Plus, Minus or meh. July 11, 2011 11:49 AM   Subscribe

So most mefite google+ users probably have mainly mefites in their circle(s). As the sign ups are open again is this now significantly changing or are we just one small circle among many others.
posted by adamvasco to MetaFilter-Related at 11:49 AM (211 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite

and is it part of the mefi profile options yet ?
posted by k5.user at 11:51 AM on July 11, 2011


I don't know about you, but I mainly have actors, models, rock stars and time-travelling scientists in my circles.
posted by griphus at 11:52 AM on July 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


I have concentric circles of one.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:55 AM on July 11, 2011


The number of Mefites in my Mefi circle pales in comparison to the number of knitters in my LSG circle. It was never even close.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:00 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


My pluses are all minuses.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:01 PM on July 11, 2011


I have no frigging idea who most of the people in my circle are. I look at their profile page, see that they have a bunch of known Mefites as similar contacts and figure "must be a mefite". I could be adding axe murderers, robbers or people who don't like Firefly. It is a mystery.

Ya'll are all in a circle named "People not allowed to breed". If this presents a problem, I'll rename it to "Gator food".
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:02 PM on July 11, 2011 [7 favorites]


mefite google+ users probably have mainly mefites in their circle(s).

? This seems like an odd assertion to me. I have exactly zero mefites (at least people I relate to primarily as mefites, I suppose some of my friends have accounts here I don't really relate to them) currently in my + circles. I would imagine most of it has to do with what your original invitation vector was

In time I imagine it will encompass most of my variously intersecting (or not as the case may be) communities, but it hasn't gotten there at all yet for me (I'm in no hurry to populate mine as I haven't really figured out what it's for yet).
posted by nanojath at 12:02 PM on July 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


I don't really understand the point of this post, but as I've said before, almost no one I know IRL has a Google account, so my mefi circle is at 120 and my other circles are about 15-20.
posted by desjardins at 12:02 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


Google Pus? You might want to get that checked out.
posted by Metroid Baby at 12:03 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


so my mefi circle is at 120 and my other circles are about 15-20

Wow I am apparently not very good at networking.
posted by nanojath at 12:04 PM on July 11, 2011 [4 favorites]


If any mefites want to be my G+ friend for some odd reason, send me a memail and I'll send you a link to my profile. :)
posted by jozxyqk at 12:04 PM on July 11, 2011


Huh? I only have a handful of mefites in my g+. And I'm good with that.
posted by gingerbeer at 12:05 PM on July 11, 2011


I have about 30 mefites in my "Metafilter" cirle (as I wrote over there, this is usually determined by whether I see Bitter Old Punk's large beard in the thumbnail photos of the people they have in their circles.) I have about 10 people I know IRL in my other circles.
posted by Jahaza at 12:06 PM on July 11, 2011


Also, about thirty of you fuckers friended me and steadfastly refuse to identify yourselves, so enjoy my photos of my head, witticisms and blog syndication while I learn absolutely nothing about y'all.
posted by griphus at 12:08 PM on July 11, 2011


I have 123 Mefites in my circle. One other non-MeFite circle has over 70. But everything else is under 20.
posted by zarq at 12:10 PM on July 11, 2011


griphus: "Also, about thirty of you fuckers friended me and steadfastly refuse to identify yourselves, so enjoy my photos of my head, witticisms and blog syndication while I learn absolutely nothing about y'all."

And ye shall know me by my incessant flood of pictures of kids....
posted by zarq at 12:11 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


nanojath, it's not so much about networking as it is promiscuous adding. I've met maybe 15 of my contacts IRL, perhaps a few more that I met at meetups and can't recall.
posted by desjardins at 12:12 PM on July 11, 2011


I don't have MeFites in my circles so much as in A Circle, called 'MetaFilter', that I dial up or back based on who's been smoking the most potent crack recently.
posted by carsonb at 12:13 PM on July 11, 2011


I just joined the new social network for furries: Google Plush.

(if you were following me, Craig L Wittler, at Google+, you'd have already seen that joke)
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:13 PM on July 11, 2011


Most of my circles are pretty small, so far, and made of internet people. I ended up having to create one labeled "I don't know if I know these guys."
posted by Metroid Baby at 12:15 PM on July 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


Slippery slopes. First I let you animals into my Google+, the next thing you know everybody will be in my house drinking my beer. This has to stop before it can begin.
posted by Stagger Lee at 12:15 PM on July 11, 2011


Man, you do not even want to get Dante Alighieri started on his circles.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:17 PM on July 11, 2011 [12 favorites]


griphus: "Also, about thirty of you fuckers friended me and steadfastly refuse to identify yourselves"

I am having this experience about five times a day: "What? Oh, a new person on g+. So who's this person who's added me now?" (clickety) "Who are you? Your About page is blank. I don't recognize your name. Welp. Guess you must be a mefite." (sort sort)

The people who're sticking their mefi username or link to their profile here in their "About" are being very helpful, though I can understand not wanting to do that.
posted by galadriel at 12:18 PM on July 11, 2011


Ya'll are all in a circle named "People not allowed to breed". If this presents a problem, I'll rename it to "Gator food".

Don't be feeding me your scraps, BB.

Anyway, most of my + peeps are comic artists, but I only really just started using it today, so who knows who I'll end up with.
posted by Gator at 12:18 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


Brandon Blatcher: Ya'll are all in a circle named "People not allowed to breed". If this presents a problem, I'll rename it to "Gator food".

Given the number of MeFi babies, you might as well rename it now. We don't read the labels well.

