral at 11:29 AM on June 30, 2011

I loathe Facebook and deleted my profile a while back. However, I'd love to give this a shot. Any invitations going spare?
posted by Happy Dave at 11:45 AM on June 30, 2011

Is this the thread where we brag about our genitals? Or is this thread where we bash Facebook? Cause I can do both.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:55 AM on June 30, 2011

No one I know offline* has a Google account, except for my husband and I can just yell down the hall to him.

No, seriously, NO ONE I know has a Google account. Everyone I know (except my Dad) has a Facebook account.

*meaning, I did not originally meet them on the intertubes
posted by desjardins at 11:59 AM on June 30, 2011

That big black line looks like somebody died. I have no intention of joining; why do I have to have that mourning band?
posted by Cranberry at 12:12 PM on June 30, 2011

Sometimes google reminds me of the person that you think is SO FREAKIN COOL until they actually open their mouths and talk.
posted by pwally at 12:14 PM on June 30, 2011 [5 favorites]

desjardins: " No, seriously, NO ONE I know has a Google account. Everyone I know (except my Dad) has a Facebook account."

Funny... i have the opposite experience. Most of the people I know use gmail. Many of them don't use facebook.

It's difficult to judge any social media platform when it's first starting out. Before people join or are allowed to join en masse, we have no idea if everything will work and be used as it is intended. Only time will tell with this one.
posted by zarq at 12:15 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

It's the thread where you bash Facebook with your genitals.

I thought it felt like Thursday...
posted by quin at 12:24 PM on June 30, 2011

Almost everyone I know has both a Google (gmail) account AND a Facebook account. Except my mom, who only has Google and a few people who are desperately clinging to their hotmail account because they don't want to change who only have Facebook.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:25 PM on June 30, 2011

Not really. It's Facebook minus all the annoying apps, and for the time being, minus most of your friends.

Facebook started out this way, too.
posted by jmd82 at 12:41 PM on June 30, 2011 [5 favorites]

The annoying apps represent profit.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:46 PM on June 30, 2011

I'd like to join the cabal. Can I do that here?
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 1:15 PM on June 30, 2011

There's a hack!

And it works, at least for now. :D If you want in, memail me.
posted by zarq at 1:24 PM on June 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

OK, I take that back, my mom has a Gmail account, which she "couldn't figure out how to use" and went back to her ISP-provided email. She loves her some Outlook stationery, I'll tell you what.
posted by desjardins at 1:24 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

The annoying apps represent profit.

But what do the profits represent?
posted by TwelveTwo at 1:30 PM on June 30, 2011

This about sums it up, imo.
posted by chaff at 1:32 PM on June 30, 2011

Befriend one Google employee, and it will open up like a beautiful flower of casual acquaintances and dudes who are smarter than you.
posted by running order squabble fest at 1:37 PM on June 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

I've been playing with it. It's not much use to me yet, as most of my friends aren't yet on it, but it really does feel like a cleaner, more intuitive Facebook. The real question about it is if it will catch on. Unless my friends actually sign onto it and then start using it, it's likely to be a very quiet place.

But, then, my friends actually use Buzz, as do I.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:38 PM on June 30, 2011

Jacqueline: "I haven't figured it out myself yet, but apparently it involves Sparking in a Huddle at a Hangout with my Circle.
"

I need to get in on this.
posted by boo_radley at 1:42 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

Wait, sparking? Nevermind.
posted by boo_radley at 1:47 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

Pass it to the left, man.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:02 PM on June 30, 2011

Got the email, did not permit me to join the G+.
posted by boo_radley at 2:05 PM on June 30, 2011

I was promised sparks
posted by Sailormom at 2:16 PM on June 30, 2011

For my husband, clicking the red "Learn more about Google+" from my invite hack email took him to a working sign-up page.

The hack was linked by the Wall Street Journal this morning so it may be that they've already closed the loophole. :(
posted by Jacqueline at 2:17 PM on June 30, 2011

Is that candy sprinkles on your ice cream?

No. They're 'jimmies.'
posted by ericb at 2:19 PM on June 30, 2011

The invite hack wasn't working when I received the update-email this morning, but then took me to the sign-up page of few hours. I'm guessing google's switching the invites on and off a lot today as they try to deal with demand.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 2:23 PM on June 30, 2011

[that should read "a few hours later"...]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 2:25 PM on June 30, 2011

I have an invite but I'm hesitant to join because it wants me to create a public profile. I don't wanna link my real name to it. I've (mostly) successfully kept my real name off the intertoobz so far, and I don't want to change now.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:49 AM on June 30

Whatever, man. We all know your name is Bitte erol D'Punk.
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 2:31 PM on June 30, 2011

Whatever, man. We all know your name is Bitte erol D'Punk.

Uh oh, the database is corrupting itself again.

*rolls up a newspaper*
posted by loquacious at 2:32 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

The hack was linked by the Wall Street Journal this morning so it may be that they've already closed the loophole. :(

Worked for me, but now that I'm here, I'm completely clueless as to what to do.

Of course, I can now feel an unbridled power flowing through me, so it's possible that this has made me immortal, or at least better smelling.
posted by quin at 2:40 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

The hack is working for me. At least to the extent that I invited a couple of email aliases and they completed the sign up process. Drop me a memail if you'd like an invite with your preferred email address.
posted by Mitheral at 2:40 PM on June 30, 2011

Better privacy policy? ... Competition is good.

