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I Guess The Twitter Doesn't Fall Far From The Twit

b0ing.me

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Re: I Guess The Twitter Doesn't Fall Far From The Twit

#2
> "An appealing-enough decentralized alternative will eventually present itself"

No. The network effect makes this pretty much impossible.

Unless facebook does something truly egregious, above what it already does with privacy settings every few months, a critical mass will never be somewhere else long enough for all and sundry to move on.

I reckon one way that this might realistically happen is if there's a product which replaces facebook by doing something genuinely different, while fulfilling the same functions. I don't know what "genuinely different" might mean in this context though (if I did, I'd be writing it!).

Re: I Guess The Twitter Doesn't Fall Far From The Twit

#3

> "An appealing-enough decentralized alternative will eventually present itself" No. The network effect makes this pretty much impossible. Unless facebook does something truly egregious, above what it already does with privacy settings every few months, a critical mass will never be somewhere else long enough for all and sundry to move on. I reckon one way that this might realistically happen is if there's a product…

I've read this exact same thing over and over and over again, which leads me to believe that it's not true. The genuinely different bit for me, by the way, probably won't be its decentralized nature that makes it appealing. It will be appealing, and someone who cares enough will make it decentralized.

Re: I Guess The Twitter Doesn't Fall Far From The Twit

#4
post #3

> "An appealing-enough decentralized alternative will eventually present itself" No. The network effect makes this pretty much impossible. Unless facebook does something truly egregious, above what it already does with privacy settings every few months, a critical mass will never be somewhere else long enough for all and sundry to move on. I reckon one way that this might realistically happen is if there's a product…

I've read this exact same thing over and over and over again, which leads me to believe that it's not true. The genuinely different bit for me, by the way, probably won't be its decentralized nature that makes it appealing. It will be appealing, and someone who cares enough will make it decentralized.

You don't believe in the network effect because too many people have heard of it? that's not how science works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect

(if you're talking about something else, phew, could you clarify which bit?)

Re: I Guess The Twitter Doesn't Fall Far From The Twit

#6
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've read this exact same thing over and over and over again, which leads me to believe that it's not true. The genuinely different bit for me, by the way, probably won't be its decentralized nature that makes it appealing. It will be appealing, and someone who cares enough will make it decentralized.

You don't believe in the network effect because too many people have heard of it? that's not how science works. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect (if you're talking about something else, phew, could you clarify which bit?)

Sorry, what I meant was that I don't believe in the network effect like I don't believe in [the eternal "rightness" of] Communism, not like I don't believe in Santa Claus.

Re: I Guess The Twitter Doesn't Fall Far From The Twit

#7
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't believe in the network effect because too many people have heard of it? that's not how science works. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect (if you're talking about something else, phew, could you clarify which bit?)

Sorry, what I meant was that I don't believe in the network effect like I don't believe in [the eternal "rightness" of] Communism, not like I don't believe in Santa Claus.

There's a lot of historical evidence indicating the power of communism, so I'm not really sure why you don't believe in it, even if you don't like it.

Re: I Guess The Twitter Doesn't Fall Far From The Twit

#8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't believe in the network effect because too many people have heard of it? that's not how science works. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect (if you're talking about something else, phew, could you clarify which bit?)

Sorry, what I meant was that I don't believe in the network effect like I don't believe in [the eternal "rightness" of] Communism, not like I don't believe in Santa Claus.

!!

Ok, then I don't think we'll agree. about the nature of evidence, or this.

Re: I Guess The Twitter Doesn't Fall Far From The Twit

#9
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, what I meant was that I don't believe in the network effect like I don't believe in [the eternal "rightness" of] Communism, not like I don't believe in Santa Claus.

!! Ok, then I don't think we'll agree. about the nature of evidence, or this.

He's saying that he thinks people who employ the network effect as an argument for the unshakeableness of Facebook are probably appealing to dogma, because there cannot be that many people who deeply understand the dynamics of networked behavior. And I tend to agree -- the network effect is often offered as undeniable proof of a near-eternal reign from Menlo Park. I don't think that's what it means to have network or lock-in effects in your product.
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