Anyway, someone added me and I have no idea who they are. R*** O****, who are you? I'm assuming you're a MeFite, but if you're an axe murderer (or any other type of murderer), could you please tell me?
posted by filthy light thief at 12:18 PM on July 11, 2011


cortex: Man, you do not even want to get Dante Alighieri started on his circles.

All I want to know is, are they concentric, exclusive, inclusive, or a mix? Are there any virtuous pagans who also are linked in "people who are welcome to hang out with me at public picnics"? Or are they simply the first of the damned?
posted by filthy light thief at 12:20 PM on July 11, 2011


MeFites make up about 80% of my circles. I have no IRL friends.
posted by eyeballkid at 12:21 PM on July 11, 2011


and is it part of the mefi profile options yet?

No. People can go through the usual channels and put it on the wiki once it's opened up to the general public. I can't even tell yet if it is.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:24 PM on July 11, 2011


I think because I have complained to the mods about stuff, they show up in my GMail contacts, and so Google wants me to add them and everyone they are connected to, AKA every MeFite.
posted by smackfu at 12:24 PM on July 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


yeah, I have about 80 contacts or so on + and I think that... 75 of them are mefites. I like it! Saves me having to sort.
posted by gaspode at 12:27 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


All I want to know is, are they concentric, exclusive, inclusive, or a mix?

Imagine, if you will, an inverted Devo hat.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:31 PM on July 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


I have 105 people in my MetaFilter circle, while I have ~30 in my "friends" circle. Make of that what you will.

I have no frigging idea who most of the people in my circle are. I look at their profile page, see that they have a bunch of known Mefites as similar contacts and figure "must be a mefite".

The fastest way I've found to do this is scan "People in common" for BitterOldPunk's beard.
posted by brundlefly at 12:31 PM on July 11, 2011 [7 favorites]


cortex: Man, you do not even want to get Dante Alighieri started on his circles.

Oh man, if I had my druthers I'd totally rename all my circles to 1st Circle, 2nd Circle etc. all the way up to the recently added 10th Circle.
posted by Kattullus at 12:31 PM on July 11, 2011


I have no frigging idea who most of the people in my circle are. I look at their profile page, see that they have a bunch of known Mefites as similar contacts and figure "must be a mefite"

I just check to see if they've got BitterOldPunk in their circle since he's one of the only Mefites with the same name on G+.
posted by octothorpe at 12:32 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


Or what brundlefly said.
posted by octothorpe at 12:32 PM on July 11, 2011


See, if only mathowie had a beard.
posted by desjardins at 12:33 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


P.S. If you see someone whose profile pic is a bulbasaur, that is me, probably.

This is the kind of thing that happens when your online circles collide.
posted by Metroid Baby at 12:37 PM on July 11, 2011


I use Google+ to get away from you people.
posted by briank at 12:39 PM on July 11, 2011 [3 favorites]


The only known mefite in my circles is my husband. So the statement most mefite google+ users probably have mainly mefites in their circle(s) confuses and frightens me. Was I supposed to have dozens of Mefites in my circles? Did I miss the memo?
posted by That's Numberwang! at 12:41 PM on July 11, 2011


I just check to see if they've got BitterOldPunk in their circle since he's one of the only Mefites with the same name on G+

He is kind of a marker. I do know a couple of ya'll's real names and that helps, but otherwise? It's a wild guess.

Luckily the porn stash is in another group.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:41 PM on July 11, 2011


My circles are roughly split in thirds: IRL people, people I don't know but follow because they talk/write about videogames, and mefites.
posted by juv3nal at 12:42 PM on July 11, 2011


Oh shit, Brandon, I was adding people based on whether you'd added them or not.

Ruh-roh.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:45 PM on July 11, 2011 [4 favorites]


I mention cilantro and bunnies in my profile. Make of that what ye will.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 12:48 PM on July 11, 2011


The only MeFites in my circles are the ones in my MefightClub circle.
posted by DWRoelands at 12:49 PM on July 11, 2011


As the sign ups are open again

I see no sign of this being the case.
posted by killdevil at 12:52 PM on July 11, 2011


Current users can invite people again. It's not open signups yet.
posted by brundlefly at 12:59 PM on July 11, 2011


Current users can invite people again. It's not open signups yet.

And not all people that get invited are instantly let in. It is faster than last week, but far from instant.
posted by birdherder at 1:03 PM on July 11, 2011


How do you invite people?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:03 PM on July 11, 2011


As of this minute: Friends 2, Family 2, Mefites 65.

I don't know who any of these people are. I'm just assigning them randomly, some unlucky schmucks just got made part of my family.

Christmas is going to be awesome this year.

Let me know if anyone needs an invitation...
posted by quin at 1:05 PM on July 11, 2011


How do you invite people?

Start a circle>input their email address for "add a new user">make post directed at that circle.
posted by cashman at 1:06 PM on July 11, 2011


How do you invite people?
Look at your stream - bottom right - Send invites.
posted by adamvasco at 1:07 PM on July 11, 2011


I'd love an invite. Email's in profile.
posted by killdevil at 1:08 PM on July 11, 2011


Nice, thanks adamvasco.
posted by killdevil at 1:09 PM on July 11, 2011


Searching on metafilter in g+ currently brings up 15 hits. Those specifically mention metafilter somewhere in their google profile...
posted by jim in austin at 1:12 PM on July 11, 2011


As the sign ups are open again

I think I've read this about three times a day since they shut down sign ups, and yet every time I go to the sign up page I see the 'blah blah limited field trial blah exceeded capacity' message. Are they opening it up for a few minutes at a time, or limiting it by location, or what?
posted by jack_mo at 1:13 PM on July 11, 2011


Anyone with an extra invite they'd be willing to throw my way? I'll happily drop you a mefimail with my address.
posted by royalsong at 1:13 PM on July 11, 2011


jack_mo: profile email incoming
posted by adamvasco at 1:15 PM on July 11, 2011


Are there any non-US users yet? I'd just assumed that G+ was still US only.
posted by bonehead at 1:15 PM on July 11, 2011


royalsong, memail me.
posted by fyrebelley at 1:15 PM on July 11, 2011


I added my MeFi profile to my G+ profile. Since my real name is in my profile here and I don't care about associating it with my G+ ID, I figured that was the easiest way for people to find out who I am.

