November 18, 2006
if you’re not getting laid, it must be techmeme’s fault
Scoble recently posed the question, “Does being on TechMeme improve your sex life?”
In the comments, I wrote:
For grabbing a quick snapshot of what’s happening in Web 2.0 at any given moment, Techmeme works brilliantly.
Hey, and guess what? That’s all it was meant to do.
To give it any more power over your life than that is frankly pathetic.
I wonder if Gabe concurs… [UPDATE:] Gabe leaves the folowing in the comments:
That’s a fair statement, though I hope Techmeme extends beyond “Web 2.0″. (It’s not really as broad as “Tech” though, despite the name.)
A few clarifying points:
When issues of comprehensiveness or “fairness” come up, I think people should think of Techmeme as just another blog. And in many ways, it’s just that. So suggesting that Techmeme is keeping you down because it doesn’t expose your writings is about as wise as depending on a particular blog as your ticket to fame or whatever.
Interesting fact: I’ve read probably hundreds of complaints about the lack of inclusiveness on Techmeme. Yet how often have I heard this from non-bloggers (whether in emails, or in person, etc.)? Never. I can’t recall a single such case. Now I hear a lot from non-blogging readers, but complains of “A-listers” and “circle jerks” just don’t seem to come up.
I imagine these e-mails Gabe has received include many mentions of noble concepts like “fairness”, “meritocracy” and “democracy”, and far less use of “me me me me me me” etc.
That’s a fair statement, though I hope Techmeme extends beyond “Web 2.0″. (It’s not really as broad as “Tech” though, despite the name.)
A few clarifying points:
When issues of comprehensiveness or “fairness” come up, I think people should think of Techmeme as just another blog. And in many ways, it’s just that. So suggesting that Techmeme is keeping you down because it doesn’t expose your writings is about as wise as depending on a particular blog as your ticket to fame or whatever.
Interesting fact: I’ve read probably hundreds of complaints about the lack of inclusiveness on Techmeme. Yet how often have I heard this from non-bloggers (whether in emails, or in person, etc.)? Never. I can’t recall a single such case. Now I hear a lot from non-blogging readers, but complains of “A-listers” and “circle jerks” just don’t seem to come up.
Hi Hugh, as long as Techmeme leads to interesting conversations, it will serve it’s purpose. And in this respect, you are right!
I think the reason a lot of bloggers (me included!) criticise tools like Techmeme, Digg, et al is because they are unable to get onto these, and improve their blog views. However, it is also correct that there is only more of the same muchness on these sites!
Oh, btw, the Gapingvoid widget still doesn’t work on wordpress.com
Hi Gabe,
I do agree with you that there will always be issues of comprehensiveness, or lack of inclusion with any aggregator, whether it’s a publisher-managed one, or a user-managed one!
However, I have a small issue with your point about Techmeme to be considered as just another blog. When you set out to be an aggregator, like it or not, the issue of fairness will be central. Unless you want it to be a walled garden, which (I’m assuming) you don’t!
Mohit, I disagree that fairness is central. “What’s in it for the user” is central. And the users extend FAR beyond the blogosphere…
When will all you self proclaimed A-list bloggers finally realize that no one else give a crap about this kind of stuff. You’ll all in this big circle-jerk with each other. All you do is blog about blogging. Yawn.
What the fuck is techmeme? — I suppose that puts me in my place.
Hey, I read Techmeme and I have sex. The difference is that I can have Techmeme several times a day.
Good one, Shel!
If anyone wants to buck the trend and link to an unknown blogger.…(lifts large red arrow pointing to herself, and smiles brightly).
C’mon, where else are you gonna get pants that shout, “YOU CAN’T IGNORE ME!”, crossdressers, and vibrators up the anus?
lol
Buon giorno!
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