Google's last attempt at social-networking did not exactly earn them the moniker "Best Privacy Company Ever." And yes, competition is great for the marketplace in theory, but a company needs something a lot more substantive than "Competition, yo!" to attract my participation.

For people like Brandon above, who want their social-networking to avoid real-world contacts, I can understand why a brand-new forum would be beneficial. Personally, I like Facebook as a tool to keep updated with my real-world contacts (friends, family, colleagues, etc.), and without those contacts Google+ has nothing to offer me.

I also can't stand Google's longstanding habit of opening new products selectively and then making sure that every newspaper published in the English language reports on Google's new product that is awesome but you-can't-have-it. Beta testing is valuable but for Christ's sake, you're not cranking out software from somebody's mom's garage...you're Google and your pretend stock is above $500 a share. Release it or don't.
posted by cribcage at 2:42 PM on June 30, 2011

I have an invite but I'm hesitant to join because it wants me to create a public profile.

Wait what? Fuck that. If I wanted you all to know my real name I'd use it here.
posted by desjardins at 2:55 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

cribcage writes "Google's last attempt at social-networking did not exactly earn them the moniker 'Best Privacy Company Ever.' "

I said it was a low bar.

cribcage writes "a company needs something a lot more substantive than 'Competition, yo!' to attract my participation."

True, I guess I just like playing with shiny things. And as it happens this is only the second product from Google (the other being Picasa) whose interface hasn't made me want to tear my hair out on first use. It's very shiny.
posted by Mitheral at 2:58 PM on June 30, 2011

Wait what? Fuck that. If I wanted you all to know my real name I'd use it here.

First name: quin
Last name: iconomicon

It doesn't need to know my real name, just enough that anyone looking for me can find me based on my nickname, domain, etc.
posted by quin at 2:58 PM on June 30, 2011

Are you sure you need to create a profile? At some point yesterday I found myself automatically plussed. None of the privacy settings had changed and I am still without a profile.

I haven't done anything with it yet; right now we're just eyeing each other suspiciously.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:03 PM on June 30, 2011

Yeah, this is not my legal name. It is the name on my G+ profile. The boxes just say first name/last name. It's not going to force you to produce a birth certificate.

But I don't know if it keeps your email address private specifically, so...if that's your email address is may essentially be the same problem.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:12 PM on June 30, 2011

notice how everyone wants what is hard to obtain?

I don't, actually. It's a valid marketing principle and it's worked for Google before, but they use it too often—and no, this time I don't see people clamoring for invites. A few years ago this thread would have been doubly or triply flooded with "Send me one!" comments. I also haven't (anecdotally) seen anything about Google+ on my Facebook news feed, or heard from any friends how excited they are about it.
posted by cribcage at 3:15 PM on June 30, 2011

@cribcage: Wow, really? My Facebook is full of people clamoring for it. We run in different sorts of circles (heh), I guess.
posted by Jacqueline at 3:19 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

invite to the account that I preregistered (or w/e) with g+ has worked. :toot:
posted by boo_radley at 3:20 PM on June 30, 2011

"Gender: Other " found.
posted by boo_radley at 3:23 PM on June 30, 2011

Yeah the "gender is mandatory" thing was mildly offputting but I'm okay with other.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:26 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

LINK YOU PICASA WITH GOOGLE+ ???/?

(YES LINK MY PICASA) (don't join google+).


Hm!
posted by boo_radley at 3:30 PM on June 30, 2011

Wait, are all these profile questions being asked if you sign up via an invite, or should I be digging a little deeper in my "bestowed' G+ settings?
posted by Room 641-A at 3:31 PM on June 30, 2011

But then you can delete the Picasa link right away?
posted by boo_radley at 3:35 PM on June 30, 2011

LINK YOU PICASA WITH GOOGLE+ ???/?

(YES LINK MY PICASA) (don't join google+).


Hm!

Yeah, that was shitty. Since I don't use Picasa all that much and it just had an album from 2006, I said ok but deleted everything from it. Take that, Google.
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 3:57 PM on June 30, 2011

Jacqueline: "The hack was linked by the Wall Street Journal this morning so it may be that they've already closed the loophole. :("

It worked for me not too long ago. Also, I just added you!
posted by brundlefly at 4:07 PM on June 30, 2011

Damn, I missed all the fun.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:13 PM on June 30, 2011

This is why I always have a book of matches around.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:13 PM on June 30, 2011

Plus quietly (but in a frugal manner, architecturally speaking) appears to use picasa for any photos you have on plus. Whether it's your profile or something posted to your stream, you can go back to picasa and find it. I don't use picasa, and now - quietly without telling me - I do. Enh.
posted by cavalier at 4:15 PM on June 30, 2011

I'm in, but inviting others is iffy.
posted by Space Kitty at 4:40 PM on June 30, 2011

cavalier writes "Whether it's your profile or something posted to your stream, you can go back to picasa and find it. I don't use picasa, and now - quietly without telling me - I do."

This seems better than rolling out a new system to handle photos. Though I supposed they could have obfuscated the link and made it look like two different services.
posted by Mitheral at 4:41 PM on June 30, 2011

Has anyone said: Google+: the Facebook it's okay to like, yet? Yes? No?

How about Google+: the Facebook that won't give you crabs? Bet nobody has said that, yet.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:04 PM on June 30, 2011

Ok, it let me halfway in.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:07 PM on June 30, 2011

From reading this thread, I assume it was the half with the genitals?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:10 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

From reading this thread, I assume it was the half with the genitals?