(I will not be offended if folks uncircle me once they figure out who I am or just because they're bored with my posts or whatever. Every day is circle amnesty day on my profile, especially since I've lost a bunch of people in fixing my busted Google Contacts once already. Beta software, for realz.)
posted by immlass at 1:21 PM on July 11, 2011


"Google Pus? You might want to get that checked out."

...
posted by Eideteker at 1:22 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


May I please have an invite?
posted by zennie at 1:24 PM on July 11, 2011


thanks fyrebelley!
posted by royalsong at 1:27 PM on July 11, 2011


Are there any non-US users yet? I'd just assumed that G+ was still US only.

I see a bunch of UKers on my stream and at least two Aussies.
posted by desjardins at 1:29 PM on July 11, 2011


zennie...done!
posted by fyrebelley at 1:30 PM on July 11, 2011


Are there any non-US users yet?

jacquilynne, who commented up above, is Canadian. It sounds like she's saying that she's on Google+. She gave me my gmail invite way back when grumblebee was running an email list for some Metafilter members. Everyone on the list except for me@hotmail had a gmail address (probably a year and a half after they were first available). I felt out of the loop, so I had to ask the list to send me an invite. Soon received 15. Seeing all the people who know 120 others on seemingly inaccessible Google+ may be giving me that same feeling.
posted by TimTypeZed at 1:30 PM on July 11, 2011


bonehead, it's working in Canada at least.
posted by Lemurrhea at 1:30 PM on July 11, 2011


I see a bunch of UKers on my stream and at least two Aussies.

Eww, TWO?!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:31 PM on July 11, 2011


Are they opening it up for a few minutes at a time, or limiting it by location, or what?

I think they're opening it up only to people who've been added to circles by at least eight people and invited at least twice.

I have zero evidence for this, other than that when my second invite attempt actually worked, eight people already had me in one of their circles. QED BABY
posted by ook at 1:33 PM on July 11, 2011


Thanks, fyrebelley!

Also, thanks hubby ;)
posted by zennie at 1:34 PM on July 11, 2011


Luckily the porn stash is in another group.

There's a "middle of the woods" group?
posted by LionIndex at 1:36 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


has anyone figured out how to display the stream from only certain circles by default? it's great to have a circle for random acquaintances i don't really know or care about, but what's the point if i still have to see all their updates everytime i log in.. thoughts? suggestions?
posted by modernnomad at 1:38 PM on July 11, 2011


I don't have any Mefites in G+ but you're welcome to follow me. Since my phone will automatically upload any photos I take with you, you will be subjected to lots of pictures of our cats.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:40 PM on July 11, 2011


Eww, TWO?!

Well one is an American living in Australia who apparently doesn't like the country very much I think you know who I mean
posted by desjardins at 1:40 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


you will be subjected to lots of pictures of our cats.

Sold! Except I can't figure out which person with your real name is you.
posted by desjardins at 1:42 PM on July 11, 2011


jack_mo: profile email incoming

Thanks adamvasco! Can't believe I missed the whole 'need an actual invite' part (the first time I looked at the Plus page it just asked me if I wanted to sign up).

On signing up, everyone it suggests I follow is either a MeFi moderator or someone who's emailed me a tip/link for my weblog. Should I be putting the latter in a special circle in order to spam them enhance my social media reach via a trust-based one-to-many engagement conduit?

Are there any non-US users yet?

I have Canadians, Indians, Australians and a Welshman in my 'people you may know', and I'm from the UK. Commenwealthtastic.
posted by jack_mo at 1:44 PM on July 11, 2011


I have 128 people in my MeFi circle. I'm not sure if I'm doing this very right or very wrong.
posted by minifigs at 1:45 PM on July 11, 2011


One Scot in Russia successfully registered, I guess I'll hunt down some mefites or it's just a particularly elaborate way to stay in touch with my brother...
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 1:52 PM on July 11, 2011


Are there any non-US users yet?

I just got signed up 5 minutes ago and I'm in Canada. It feels weird, this is the first time I've used my real name on the internet.
posted by Hoopo at 2:00 PM on July 11, 2011


I have 128 people in my MeFi circle. I'm not sure if I'm doing this very right or very wrong.

Well, you're doing better than I am at actually finding people. I haven't even seen Bitter Old Punk's beard yet.
posted by jack_mo at 2:01 PM on July 11, 2011


There are quite a few under my "suggested" friends that look like Ira Glass. I am suspecting they are all Mefites.
posted by slogger at 2:05 PM on July 11, 2011 [6 favorites]


Well, you're doing better than I am at actually finding people. I haven't even seen Bitter Old Punk's beard yet.

He mostly comes out at night. Mostly.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:06 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


I can't figure out which person with your real name is you.

