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William Shatner Takes On Social Networking

Posted by timothy on from the man-of-many-talents dept.

nut writes "Everybody's favourite actor, author and starship captain is bringing some new ideas to the world of social networking. Myouterspace.com is, in the Captain's own words, '...a Sci Fi Social Network for those with a passion for the arts.' Facebook and Myspace should be worried. Sign up now. Go on, you know you want to."

5 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. Not social networking... by Darkness404 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Myouterspace.com is, in the captain's own words, '... a Sci Fi Social Network for those with a passion for the arts.'

    But that is exactly why it won't catch on. The reason why Facebook is so popular is because -everyone- can use it. You, the people who you went to high school with, your mom, your grandma, your college classmates, your boss. Everyone can use it. No one feels alienated. That is why it is successful. Shatner's site seems more like a glorified forum, a great place to find people who share the same interest, but that isn't what Facebook is for.

    --
    Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
    1. Re:Not social networking... by khallow · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It also seems to have a rigid structure perhaps verging on caste. Everyone has a particular planet (and perhaps spaceship) that they can belong to which seems based somehow on their interests. That sounds likely to exacerbate the problems you mention above.

    2. Re:Not social networking... by _xeno_ · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Shatner's site seems more like a glorified forum, a great place to find people who share the same interest, but that isn't what Facebook is for.

      If I were going to draw a comparison with an existing site, I'd compare it to deviantART, but for sci-fi. It's a social networking site in the sense that's intended for people with a common interest to network with each other - but it's not taking on Facebook.

      But suggesting that it is will likely get more attention.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    3. Re:Not social networking... by Ironhandx · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Generally speaking, a lot of nerds are social pariahs and don't necessarily WANT to talk to anyone they went to high school with. I know I'm in that category. All but for 2 people that I still keep in touch with from back then, I'd just as soon never see or hear from them again.

      Plus is freaking SHATNER.

      This. Will. Get. Rabid followers. Almost. Instantly.

      The whole point is that its social networking for those that don't really like the current social networking. Using facebook is often to these people the same as being in high school again. I had a pretty good high school experience compared to some nerds, but I don't keep in touch with most of those idiots for a reason.

      I take that back, facebook is WORSE than being in high school again, because in high school you could ignore people and generally they would leave you alone. On facebook you ignore them and they whine to everyone they know that you're ignoring them and then those people whine at you. Don't look at me like I'm an elitist jerk or something, everyone has a few of those people in their histories.

    4. Re:Not social networking... by tftp · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If you carry grudges from high school past the age of 20, you are definitely doing life wrong.

      I don't think grudges are involved. It's probably because of lack of common ground. His high school colleagues (probably not friends even) were grouped together just by their location at the time. In my case, a good number of people I knew in school were complete blanks. Among others I knew a guy who drank alcohol heavily, for example - I'm not sure he is alive by now, and if he is I'd rather leave him alone. And I maintain contact with two guys because we have common interests (technology, electronics, etc.) Other people may also develop into something of interest to you, but so may anyone else - you won't be better off tracking their fate; statistically they are the same as any guy in the street.

      This means that the "high school set" is chosen for us, and it is not optimal. We leave it behind as soon as we can, and then start building our own network of friends, out of people that interest us and to whom we are interesting. We may take a few contacts out of the school set, but generally it is not required. Once out of school, people get lots of new contacts and have wider choice. Of course one can have 500 friends of all kinds, but then dealing with them becomes a full time job.