Wait, which half isn't?
posted by loquacious at 5:13 PM on June 30, 2011

Good point. Allow me to edit for clarity:

From reading this thread, I assume it was the half with the one's own genitals?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:15 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm sure this is just a coincidence, but ever since I joined Google+ early this morning: I got paid, my manager let me take the second half of the day off without claiming any comp time, I got a whole lot of shit done around the house, I bought a new charcoal grill, I had a great dinner with my baby daughter, paid off all my bills and have money left over, and found a damn good beer to tipple.
posted by NoMich at 5:20 PM on June 30, 2011 [5 favorites]

Just had a nice impromptu video chat "Hangout" with some other MeFites. It was much more rewarding than my usual internet time-waster (clicking my way through to the end of the Pics subReddit).
posted by Jacqueline at 5:21 PM on June 30, 2011

I tried adding Google+ to my activities on Facebook and got this error in return:

Our automated system will not allow the name "Google+".
posted by TwelveTwo at 5:38 PM on June 30, 2011 [4 favorites]

Does it allow "Google Plus"? Does it allow "Fuck Yeah!+"?
posted by cjorgensen at 5:45 PM on June 30, 2011

It dawns on me, that it will be sad when it goes live and Google+ is plastered with ads. Right now it is nice. It is nice being exploited only for my data and not my attention.
posted by TwelveTwo at 5:47 PM on June 30, 2011

Still not sure what it's for, but I've joined. So, like, add me and stuff. I guess.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:49 PM on June 30, 2011

This is a stealth bragging thread

I tried to sign in to Google Plus but then I got an error message that said I couldn't sign in because my genitals were too spectacular
posted by Greg Nog at 10:29 AM on June 30 [8 favorites +] [!]

You are trying to log in as me again.
posted by jessamyn ★ at 10:33 AM on June 30 [18 favorites +] [!]

I tried to log in to Google+ but then I got an error message that said, "You should probably log in to Google++."
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:50 PM on June 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

Ok, I'm in now, after fiddling around.

Google must be Catholic.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:51 PM on June 30, 2011

I just got an invite, I think. Nothing wrong with setting this up early.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 5:51 PM on June 30, 2011

Are you guys connecting accounts as well? I'm not really sure what that does. Anywho, I think this is me.
posted by NoMich at 6:05 PM on June 30, 2011

Here's the real question: can Google+ kill Vkontakte?
posted by TwelveTwo at 6:35 PM on June 30, 2011

There's a hey, if you're a Mefite, say hi thread over there. It looks like it's collecting comments separately from the original post, maybe because it's a shared, public version of a non-public post from Jacqueline, who linked her profile above. Am I missing something? Do reshared posts each collect comments separately? I'd rather have one "welcome mefites" post than dozens.
posted by Pronoiac at 7:52 PM on June 30, 2011 [4 favorites]

Yeah, it appears that sharing something starts a new comments stream, and that you can't go back and retroactively edit something's sharing level. :(
posted by Jacqueline at 8:05 PM on June 30, 2011

Sounds like a good design decision. I'd hate to share my debauchery in a private circle and then have it made public.
posted by Mitheral at 8:29 PM on June 30, 2011

Oh yeah:
* I think this is my profile. I clicked on the Me link at the top, then copied the new link. I don't know how Jacqueline or NoMich got their links, or which format is better.
* By the way, NoMich, that link's not working here.
* If you post in the "welcome mefite" threads over there, please mention your Mefi name if it's different.
posted by Pronoiac at 8:34 PM on June 30, 2011

Oh dear. It looks like the post I linked is public & indexable, so be aware that it will likely be googleable later.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:25 PM on June 30, 2011

Bitter Old-- you can set the profile so that it's not public.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:34 PM on June 30, 2011

apparently it involves Sparking in a Huddle at a Hangout with my Circle.

I was Sparking in a Huddle at a Hangout with my Circle,
My Circle? Oh that's Studs, you know, I'm talkin' bout Studs Terkel.
What's that, you say? Ol' Studs is dead? It must be Estus Pirkle?
Well, Estus, he's dead too, so then, it must be Angela Merkel!

hey, cut me some slack, OK? it ain't easy rhyming "circle"...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:43 PM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

Circle.

Jerkle.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:47 PM on June 30, 2011 [3 favorites]

Leave it to BOP to come grab up the leftovers...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:49 PM on June 30, 2011

I, uh, circled you?

Let the jerking commence!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:25 AM on July 1, 2011

Let the jerking commence!

No no, Peter, that's "jerkling".
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:34 AM on July 1, 2011

Ok this kind of sucks. I'don't think Europeans are allowed to play because this all happened when we are asleep. I was told I had an invite coming and then google tells me its all on hold. Is this now just another "amurcan" thing?
I wanted to get to google+ and all I got was this radio station.
I thought social media was just that. If I get any more socially isolated I'll just cast my raft off and drift into the mystic.
posted by adamvasco at 12:39 AM on July 1, 2011

Sent you a hacky invite to your profile's email adamvasco. Let me know if it works or not.
posted by Mitheral at 1:00 AM on July 1, 2011

Its not just an American thing. Other Australians got invites. Mine hasn't come yet... I may need to impress upon the kindness of the hive mind. I'll always remember getting one of the first GMail invites because I'd been keeping my angsty teenage blog on Blogspot for years.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 1:06 AM on July 1, 2011

google plus is rad
i like it more than facebook
'cause it's not facebook
posted by Afroblanco at 2:19 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

I would love this to work as an alternative to Facebook. Also, Facebook is blocked in China so something more reliable would be good.
posted by arcticseal at 2:36 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'don't think Europeans are allowed to play because this all happened when we are asleep.

THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:14 AM on July 1, 2011 [3 favorites]

Omigod you guys there's a mobile app.
posted by shakespeherian at 5:33 AM on July 1, 2011

A college friend and I are having a public discussion wherein we're trying to figure out the exact about of Google Plus. I figure I'll link to that instead of blahblahing over here. Among the arguments: It dictates the style of conversation less than either Facebook or Twitter; it makes it easier to maintain looser connections and meet new people; it lessens the social anxiety that comes from not knowing who's expecting what sort of behavior from you.

I posted in the other thread that I'm okay with MeFites nagging me to send out invites; I figured I'd repost the offer here. This is my lazy vacation week, and sending out invitations to a social network makes me feel all noble. :-)
posted by Rory Marinich at 5:41 AM on July 1, 2011

Hey Blatcher we celebrate July the 4th too you know; we celebrate that you're there and we're here ;-)
posted by adamvasco at 5:42 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

Hey, if that makes you feel better about a rich and valuable colony telling you to fuck off and watching them surpass you in power, have at it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:52 AM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]

I don't want to join but I want to be invited.
posted by amro at 6:04 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

...And thanks noble Rory!
posted by amro at 6:10 AM on July 1, 2011

I was checking out ogle+ the other day, and it was looking fiiiiiiine.
posted by Eideteker at 6:14 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

Feeling Hubristic? I'm in China today.
posted by adamvasco at 6:49 AM on July 1, 2011

Feeling Hubristic? I'm in China today.

Ok, so you're a Brit in China today, congratulations.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:56 AM on July 1, 2011

...And thanks noble Rory!

Speaking of: I was so wrapped up in playing with my shiny new toy, I completely neglected to thank Jacqueline who made it possible.

Thanks! I promise to keep my cyber-stalking of you to a minimum! (the rest of you are fair game though...)
posted by quin at 7:24 AM on July 1, 2011

I'd love an invitation if anyone has one spare.
posted by arcticseal at 7:31 AM on July 1, 2011

That's OK; as a Brit I'm able to be economical with the actualité.
posted by adamvasco at 7:43 AM on July 1, 2011

I want in on the circle. Here is my profile.
posted by Sailormom at 7:59 AM on July 1, 2011

I exist on this thing. No, I don't know why. I just DO.

It's like the old man dude on Fraggle Rock who is trying to sew a button onto an egg and someone is asking him why and he says "I don't know WHY - I'm still figuring out HOW."
posted by sonika at 8:14 AM on July 1, 2011

I was very appreciative of the invite, however the following from the invite put me off:

The Google+ project is currently working out all the kinks with a small group of testers.

I prefer to keep my kinks intact, thank you just the same.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:26 AM on July 1, 2011

If someone would like to invite me, that would be niftyish.
posted by theora55 at 8:35 AM on July 1, 2011

If anyone wants to add me, hurlyburly at Google's mail thingy.
posted by dobbs at 8:42 AM on July 1, 2011

Oh, and by add me I meant add me to your linky thing. Circle me or whatever. I do not need an invite. I was in like flynn thanks to lupus.
posted by dobbs at 8:44 AM on July 1, 2011

Will trade wave invite for google± invite.


o wait, what?
posted by kiltedtaco at 8:51 AM on July 1, 2011

As long as the workaround is still working, I'm willing to send invites. Drop me a memail.
posted by brundlefly at 9:13 AM on July 1, 2011

I've created my MeFi circle and are dragging you all in there. I've used up my quota of Dante jokes in the last two days.

Drag me wherever you wish.
posted by Gucky at 9:15 AM on July 1, 2011

I'm also willing to do the invite hack for people who aren't in yet.

But, I'll be driving for the next two days, so either message me now, or I'll get to you on Sunday night.
posted by Netzapper at 10:00 AM on July 1, 2011

I keep pressing the orange button and plus just tells me that they've exceeded their capacity. Google+ does not love me.

I'm reminded of trying to get a MeFi account back in the day.
posted by Karmakaze at 2:01 PM on July 1, 2011

I'm confused, I show up with a plus, visual signals imply I'm a member and yet all I get is an interactive demo (which reminds me of Aldus PageMaker and yes you may get off my lawn)

I will wait and see what happens here
posted by infini at 2:11 PM on July 1, 2011

I'm really frustrated. I was trying to finally phase out my old email completely to use my google-apps-managed dotcom email, but apparently that's not supported with plus yet (I've been invited; I just can't use it). Bah. I don't know if I want to create an account I'll eventually need to phase out if/when they actually initiate apps accounts or if I just want to not play at all.

But who am I kidding? I really want this. Stupid google.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 5:41 PM on July 1, 2011

I think a meme is starting:

animated gif 1

animated gif 2
posted by NoMich at 6:08 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

PhoBWanKenobi i writes "I don't know if I want to create an account I'll eventually need to phase out if/when they actually initiate apps accounts or if I just want to not play at all"

You can link multiple email accounts to your g+ account. Sign up with a shiny new account and then immediately link your desired email to it.
posted by Mitheral at 7:05 PM on July 1, 2011

I will write you a poem for an invite. Whoever you are...I'm in summertime mania mode and even if you don't know me,improbably know you :)

Email is in profile. Sorry to be an invite skank ;/
posted by aydeejones at 8:59 PM on July 1, 2011

Well, I don't have a plus invite for my gmail, only my dotcom. If anyone is willing to share an invite (if you still can), drop me a MeMail.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:46 PM on July 1, 2011

Hack isn't working for me right now - anyone else? Should I keep fiddling with it (despite my moratorium on repeatedly fiddling with Catholics)?
posted by crankyrogalsky at 10:31 PM on July 1, 2011

No, the hack hasn't worked for me either (I kindly got a hack-invite from lupus_yonderboy yesterday).
posted by Gordafarin at 11:35 PM on July 1, 2011

I just tried sending invites to a few of my non-google addresses, and none have gone through, so I guess they turned that off.