I am wearing a jaunty hat in my profile photo. In fact, I'll change my Mefi photo so that they are the same.
posted by backseatpilot at 2:07 PM on July 11, 2011


I currently have no suggestions. I guess this is Google trying to be tactful with me.
posted by Gator at 2:07 PM on July 11, 2011


I'm missing something. How do you know 128 Mefites there? Do you recognise their IRL names/ photos/emails?
posted by dontjumplarry at 2:10 PM on July 11, 2011


Here is the canonical mefites on Google+ thread.
posted by minifigs at 2:11 PM on July 11, 2011 [9 favorites]


Ooh, thanks for that link minifigs!
posted by iamkimiam at 2:12 PM on July 11, 2011


I just noticed Mark Zuckerberg is in the "people you may know on Google+" list. OK, who's the wiseguy?
posted by Hoopo at 2:17 PM on July 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


Yesterday everyone was talking about Google Plus on Google Plus. Today everyone is talking about how everyone is talking about Google Plus on Google Plus on Google Plus. That didn't take long to get recursive.
posted by Kattullus at 2:23 PM on July 11, 2011


They're also talking about it on Facebook, which is kind of like talking about your hot new girlfriend right in front of the wife.
posted by Gator at 2:27 PM on July 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


Just fyi about the canonical mefites on Google + thread, as someone pointed out over there, "It's viewable without logging in, and I don't see anything in robots.txt that prevents indexing, so this will likely be googleable."

Also, thanks to Jacqueline for starting the original Meta about + and for all of the writing she has been doing over there.
posted by mlis at 2:33 PM on July 11, 2011


Faceb... ook? Sorry, I don't understand that term.
posted by Kattullus at 2:34 PM on July 11, 2011


A handful. Like others have indicated others may also be MeFites but it's not how I know them. Happy to add anyone though as I muddle my way through
posted by TravellingCari at 2:40 PM on July 11, 2011


I just got an IM from a mefite asking "who the hell are you and why are you in my chat client" and then before I responded, "oh yea you're octothorpe".
posted by octothorpe at 2:43 PM on July 11, 2011 [3 favorites]


Can anyone still help me out with an invite? I hate to ask but since previous requests seem to have been successful...

In return I give you this live version of Funkadelic's Maggot Brain.
posted by mahershalal at 2:48 PM on July 11, 2011


In return I give you this live version of Funkadelic's Maggot Brain

Hook up Friday Night August the 14th and it's a deal. Wait, no it's not. I don't even know how to send invites yet.
posted by Hoopo at 2:52 PM on July 11, 2011


I just found it easier to rename my "Friends" circle to "MetaFilter".
posted by deborah at 2:53 PM on July 11, 2011 [3 favorites]


Signups aren't open.
posted by BeerFilter at 3:01 PM on July 11, 2011


Wow, that was quick!

For the record: I was let in immediately, not sure if that goes for everybody.

thanks minifigs!
posted by mahershalal at 3:05 PM on July 11, 2011


Wow, the voices in my head have names!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:53 PM on July 11, 2011


...and faces! (I don't usually bother with profiles here)
posted by geckoinpdx at 3:58 PM on July 11, 2011


Yeah, signups still don't seem to be open. Or not in the UK at least. Alas.
posted by badmoonrising at 4:02 PM on July 11, 2011


As of today, 70 Friends, 30 Acquaintances, 15 Mefites, 0 Following. Half those Mefites are also tagged in my Friends circle.


Actually, that's pretty accurate. :)
posted by functionequalsform at 4:03 PM on July 11, 2011


hey, were is everyone going.
posted by clavdivs at 4:52 PM on July 11, 2011


Does anybody else have a spare invite for this sad, Aussie Nigel-nofriends?
posted by taff at 5:00 PM on July 11, 2011


Check your email, taff.
posted by geckoinpdx at 5:05 PM on July 11, 2011


Yeah, signups still don't seem to be open. Or not in the UK at least. Alas.

They're defo 'open' in the UK in the sense that you can sign up after clicking a link from an invitation email. Unfortunately, I either don't have any invites to send you or am too dim to work out how to send them.

It's not just me is it? The interface seems almost deliberately obscure and confusing - reminds me of trying Vim or Emacs for the first time. The 'confirm an action by moving your cursor away from the pop-up' thing is just totally wiggy.
posted by jack_mo at 5:12 PM on July 11, 2011


I got an invitation yesterday. Joined in less than 60 seconds on my first attempt. Immediately sent an invitation to my nom-de-plume' and joined for the second time in less than 120 seconds.
posted by bukvich at 5:13 PM on July 11, 2011


jack_mo, quickest way is to hit your home page and on the right side there'll be some suggestions and other things and at the bottom you should have an invite option.
posted by geckoinpdx at 5:15 PM on July 11, 2011


Thanks geckoinpdx. Damn that obscure and confusing interface for clearly labelling invitations 'Invite People to join Google+' under the heading 'Send Invites'!

badmoonrising - fire me an email at the address in my profile here, and I'll send you one (if someone else hasn't already).
posted by jack_mo at 5:31 PM on July 11, 2011


I just don't know anyone's real na-ha-ha-haaaamme I'm so confused.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:38 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


I have some invites if anyone else needs one. Email's in profile or MeMail me.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 5:41 PM on July 11, 2011


Awesome, thanks jack_mo. Have emailed you.
posted by badmoonrising at 5:44 PM on July 11, 2011


Invites here if anyone needs one!
posted by soft and hardcore taters at 5:46 PM on July 11, 2011


I haven't been able to give it much attention yet, but I signed up yesterday under my real name just to keep the legions of pretenders at bay.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:55 PM on July 11, 2011


I think I've read this about three times a day since they shut down sign ups, and yet every time I go to the sign up page I see the 'blah blah limited field trial blah exceeded capacity' message.

