Social Networking Casserole

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:41:00 GMT

So this blog has been basically dead for a couple years. I was average at adding new content when I wore the hat of a software developer. I used it as a place to collect my thoughts and archive interesting tidbits about what I was doing for future reference(by me or others via google). If you plug in "Spring Hibernate" without quotes into google you will still find my write ups ranking in a page or two. Since then, I've moved into managing the folks that do the things I used to write about. Part of me thinks this is a standard path for many but I see other "coders", as managers like to call them, that I have great respect for still plugging away in their IDE of choice. From time to time, I sit back and wonder if the path I've taken is the right one. Their are many perks to each path but how do you know which one is right? Unfortunately I don't think this kind of decision is black and white. I'm pretty sure that I fall into a pseudo gray gradient somewhere between light and darkness. Wow, that's pretty deep for me. I'll assume that came from being on PTO, sitting in front the 80's music channel(And we danced by The Hooters is currently playing), and just having downed my 5th cup a joe since 8am. Enough with this unruly rambling, I'll move on to the topic I wanted to write about today. I may be gone for another two years after this post :)

What added value do you all get from the cornucopia of social networking avenues? A week or two ago I joined facebook and twitter. I don't have many buds yet, but I find both very interesting. The problem is that I don't know why. I've been a linkedin person for several years collecting acquaintances. I've added every tom, dick, and harry that I've worked with over the years. I've also added friends of friends, user group people that I recognize, and many others that I probably wouldn't even talk to if I saw them at the mall. This collection seems to have as much intrinsic value as the rounded edged baseball cards from years past. Maybe they solve a problem I have stumbled on to yet, maybe they are just a way for people to feel better about themselves since they have 499 friends. I don't really know but it's quite interesting to me. Hit me with your best shot(it just started playing) in the comments of this entry. I'd love to hear why I'm wrong.

Here is my one(or 2 or 3) liner on each app.

LinkedIn - A recruiters dream. Maybe it's useful if you are looking for a job.
Facebook - Myspace for adults. A more professional place to promote your electronic personality.
Twitter - Addicting way to keep tabs on what interesting people around you are up to. Not sure I'll continue updating but I'm loving the iPhone app.

Gotta run, Air Supply just came on and the channel must be turned NOW!!!!!

Unruly Rambling - linkedin tag

Social Networking Casserole