I like it much better than Facebook.
posted by cmonkey at 11:38 PM on July 1, 2011

This should be a link to my profile.

I'm still trying to work out how to get people into more than one circle. When I drag them into a circle they vanish from my list of available people to categorize.
posted by Karmakaze at 6:41 AM on July 2, 2011

I find the hangout thing exiting. (see video)
Wouldn't that be fun to do with some mefites?
posted by joost de vries at 8:09 AM on July 2, 2011

Karmakaze writes "I'm still trying to work out how to get people into more than one circle."

Drag the persons icon from the existing group to the second group. This'll copy rather than move.
posted by Mitheral at 9:05 AM on July 2, 2011

Ok, ok, fine. I am never inclined to be an early adopter, but I sold my soul to google a long time ago anyway.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:40 AM on July 2, 2011

The time for me to worry about my privacy on the internet has long since passed, for better or for worse.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 2:00 PM on July 2, 2011

What MySpace’s Tom Anderson Thinks of Google+. Tom might be having a boring Saturday night as he seems to be keeping up with the responses tonight.
posted by NoMich at 8:38 PM on July 2, 2011

I suck at begging for invites...but could I scrounge one? /sigh
posted by tracicle at 10:27 PM on July 2, 2011

I feel so left out, like when Google Voice was shiny and new.
posted by wierdo at 12:26 AM on July 3, 2011

The great thing about Google+ is that everyone wants it, and I have it.

Why would I want this when everyone I care about connecting with in this way is already on Facebook...? I'm being serious here. All these "benefits" of Google+Plus seem to be features of Facebook - granted, some of then are a little obtuse, like the whole "lists vs. groups" thing, but they are there, and Facebook is nothing if not prolific with feature rollouts.

XKCD covered this. It's true that all those things are on facebook, but fackebook sucks. This really is a lot smoother and the whole notion of 'circles' is built in from the ground up. While facebook has groups/lists they're not very intuitive to use. I remember seeing a friend set a photo gallery to exclude some people and remember thinking she was like the only person who actually used those features.

And really is nice. It's free of all the spam and bullshit on FB.

I also can't stand Google's longstanding habit of opening new products selectively and then making sure that every newspaper published in the English language reports on Google's new product that is awesome but you-can't-have-it.

Okay but remember, they tried not doing it with Buzz and it was a disaster. Everyone said they needed to beta test more so that they could get more feedback. But they chose not too. As annoying as it could be for people who want in, this is a little safer for them.

And beyond that, joining without being connected to anyone on G+ isn't that much fun.

I have an invite but I'm hesitant to join because it wants me to create a public profile.

You have to create a profile, but you have to set it to private.

---

_{It dawns on me, that it will be sad when it goes live and Google+ is plastered with ads}

_{Adblock. Seriously. It's so awesome. You don't even realize how annoying internet ads are until you get rid of them. But G+ may never get too crapped up with ads. Gmail is nearly ad free, just a tiny bar across the top, (if you're not running adblock, that is)}

---

Anyway, feel free to MeMail me if you want me to add you to a circle.
posted by delmoi at 1:47 AM on July 3, 2011

When I drag them into a circle they vanish from my list of available people to categorize.

you vanished from my list
of people to categorize,
say, people who have thin lips,
or a certain look in their eyes,
people who tell bad jokes
or maybe make good cookies and pies,
you're messing with my need,
my need to categorize
to categorize
to categorize
to categorize!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:13 AM on July 3, 2011

I can't be the only one who finds it odd to see so many people willing to share their profiles with the general internet.

Honestly, I'm starting to find people who insist on hiding so completely to be a bit odd.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:58 AM on July 3, 2011

Everybody's got something to hide, 'cept for me and my profile.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:11 AM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]

Glad to see there's a post for mefites to represent.
posted by immlass at 6:32 AM on July 3, 2011

I can't be the only one who finds it odd to see so many people willing to share their profiles with the general internet.

If there's one thing that my time on the intertubes has taught me, it's not the general internet that's the problem when it comes to a release of information - it's the jerks I already know. Anytime I've had a privacy issue, it's been a contentious frenemy/family member at the crux of it. The general internet? I won't give 'em my physical address or phone number, but they've yet to really bother me in the fifteen years that they've had at their disposal.
posted by sonika at 6:54 AM on July 3, 2011 [2 favorites]

Is there some obvious way to make one's own notes on people's profiles? How do I know who you silly people are, when you're using those weird names over there?
posted by galadriel at 7:12 AM on July 3, 2011

galadriel - follow Brian Swetland
Neat G+ Hack: Personal Scrapbook / Notepad
posted by adamvasco at 7:31 AM on July 3, 2011

Honestly, I'm starting to find people who insist on hiding so completely to be a bit odd.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:58 AM on July 3 [+] [!]