Kinda reminds me of some other website I tried to sign up for a few years ago. If that condition lasts you another two years, you'll have replicated my MetaFilter sign-up experience.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:02 PM on July 11, 2011


With all the inviting and stuff, has anyone figured out what google+ is good for aside from not being facebook?
posted by crunchland at 6:03 PM on July 11, 2011


It's also not twitter.
posted by pompomtom at 6:04 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


What else does it need?
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:04 PM on July 11, 2011


Hangouts are apparently pretty useful. Otherwise it's essentially a news feed based site like facebook.
posted by codacorolla at 6:08 PM on July 11, 2011


Filtering is easier and more versatile. Also, no annoying game updates to turn off, which is pleasant.
posted by zarq at 6:08 PM on July 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


They really, really need to add an option to import/export circles. I guess that would be a privacy nightmare (someone infiltrates a circle, or flames out, and then uploads the circle information onto the open web) but the prospect of going through that huge thread and adding everyone I want to add is... daunting.
posted by codacorolla at 6:11 PM on July 11, 2011


someone infiltrates a circle, or flames out, and then uploads the circle information onto the open web

But the circle is a property of the broadcaster. Just because you've put me in a circle doesn't mean that I have any access to the other members, does it?
posted by pompomtom at 6:17 PM on July 11, 2011


But the circle is a property of the broadcaster. Just because you've put me in a circle doesn't mean that I have any access to the other members, does it?

That's my point. The ability to easily transmit who you have in a circle could be used to indicate relationships between people, even if they don't actually exist. I can see a lot of reasons that Google wouldn't want circles to be easily portable things.
posted by codacorolla at 6:20 PM on July 11, 2011


ahh, gotcha. Yeah, I think we'll just have to wait for Skynet google to build their total perspective vortex huge relationship map of everybody in the world.
posted by pompomtom at 6:28 PM on July 11, 2011


Yeah, that's the main reason that I'm using an assumed name for my G+ profile. I like my Internet commenting to stay mostly separate from my online life, even if I don't really have anything to hide. After being routinely screwed over by both Facebook and Google wrt to privacy, I have no great urge to link my real and virtual lives.
posted by codacorolla at 6:46 PM on July 11, 2011


It's not just me is it? The interface seems almost deliberately obscure and confusing - reminds me of trying Vim or Emacs for the first time.

Well you can scroll up and down with the keys 'j' and 'k' like vi but Metafilter lets you do that too.
posted by octothorpe at 7:01 PM on July 11, 2011


The invitation link has disappeared for me - did I do something wrong, or have I just run out of invites?
posted by dg at 7:06 PM on July 11, 2011


... and it's back!
posted by dg at 7:19 PM on July 11, 2011


If anyone has a spare invite, I would like to check out this new fangled internet as well.
posted by clearly at 7:21 PM on July 11, 2011


Kinda reminds me of some other website I tried to sign up for a few years ago. If that condition lasts you another two years, you'll have replicated my MetaFilter sign-up experience.

Oh God, don't remind me. Someone with a better grasp on MeFi signup history will correct me, but around the time I joined you either had to hit the signup page at just the right time of day or work out a special trick with the URL (changing signup.html to signup2.html or something). I never managed either, so presumably a 15k number means mathowie opened the floodgates.

They really, really need to add an option to import/export circles.

Defo. It would have to be a new thing - 'spheres', I suppose. Like groups on Flickr and Last.fm, a way to declare that you're interested in a thing, and that lets you send/receive stuff to/from folk interested in the same thing. Doesn't quite fit with the whole 'you broadcast to others' feel of the place, though.

Well you can scroll up and down with the keys 'j' and 'k' like vi but Metafilter lets you do that too.

Yeah, I just commented on a MeFite's plus post about that, boring everyone in the vicinity with the old 'Bill Joy's Lear Siegler ADM-3A had up and down arrows printed on the j and k keys, dontchaknow' factoid. It is sort of lovely that a design quirk of a '70s terminal keyboard is influencing the design of websites today.
posted by jack_mo at 7:22 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


If anyone has a spare invite, I would like to check out this new fangled internet as well.

Sent!

posted by jack_mo at 7:24 PM on July 11, 2011


Fuck. I just joined Twitter last week and now this?
posted by bonobothegreat at 7:26 PM on July 11, 2011


Mine is Facebook and MeFi friends
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 7:28 PM on July 11, 2011


I'd love an invite, if anyone has a spare to offer. Zee profile has zee email!
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:45 PM on July 11, 2011


I have so many Imaginary Friends!

Not sure if I have enough cups for the tea ceremony now...
posted by gomichild at 7:49 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'm not imaginary, I'm parallel.
posted by Gator at 7:50 PM on July 11, 2011


Cat Pie Hurts - done.
posted by pomegranate at 7:54 PM on July 11, 2011


Cat Pie, sent.
posted by octothorpe at 7:55 PM on July 11, 2011


Darn.
posted by octothorpe at 7:55 PM on July 11, 2011


Send MeMail if you want an invite.
posted by Sailormom at 8:00 PM on July 11, 2011


Thanks, pomegranate! And thank you, octothorpe!
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 8:00 PM on July 11, 2011


For me Google + is one more social networking platform in which I try to wrack my brain really really hard to come up with something halfway interesting to say that's not about That Baby... and fail.
posted by sonika at 8:07 PM on July 11, 2011


With all the inviting and stuff, has anyone figured out what google+ is good for aside from not being facebook?

