Yesterday, as part of my review of Hair at CSUN, I noted that I had created a myspace account. I created this account primarily so I could send some “well done!” emails to cast members of the show (for the show itself, and a large percentage of cast members, have myspace accounts). My profile makes it clear that my blog is on Livejournal, and that my main activity is on Livejournal, and that if folks want to get in touch with me, to go to LiveJournal (and that I welcome LJ friends).
So, what has happened?
In the 24 hours, I’ve received numerous requests to join groups or friend people. Absolutely none of these have anything to do with the musical Hair. I have denied all of them It appears that part of the “process” of MySpace is to troll new users and get them to join your friendslists, perhaps as a way of promoting your band or yourself. I find it annoying. If I am going to “friend” someone, there should be some connection, however tenuous. I want you to be writing interesting stuff, or making interesting comments on my stuff. In the absence of that, you need to be a fascinating person I know in real life. I think everyone currently on my friendslist here at LJ meets those criteria: you are neat folks. I just don’t understand this MySpace friends model.
Secondly, what is it with page design over there. You go to visit a profile page, get barraged with music, and then have to wade through loads of graphics to find the text, which is blue text on a purple background. Perhaps I exaggerate, but pages are poorly designed there. My daughter has done better page design, and she’s 11. Again, I think LJ does a better job in that area.
Perhaps the blogosphere has levels. The training wheels is “MySpace”. Next level is LJ, where folks can tinker and have a social network, but have a more professional experience. Then comes the blogspot and similar ilk, with less developed social networking mechanisms. Last are the folks that make the blog software there own by installing it and running it at their own sites.
Me? I’m quite happy with LJ.