Some of us have good reasons to be as private as possible on the interwebs. Though I'll admit to being a little odd too.
posted by patheral at 8:16 AM on July 3, 2011

Thanks, adamvasco, that's nifty, but it doesn't let me put a note on each of you Mefites' profiles, to remember who you *really* are.
posted by galadriel at 8:38 AM on July 3, 2011

galadriel, you want the greasemonkey script UserNotes. I can vouch for its usefulness.
posted by rtha at 9:45 AM on July 3, 2011

Hmm. If you mean peoples' profiles here on metafilter, that is. If you mean on google+, I have no idea.
posted by rtha at 9:47 AM on July 3, 2011

I've been searching userscripts each day hoping someone has made something like UserNotes for google plus. No luck yet.
posted by galadriel at 10:00 AM on July 3, 2011

Yeah, I'm just sort of guessing that the people whose names I don't recognize who add me are Metafilter people. It would be nice if I could make the connection! Actually... *wanders off to play with the new toy.*
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:13 AM on July 3, 2011

This should be me.
posted by mrbill at 10:17 AM on July 3, 2011

I'm also just assuming that people I don't recognize that added me to a circle are Mefites.
posted by COD at 10:48 AM on July 3, 2011

I'm assuming they're organ harvesters.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:15 AM on July 3, 2011

Is the invite hack still working? Anyone care to invite me, please?
(I'd memail people, but I don't know who still has invites/is still inviting)
posted by kilo hertz at 12:36 PM on July 3, 2011

My hack-invite still just takes me to this page.
No Facebook-for-cool-people for me :(
posted by Gordafarin at 1:54 PM on July 3, 2011

My hack-invite link isn't working, either. Sad!
posted by amarynth at 2:00 PM on July 3, 2011

But I still appreciate it, mefi-hack-invite-sender!
posted by amarynth at 2:01 PM on July 3, 2011

This is just the beginning. "It’s our non-conscious brain that will be deciding which social network succeeds and which one fails."
posted by unliteral at 6:09 PM on July 4, 2011

Another animated gif.
posted by NoMich at 4:11 AM on July 5, 2011

Anyone got an extra invite?
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 5:22 PM on July 6, 2011

It looks like joinups are temporarily closed. I've been trying for a few days to get my wife signed up, but no luck thus far.
posted by shakespeherian at 6:01 PM on July 6, 2011

Finally in, it looks like Facebook with a Google theme.
posted by octothorpe at 12:19 PM on July 7, 2011

Closed mine and deleted it. Am I the first?
posted by Eideteker at 12:39 PM on July 7, 2011

Invites seem to be working now with no trickery.

This is me: Stewart Russell.
posted by scruss at 7:37 PM on July 7, 2011

Invites seem to be working now with no trickery.
In that case, has anyone got a spare?
posted by unliteral at 8:02 PM on July 7, 2011

I invited you!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:13 PM on July 7, 2011

I would like to have an invite if anyone has an extra.
posted by Sailormom at 10:01 PM on July 7, 2011

Sailormom, I got one at mufi.
posted by unliteral at 10:17 PM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]

mufi's response says google overloaded now
posted by infini at 3:39 AM on July 8, 2011

Yeah, I'm a little bit sceptical of the mufi offer now. I wasn't able to create an account and it seems like I was 'shared' - which is what jessamyn did to me, but that actually doesn't get you an account. Sorry.
posted by unliteral at 6:31 AM on July 8, 2011

I'm told the "share" link works at any point when Google+ is letting people open accounts. They're just throttling the times when new Google+ accounts can be opened.
posted by immlass at 6:53 AM on July 8, 2011

If anyone else would like an invite, please memail me.
posted by zarq at 12:40 PM on July 8, 2011

Sailormom, sent.
posted by zarq at 12:41 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

I am trying it out. here
posted by fake at 4:11 PM on July 8, 2011

I'm told the "share" link works at any point when Google+ is letting people open accounts.
Yes, I take my comment back, I'm in now. Here.
posted by unliteral at 7:15 PM on July 8, 2011

I too, am, as they say, in.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:38 PM on July 8, 2011

I'm in also. Thanks adamvasco. I added a metric ton of mefites but, now what?
posted by Rumple at 4:02 PM on July 9, 2011

I'm in also. Thanks adamvasco. I added a metric ton of mefites but, now what?

3. Profit.
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 4:08 PM on July 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

So now I've got 2 people in my family circle, 4 in my friends and 25 in my Metafilter circle.
posted by octothorpe at 5:13 PM on July 9, 2011

MeFi and Librarians are running neck and neck in my circles.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:04 PM on July 9, 2011

I gave in, so if someone from Milwaukee adds you it's probably me. If you're in my metafilter circle you can see desjardins as my "other name" on my profile. I'm crossing my fingers that I did that right and it won't show up to the general public.
posted by desjardins at 8:31 PM on July 9, 2011

I made the cut! Here I am.
posted by Gordafarin at 5:50 AM on July 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Since I posted an incorrect version my G+ profile waaaaay upstream, here's the shortened version of it that should take you right to me.
posted by NoMich at 10:48 AM on July 10, 2011

I'm in. Not sure how to link myself, so maybe this is me?
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 4:26 PM on July 10, 2011

Right, now I've added you all - time to split you up into user number circles.
posted by unliteral at 4:48 PM on July 10, 2011

It would be really great if it were possible to share all mefites as a circle, because adding another hundred contacts and figuring out that they are mefites is really a big PITA.
posted by fake at 9:02 PM on July 10, 2011 [3 favorites]

From the notifications window ('Persons X, Y, and Z have added you'), it's easier to tell who the Mefites are because they're the ones that are friends with other Mefites (roll over their names). I don't think there's a way to do that from the 'People who have added you' Circles screen, which is odd.