My major complaints about Facebook--and the thing that keeps me from using it--is addressed by what google+'s big feature seems to be, which is the circles. People tell me you can do the same sort of grouping thing with your contacts in Facebook but damned if I can figure it out. I for one would be happy if it overtook Facebook. But I'm probably weird that way.
posted by Hoopo at 8:08 PM on July 11, 2011


I've got too much invested in FB to learn how to use Google + yet, but I might. I'm due for an FB cull soon anyway.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:11 PM on July 11, 2011


It's a lot less cluttered than Facebook -- for now, anyway. Facebook used to be marginally less cluttered too. I assume G+ will eventually have ads, games, polls, and an API where you can build your own quizzes about which character in the Twilight Saga you're most likely to hook up with.
posted by Gator at 8:15 PM on July 11, 2011


FB has been phasing out the quizzes.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:17 PM on July 11, 2011


i've mostly got convention people and goths on my G+. no MeFites yet.

a special circle name has already been selected should that ever change.

still more active on FB (also no MeFites there), but slowly getting acclimated to the G+ environment. definitely easier to sift people on the latter.
posted by batmonkey at 8:18 PM on July 11, 2011


There isn't a way to import circles, but if you go to Google+ Settings (click on the gear in the top right) then Data Liberation, you can export your stuff.
posted by thewalledcity at 8:27 PM on July 11, 2011




Wow, really? I don't know who any of y'all are. Well, except for my swap set, and I plan to guard their identities with my Internet life.

Although I do have invites left if anyone else wants into Google+. Hit the memail.
posted by smirkette at 8:35 PM on July 11, 2011


Am I the only person on MeFi who isn't invited?
posted by Deathalicious at 9:21 PM on July 11, 2011


I really liked the idea someone in the G+ public MeFites thread had about putting your MeFi name in your profile but setting it to be only visible to those in your MeFi circle. So I'm adding MeFites, dropping them in my MeFi circle, and then if they get a random friending from me they'll be able to see who I am.

Deathalicious, MeMail me your gmail addy, I'll send you an invite.
posted by flex at 9:24 PM on July 11, 2011


Thank you, sailormom. At least, I think that's a thank you.
posted by maxwelton at 9:24 PM on July 11, 2011


I just created a new Metafilter circle. Didn't occur to me until this thread.

Also, please let me know if you are very funny and post interesting things because that is the criteria I have for adding people I don't know to my circles.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:30 PM on July 11, 2011


Just invited you, Deathalicious.
posted by smirkette at 9:30 PM on July 11, 2011


Despite my being an early adopter for various hardware I've never really made use of any sorts of social networrking. So now I've joined Google+ and find out that what I am supposed to do is share all the exciting things happening to me in my life.

{sigh} I knew there had to be a catch :(
posted by Poet_Lariat at 9:40 PM on July 11, 2011


I like my Mefites circle. It's like my own private little Metafilter with only people I choose. (Which is pretty non-restrictive.)

sonika: "For me Google + is one more social networking platform in which I try to wrack my brain really really hard to come up with something halfway interesting to say that's not about That Baby... and fail."

I for one love your baby posts... it always cheers up my day. Babies are wonderful. :)
posted by IndigoRain at 9:52 PM on July 11, 2011


adamvasco sent me an invitation, bless his googlymoogly heart. I actually joined and all my circle belong to MeFi, though I'm just randomly adding people that Google suggests if I recognize them/their name, and adding people who add me. I'm taz there, too. "taz z," since they are demanding a last name.

I suppose we'll get this on our social apps list in profiles here?

I've been busy, but pretty soon you guys will certainly be hearing all about my dog's dindin (chicken, green beans and potato, last night), and how hot it is in Greece in July (hint: very, very hot). Never fear.

Is there a way to post once to twitter and/or other and G+? A way that I'm too lazy to look up?
posted by taz at 10:25 PM on July 11, 2011


My MetaFilter circle is indeed my biggest circle, but mostly because I've divided other people into "close" "friends" "acquaintances", by major metro area and by topic of interest. MeFites I just lumped into one prolific bucket.

(At some point I figure I'll start to know which of you folks are also Comics, Cult Movies, Classic Film, Horror, Parenting, Video Games, Bay Area, Chicago and/or Geekery. Which really reads like the tags for everything I've ever posted here.)
posted by Gucky at 10:31 PM on July 11, 2011


At some point I figure I'll start to know which of you folks are also Comics, Cult Movies, Classic Film, Horror, Parenting, Video Games, Bay Area, Chicago and/or Geekery. Which really reads like the tags for everything I've ever posted here.

I'm Comics, Cult Movies, Classic Film, Horror and Videogames
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 10:34 PM on July 11, 2011


Searching on metafilter in g+ currently brings up 15 hits. Those specifically mention metafilter somewhere in their google profile...
The Linkslut is not a mefite as far as I know. Could be wrong.
posted by unliteral at 11:33 PM on July 11, 2011


I was just starting to get the hang of the old thing. And now there's a new thing? With a members-only sign over the door?

*feels left out*
posted by pracowity at 11:35 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


Check your email, pracowity.
posted by unliteral at 11:48 PM on July 11, 2011


Yay! Thanks for that. Now I just have to figure out what it is...
posted by pracowity at 11:55 PM on July 11, 2011


Might I have one, if there are any to pass out? Memail, if you would. Thanks.
posted by Ghidorah at 12:38 AM on July 12, 2011


unliteral: "Searching on metafilter in g+ currently brings up 15 hits. Those specifically mention metafilter somewhere in their google profile...

Search on Mefite and you might find some more.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:41 AM on July 12, 2011


Thanks, jamaro.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:04 AM on July 12, 2011


still have roughly 81 more invites, for those so deprived. MeMail etc.
posted by geckoinpdx at 2:14 AM on July 12, 2011


I have invites too, now that I have settled in and arranged the furniture how I like it.

