Introduction, and some things to consider
Howdy, all. I'm Justin -- some of you know me, some don't. I'm a longtime social-tools geek (a user since 1987, a full-time programmer focused on them since 1995).
I'm sort of in an odd position here, because I'm already in the process of creating a new system *somewhat* along these lines. CommYou is going to be a purely conversation-oriented system that sits on *top* of social networks. My take on it is that there are already too many social networks out there already, and the world doesn't need more of them. What it does need is the ability to use those networks to do something useful. (Yes, this project started as, "Why the hell is Facebook so useless?") It's explicitly a for-profit company, albeit shooting for a more modest level of profit than is typical of Internet business -- I'm trying to make enough money to eventually retire, but not trying to become a billionaire. (I'm seeing if I can avoid VC money, specifically so I can avoid the get-rich-quick mentality that engenders.) I'm self-bootstrapping the company, which is a little slower than I'd like, but gives me a chance of keeping true to my vision.
So take anything I say here appropriately: as someone who is intrigued by this project, but is also pretty explicitly a competitor to it. I have no intention of lying to or misleading anybody, but I'm biased as all hell and you should take that into account.
Anyway -- a few initial thoughts. First, I'd recommend paying attention to the rest of the world. It's very easy to get wrapped up in the LJ-centric mentality, but keep in mind that LJ is a *tiny* system, relatively speaking -- small enough that it doesn't even show up in most charts of social networks. LJ users have a tendency to be scornful of the other systems out there, and are often pretty blind to the good ideas that are floating around. This is a *very* active field of growth and study, and evolving literally day-by-day. The balkanized world of social networks is beginning to open up and interoperate, and if you aren't paying attention to the big projects that are working on that opening, you're simply dooming yourselves to irrelevance.
LJ (and its clones) are unique for exactly one reason: they are a hybrid between blogging and social networking. That hybridization has produced a lot of power, but it hasn't been carried anywhere *near* far enough yet. A lot of LJ users have serious tunnel-vision: many simply don't understand how limited and primitive a platform it really is, probably nearing the end of its useful lifespan as the rest of the world moves on. There is a *lot* of room for growth and imagination here. I have a *zillion* features planned for CommYou, to make conversation more powerful than it is in LJ; I expect that, if both projects are successful, ElseJournal will steal lots of those ideas. I encourage you to come up with features that I can steal in return. This idea of social conversation has been stuck in neutral for a remarkably long time -- it's time to start evolving again.
So anyway: those are a few thoughts from a friendly competitor. I hope y'all don't mind me kibitzing a little here -- it's an interesting project, and a little healthy competition should be good for the members of both projects. (And if y'all do decide that my presence makes you uncomfortable, I'll toddle off...)
I'm sort of in an odd position here, because I'm already in the process of creating a new system *somewhat* along these lines. CommYou is going to be a purely conversation-oriented system that sits on *top* of social networks. My take on it is that there are already too many social networks out there already, and the world doesn't need more of them. What it does need is the ability to use those networks to do something useful. (Yes, this project started as, "Why the hell is Facebook so useless?") It's explicitly a for-profit company, albeit shooting for a more modest level of profit than is typical of Internet business -- I'm trying to make enough money to eventually retire, but not trying to become a billionaire. (I'm seeing if I can avoid VC money, specifically so I can avoid the get-rich-quick mentality that engenders.) I'm self-bootstrapping the company, which is a little slower than I'd like, but gives me a chance of keeping true to my vision.
So take anything I say here appropriately: as someone who is intrigued by this project, but is also pretty explicitly a competitor to it. I have no intention of lying to or misleading anybody, but I'm biased as all hell and you should take that into account.
Anyway -- a few initial thoughts. First, I'd recommend paying attention to the rest of the world. It's very easy to get wrapped up in the LJ-centric mentality, but keep in mind that LJ is a *tiny* system, relatively speaking -- small enough that it doesn't even show up in most charts of social networks. LJ users have a tendency to be scornful of the other systems out there, and are often pretty blind to the good ideas that are floating around. This is a *very* active field of growth and study, and evolving literally day-by-day. The balkanized world of social networks is beginning to open up and interoperate, and if you aren't paying attention to the big projects that are working on that opening, you're simply dooming yourselves to irrelevance.
LJ (and its clones) are unique for exactly one reason: they are a hybrid between blogging and social networking. That hybridization has produced a lot of power, but it hasn't been carried anywhere *near* far enough yet. A lot of LJ users have serious tunnel-vision: many simply don't understand how limited and primitive a platform it really is, probably nearing the end of its useful lifespan as the rest of the world moves on. There is a *lot* of room for growth and imagination here. I have a *zillion* features planned for CommYou, to make conversation more powerful than it is in LJ; I expect that, if both projects are successful, ElseJournal will steal lots of those ideas. I encourage you to come up with features that I can steal in return. This idea of social conversation has been stuck in neutral for a remarkably long time -- it's time to start evolving again.
So anyway: those are a few thoughts from a friendly competitor. I hope y'all don't mind me kibitzing a little here -- it's an interesting project, and a little healthy competition should be good for the members of both projects. (And if y'all do decide that my presence makes you uncomfortable, I'll toddle off...)