Of course, a lot of the people now in my Mefites circle I'm still not quite sure who they are, so a user-notes-style thing would be incredibly useful. You can add descriptions of your circles - why not descriptions of the circled?
posted by Gordafarin at 3:50 AM on July 11, 2011

It would be really great if it were possible to share all mefites as a circle, because adding another hundred contacts and figuring out that they are mefites is really a big PITA.

This is actually what Facebook's Groups is good for, but I don't think G+ has that.
posted by smackfu at 8:26 AM on July 11, 2011

S thank you Tracie for the invite!! Just got it and joined - this is me and I have to admit I have no idea what to do with it now having never used facebook for anything much.

Suggestions? Seriously ... what now?
posted by Poet_Lariat at 8:22 PM on July 11, 2011

Poet_Lariat, I just added you. My first name is Jennifer. Almost all of my friends are mefites, so you can poach from my list. Then just start commenting on things you find interesting, and start conversations. You'll get the hang of it.
posted by desjardins at 10:49 AM on July 12, 2011

Finally in, this is me (I think). I added a bunch of mefites, at least I hope you're mefites and not just a bunch of other random strangers.
posted by arcticseal at 11:53 PM on July 13, 2011

So, people are using their real names for this? Or registering Google Plus accounts pseudonymously? I'm tempted by the seckrit lair quality of the latter, but apparently Google is taking both a dim view and a firm line...
posted by running order squabble fest at 4:24 AM on July 14, 2011

So, people are using their real names for this? Or registering Google Plus accounts pseudonymously? I'm tempted by the seckrit lair quality of the latter, but apparently Google is taking both a dim view and a firm line...

Mostly I'm seeing real names. I'm kind of doing both. I'm using the name that I use whenever I need a FirstName LastName combo where I'm using karmakaze as my login/nick. I'm not 100% sure this still qualifies under Google's policy, but I am pretty sure I'm a lot further down the enforcement list than the folks using I.P. Freely or Fakey McFakename on their profiles...
posted by Karmakaze at 7:02 AM on July 14, 2011

I currently have several pseudonymous people in my circles, and several people with a full stop as a surname. Maybe a slightly higher percentage of fake names than on Facebook.
posted by Gordafarin at 7:07 AM on July 14, 2011

By the way, has anyone mentioned M F Taters in the thread yet? I don't know who it is that's doing it, but it's a good list of the Mefites on G+.
posted by Gordafarin at 7:11 AM on July 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

When I got a gmail invite in beta stage i went 'oooo, i can finally get a gender neutral internet handle' so my formal gmail real name is Funny Person - those who know me will know me
posted by infini at 7:12 AM on July 14, 2011

(its a long complicated story why i'm not online yet - g+ hates my OS and browser combo)
posted by infini at 7:14 AM on July 14, 2011

infini: "(its a long complicated story why i'm not online yet - g+ hates my OS and browser combo)"

Win 3.1 + IE 6?
posted by zarq at 9:52 AM on July 14, 2011 [2 favorites]

Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:1.8.1.7) Gecko/20070914 Firefox/2.0.0.7

If this means anything
posted by infini at 1:44 PM on July 14, 2011

So, I'm also running Linux, specifically Ubuntu distro 10.10, Maverick Meerkat, with Firefox 4. When I had installed Firefox 5, many websites stopped working properly, especially those that needed Adobe Flash. I'd uninstalled and installed Flash from scratch, but was still having difficulties. After a while, I downgraded back to 4 from 5.

I'm not sure if Natty Narwhal would fix those problems. Have been working on a long-term project and didn't want to upgrade the OS on my laptop when I couldn't afford to have it stop operating.

Something to be aware of.
posted by zarq at 2:25 PM on July 14, 2011

I know, i found out the hard way after reformmating the windows netbook and then discovering that the sim card modem had stopped working on the OS. oh hooray for working history and the preservation of original eeepcs ;p
posted by infini at 3:22 PM on July 14, 2011

I'm using Firefox 5 / Ubuntu 10.04 and haven't had any problems with Google +. or any other site. Well, I mean flash eventually takes over my CPU, but that is a flash problem across all operating systems.
posted by COD at 6:12 AM on July 15, 2011

Right now the only machine able to access the net has 4GB hard drive and half an MB of ram.

it tells me in gmail "script stopped working" - it freezes twitter
it crashes on the BBC site

;p

it tells me teh web is getting too big for its britches

but anyhoo have a couple of weeks to go before I can upgrade
posted by infini at 8:29 AM on July 15, 2011

I am in

Oddly adamvasco who invited me isn't showing up as a person who has me in a circle

hmmm
posted by infini at 8:25 AM on July 16, 2011

It's a weird thing, I'm discovering - I know the real names of many more mefites than I would have thought. But I've been encircled by a few people over the last few days whose names I don't recognize at all; based on shared contacts, I can deduce that they're mefites, but if they haven't put their mefite handle in the "other names" section, I don't circle them back. And even if they have - honestly, if I don't know them here at all, I'm unlikely to add them back. It isn't personal! (How could it be when I don't know them?) If we've interacted a bunch here but you think it's unlikely that I would ever have encountered your real/g+ name, put your mefite name or user # in the "other names" part so I know who you are.
posted by rtha at 9:26 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

you make a good point - otoh, when I blindly followed all mefites from tumblr back when I began posting in it inspired by a thread on the grey I discovered a whole new world out there

have i already linked to you rtha?
posted by infini at 10:01 AM on July 16, 2011

infini: Very soon Google will suspend and wipe out your Google+ account.

more info.
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 10:20 AM on July 16, 2011

babby etc : maybe not
posted by infini at 10:24 AM on July 16, 2011

Agreed with rtha.