I am enjoying being able to post stuff without my family calling up to say "o rly?" plus I can still keep my online username from my family when they do catch up to it.
posted by tracicle at 2:56 AM on July 12, 2011


If anyone's got an invite, I'd like not to have it.

I'm too young, pretty and cool for social networks
posted by klue at 3:17 AM on July 12, 2011


The above, of course, was an attempt at reverse psychology, which, to the best of my cognitive abilities, means that if I simply stated that I wanted an invite, it would merely be psychology.
posted by klue at 3:38 AM on July 12, 2011


If you put an Email in your profile you can have an invite. I can't be arsed to do the work for you and send memail to get you to reply.
posted by adamvasco at 4:10 AM on July 12, 2011


the G+ public MeFites thread

I can't for the life of me find any of this stuff. I searched for Metafilter, and saw the page and a half or so of people, but couldn't find anything under Mefite, and can't find any sort chat feature.

Is there a there there?
posted by Ghidorah at 5:24 AM on July 12, 2011


I believe they were talking about this thread on MeTa.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 6:00 AM on July 12, 2011


This is the unofficial "Hi, I'm a Mefite" thread on G+
posted by octothorpe at 6:13 AM on July 12, 2011


Thanks, adamvasco.
posted by klue at 6:22 AM on July 12, 2011


Just invited you, Deathalicious.

Yup, you and everyone else! Thanks folks!

I guess we just have to wait and see. We just need to get past the everyone-talking-about-Google-plus and on to the actually-using-it stage.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:55 AM on July 12, 2011


I find it really interesting that so many people openly link their pseudonym with their real name in a publicly accessible thread (and I assume search engine accessible)... neither good nor bad, just interesting. I think it says something about how some people perceive anonymity on the internet, but probably also the desire of many mefi members to 'get to know each other' in greater depth.
posted by modernnomad at 7:56 AM on July 12, 2011


I find it really interesting that so many people openly link their pseudonym with their real name in a publicly accessible thread (and I assume search engine accessible)... neither good nor bad, just interesting. I think it says something about how some people perceive anonymity on the internet, but probably also the desire of many mefi members to 'get to know each other' in greater depth.

It took the longest time to feel comfortable with this. At a certain point, though, I got sick of keeping my lives separate. This is really the only place I've established any kind of permanent persona...there are other websites where I use the Deathalicious moniker but rarely visit them. I felt trapped trying to stay anonymous.

On the other hand, this means that now if there's even a hint of risque in one of my AskMes I tend to go anonymous. I reluctantly admit that I use the anonymous feature more often than I ought to...Now that they've come out clearly in support for sock monkeys for this purpose, I think if somehow they could make it easy to switch back and forth between MeFi personas I'd switch over to a new username.

But there's a big part of me that would find it almost impossible to keep my real identity a secret even then. I'd make a lousy superhero because I'd never be able to keep a straight face when hanging around as my alter ego.
posted by Deathalicious at 8:04 AM on July 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


Is Google+ censoring certain words?
posted by futz at 8:25 AM on July 12, 2011


I'm not sure what it says about me, but I have 10-ish Internet personae that I use on a regular basis, forming a complicated and banal labyrinth of identity and misdirection.
posted by codacorolla at 8:26 AM on July 12, 2011


modernnomad, I also thought pretty hard before "outing" myself, and decided to only let my MetaFilter handle be seen by other MeFites under the definitely not safe assumption that what happens in the MetaFilter community stays in the MetaFilter community.

I'm also kind of fascinated by how quickly so many were willing to connect on another platform. Not that it isn't awesome, and it's definitely a small subset of the total userbase, but still. It'll be interesting to see how (and if?) community norms play out over there (and I suspect they will). Fascinating stuff. Any digital sociologists out there?
posted by smirkette at 8:36 AM on July 12, 2011


It would be lovely if you were allowed to use a different name to identify yourself to different circles. I had hoped that Google would move away from that particular unified identity shibboleth.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 8:45 AM on July 12, 2011


You can always suggest it; I just sent a pony request for associated account links (Twitter, Flickr, etc.) to be individually assigned to whatever circles.
posted by smirkette at 8:50 AM on July 12, 2011


modernnomad, I also thought pretty hard before "outing" myself, and decided to only let my MetaFilter handle be seen by other MeFites under the definitely not safe assumption that what happens in the MetaFilter community stays in the MetaFilter community.


Smirkette, that was kind of what I was getting at -- you outed yourself to not only mefites in that thread, but anyone on google+, and unless I am not quite understanding how google has set it up, anyone online b/c the original post by Rory is "public", which means it will be scanned/archived etc by regular search engines.

I'm curious about this issue because it connects to my professional life, which deals with online anonymity, privacy, etc. It's interesting to watch this kind of thing happen in 'realtime' as individuals begin exploring a brand-new social network (one of which's key selling points is 'better privacy than facebook'), and then make a decision to waive the anonymity they used in this community. The dynamic is fascinating.
posted by modernnomad at 9:05 AM on July 12, 2011


I also think that it says something about how we (the folks in Rory's G+ post) feel about MetaFilter & MeFites, too. I don't think there'd be as concerted an effort to reconnect with a user base for some of the other online spaces I frequent.
posted by smirkette at 9:13 AM on July 12, 2011


Is Google+ censoring certain words?