I find it weird and creepy that tons of people (most likely mefites) have added me based on shared contacts. I don't recognize your name and even after I figure out your mefi handle, I realize that we've never interacted on the site, ever. So, um, why on earth would you want to see my updates? Do you really need more noise in your information stream?

Mefites I have added in my circles are ones that I have known/met in person for several years now. All of this means that I will never post a public update on G+ simply because so many people I don't know are likely to see it.
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 10:27 AM on July 16, 2011

I find it weird and creepy . . . this means that I will never post a public update on G+ simply because so many people I don't know are likely to see it.

And yet, you post comments here, where anyone who happens to browse on by can read them; at least on G+, the only people who are likely to run across an update are people who are following you specifically. Why the double standard?
posted by suncoursing at 11:10 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

And yet, you post comments here

and I also blog too (where I don't know who is reading). And I don't mind both.

But Google+ is a social networking site much like Facebook (at least that's how I perceive it). If I'm going to share pictures, updates from my life etc, I would like to share it with people I know. If I didn't care who saw it, I'd just post it on a blog.

If I just wanted to share links and interesting things from the web, I'd much rather post it to twitter than G+ but I get the feeling that's how most people are using the site.
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 11:40 AM on July 16, 2011

babbyʼ); Drop table users; --: "If I'm going to share pictures, updates from my life etc, I would like to share it with people I know. If I didn't care who saw it, I'd just post it on a blog."

You're under no obligation to share everything with everyone on G+. That's part of the appeal. You can pick and choose what you share with whom.
posted by brundlefly at 11:51 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

An interesting read considering some of the recent comments here - Google+’s Corporate Culture & Filter Bubble:

Stacey Sullivan, Google’s Chief Cultural Officer, encourages ERGs [Employee Resource Groups], “It makes us more inclusive and it breaks down the walls and the disconnects that could happen in such a big organization.” I would argue it is not inclusivity but exclusivity that is propagated by such systems. ERGs erect walls based on age, gender, ethnicity, and tenure within the corporation itself. This is not unlike the logic behind Google+ that encourages us to define numerous micro-communities based on broad cultural schema or on much more subjective and judgmental formats. Who knows what constitutes these schemata? We don’t, because we don’t know what categories we are put in. This absence of transparency on Google+ makes it impossible to reflexively know the grounds for our Google+ relationships. Members of Google’s ERGs at least know where they stand. On Google+ we don’t know what the name of the Circle is that we are in and therefore don’t have the footing to understand the relationship–only that we were selected and going to receive a filtered form of personalized knowledge.

Preferring public broadcasting to the 'insular banter of ideological tribes'.
posted by unliteral at 7:45 PM on July 17, 2011

"By the way, has anyone mentioned M F Taters in the thread yet? I don't know who it is that's doing it, but it's a good list of the Mefites on G+."

That would be me. It was the best workaround I could come up with for the lack of being able to share/copy Circles on Google+.

The sole purpose of the M.F. Taters account is to follow MeFites on Google+, so you can use the "In M.F.'s circles" list as an attempt at creating a "master list" of MeFites on Google+.

If you want to be added to the list, please let me know. I can't promise that I'll be super-quick with the updates, but I'll get around to it eventually.
posted by Jacqueline at 3:05 AM on July 20, 2011

Huh. And here I was expecting to hear that MFTaters was a victim of the real name policy...
posted by Karmakaze at 6:45 AM on July 20, 2011

I don't mind being on the M.F. Taters list and agree it's a good thing, but yeah, the number of MeFites I can't identify who are adding me is setting off my spider-sense a little. I don't doubt folks are really who they say they are, but apart from the Mefites (and folks from other e-circles, not all of whom I know by real names) I can't ID, I've had a couple of spammers add me and that's uncool.
posted by immlass at 8:28 AM on July 20, 2011

That would be me.
An unfortunate choice of name.
posted by unliteral at 9:03 AM on July 20, 2011

I don't like that MeFites are still using 'taters,' especially given the polite request to stop. I know it's taken on a life of its own outside the original AskMe, but it's still not cool.
posted by Eideteker at 9:35 AM on July 20, 2011

I think it's safest to assume that people might have missed the metatalk where the OP's unhappiness over the joke was expressed, rather than that anyone is doing anything malicious.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:57 AM on July 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

You're under no obligation to share everything with everyone on G+. That's part of the appeal. You can pick and choose what you share with whom.
posted by brundlefly 4 days ago

But the default is share with everyone. So it takes an extra step to do otherwise.

That's like saying one can throw a party but cannot choose who to invite. However, one can walk around their own party, now filled with strangers many using fake names, to talk privately with the few people they do know. Uh, thanks Google!
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 10:14 AM on July 20, 2011

But the default is share with everyone. So it takes an extra step to do otherwise.


I don't actually think that's the case. Correct me if I'm wrong but, if I'm remembering correctly, the first time you post a status, the 'sharing with' box is blank and you have to choose who to share with. That choice is 'sticky' and will come up as the default the next time you share. So yes, if you choose 'Public' or 'Extended Circles' the first time you share, those will come up as the default next time, but they're not default from the start.
posted by Gordafarin at 3:58 AM on July 21, 2011