Tangentially, I've seen fbook block two different links of mine: a link to TPB, and a link to some Steven Moffat-written Doctor Who fanfic that I got linked here on the grounds that it was a russian and therefore sketchy site. They never replied to my appeal, the jerks. So I sent it by email.
posted by Lemurrhea at 9:33 AM on July 12, 2011


Hell's Bells, my MetaFilter "Circle" just went from the meticulously cultivated 120+ in there (mainly from the abovelinked thread) to 2. It deleted the entire circle save for Carson and Kitteh. Any way to restore these things?
posted by Shepherd at 10:28 AM on July 12, 2011


I was thinking of how to create a Google doc that would serve as a cheat sheet for linking mefi name to real names, but I couldn't figure out a way to make it strictly opt-in, i.e. only that user can add/edit his or her real name and user name, people couldn't add other people.
posted by desjardins at 10:43 AM on July 12, 2011


I don't believe it's possible to do that with GDocs. But someone could create/ maintain a google doc with them, then add manually.

FWIW, I'd decline to add my name to that sort of document unless it was absolutely not ever going to be made public.



Or had "Dumbledore's Army" printed at the top.
posted by zarq at 11:03 AM on July 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


I don't believe it's possible to do that with GDocs. But someone could create/ maintain a google doc with them, then add manually.

Google/sites has a form feature, where users could potentially fill out their name on a form and have it populate to a read-only public spreadsheet.
posted by codacorolla at 11:13 AM on July 12, 2011


Ah ha! Good to know. :)
posted by zarq at 11:22 AM on July 12, 2011




I'm still concerned about someone thinking they're doing everyone a "favor" and typing in a bunch of usernames/real names from the abovementioned thread. For the record, I do NOT want my real name linked with my mefi username in any publicly readable/searchable document.

Just saw your form on preview. Email address doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the person's name on G+, so it'd add further confusion.
posted by desjardins at 11:26 AM on July 12, 2011


I'm pretty sure you can search / add people by typing in an email address. I have no intention of maintaining a username database though, that was just an example.
posted by codacorolla at 11:33 AM on July 12, 2011


To repeat: I'm probably taking that site/form down in a few minutes, it was just a proof of concept.
posted by codacorolla at 11:35 AM on July 12, 2011


At appears as though I was correct about the public nature of that g+ thread. A google search for "google+ mefite" now reveals Rory's thread as about the 10th hit, and anyone can view it, whether or not they are a google+ member.
posted by modernnomad at 11:38 AM on July 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


modernnomad, that's exactly why I said what I did in that thread. Can you test if the thread comes up if you search a person's username or real name (that was mentioned in that thread)?
posted by desjardins at 11:40 AM on July 12, 2011


Desjardins, f you google search:

$mefiusername "google+" mefite

then it appears that if they posted to the thread last week, it will show up. More recent posters to the thread don't appear to have been crawled by google yet. Interesting stuff.
posted by modernnomad at 11:48 AM on July 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


I think I've read this about three times a day since they shut down sign ups, and yet every time I go to the sign up page I see the 'blah blah limited field trial blah exceeded capacity' message. Are they opening it up for a few minutes at a time, or limiting it by location, or what?

They're rolling out code for a $5 signup fee.
posted by davejay at 11:50 AM on July 12, 2011


So, I just searched google+ [griphus' real name] and on the second page was the thread by Rory with griphus's real name and his mefi username clearly indicated. I'm not sure that griphus cares, but he does not mention his user name in his Google+ profile, so if he'd intended it to be kept private, so much for that...

Note: none of the searches for "google+ [my real name]" are me.
posted by desjardins at 4:35 PM on July 12, 2011


Hey look at that. Let's take care of it immediately.
posted by griphus at 4:39 PM on July 12, 2011


I don't know if Rory can retroactively make the thread private, or if it will even help because of search caching.
posted by desjardins at 4:53 PM on July 12, 2011


I just tried to make some threads retroactively private and I didn't see any way, so I ended up deleting them. I'm going to be checking the cache regularly to see what happens.
posted by griphus at 4:58 PM on July 12, 2011


One of the primary ways I've seen plus used so far is as a social network for people who are already on other community sites together... I hope that Google realizes this and makes a better and more private way to instantly connect a site community together through a circle in plus.

Also: while searching my assumed G+ name, and my assumed MetaFilter name, I discovered that a post I made got linked by BoingBoing. That was sort of strange to find.
posted by codacorolla at 5:14 PM on July 12, 2011


One of my Mefi G+ers shared a link about new features being rolled out, one of them is changing the sharing width after-the-fact. So yeah, it's not possible yet.
posted by Lemurrhea at 5:22 PM on July 12, 2011


Oh man! Miguel Cardoso just put me in one of his circles.
posted by unliteral at 4:12 PM on July 13, 2011


Erg, so I looked at the HUGE of people I needed to add to a specific circle within a clunky interface, and I can already see my 'IRL' friends bugging me about these 'neeewwww' internet people, wanting to know what metafilter is, and joining. Think FlashMob 'Greater Internet Fuckwad theory' (these are people from bbs'es in the early 90s, and yet, never grew up :P)

I'm not sure what's worse than being banned for life, but I'm betting it involves pitchforks ;)

I keep seeing the idea of having a chat system set up. Has anyone run a moderator bot on undernet? (that seems to be the network that is still 'flourishing'). I can look into what we need to register the channel, but I don't have a dedicated machine to run a bot in there 24/7.
posted by waxlight at 3:15 PM on July 27, 2011


Er, Undernet being one of the few 'IRC' networks still flourishing.

All the clickie buttons on Google+. I miss my keyboard :P
posted by waxlight at 3:21 PM on July 27, 2011


Er, let me take back the statement on Undernet. Apparently their nick//channel registration page has been inaccessible for over six month, with no know resolution.
posted by waxlight at 4:25 PM on July 27, 2011


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