I enjoy FriendFeed. I’d like to think it adds value to my life.

After watching Allen Stern’s video about the 24 default users for new accounts, it got me thinking.
You know what really annoys me about FriendFeed?
Not problems with the UI, not all the duplicates (although combining items would help), not the variety of content and links, but when users try to turn it into Twitter.

There have been plenty of posts about how Twitter and FriendFeed compliment each other. Twitter is a service used for status updates. FriendFeed is a social aggregator, which can include said status updates.

So, if you want to give people status updates, use the appropriate service (Twitter, identi.ca, plurk, etc.). Please don’t “Share Something” on FriendFeed to tell everyone how many pieces of clothing you fit in your suitcase (sorry, Stupid Blogger).

Why do I find this to be poor form?
I can’t create a rule to hide that entry without hiding every FriendFeed Share. I challenge someone to find a FriendFeed entry that hasn’t been commented on. Most start with a comment. People share a lot of good, useful, fun stuff with the “Share Something” button or the bookmarklet. The status updates are just noise.

I know, I’m not helping to create conversation by wanting to block people’s fake-Twitter-but-really-FriendFeed status updates. Sorry.
I would love to have intelligent conversations about articles, blog posts, videos, or whatever.

It would be nice if the FriendFeed shares were categorized. A few would be nice, but I’d settle for for the first two:

• Shares with links
• Shares for status updates
• Shares to create conversation
• Shares to conduct surveys/polls (I’ve seen these a lot lately)

I read Louis Gray’s 10 suggestions for FriendFeed. In the post, he mentioned how FriendFeed isn’t using all the data they could be for content filtering (“Hide”). I totally agree. All that is needed for the above proposal is a few different buttons and perhaps a few extra fields in the database (I’m not a DBA, sorry).

Don’t get me started on the trend to use the “Blog” option for twitter searches and other stuff.

People complain about too much noise, but misuse of appropriate content categories promotes even more clutter.

Ok, sorry for the rant. I’m done now.

Most college students, especially business majors, are forced to learn common techniques, software applications, and etiquette used in the real world. While even liberal arts majors have to use PowerPoint every once and a while, it seems few are schooled in simple e-mail techniques.

What I don’t understand is rampant use of the “Reply To All” button.

As if I was looking for an example, just this morning I was on a random e-mail from a former rugby teammate inviting people to a pool side BBQ this weekend. Out of the 48 people on the list, I only know a few. Nine minutes later, some chick decides to let everyone know that she can’t make it because she will “be in FL, exploring discovery cove”.

Why? Why tell everyone? Do people realize there might be folks that just don’t care?

Four replies to all later, that same chick said:

hurry, hurry, get back to facebook! there might be updates on your minifeed!

One reply to all can be slightly annoying, but it may open the flood gates for more.

There are times when replying to all is the appropriate thing to do. Occasionally, an e-mail is sent out to a small group of friends that may go back and forth many times. While this may not be the ideal way to have a conversation, many are unwilling to use various other more efficient forms of group communication.

I am guilty of sending out a few group e-mails a day (mainly to the villagers). If they don’t want to receive spam from me, all they have to do is ask. Otherwise, everyone is comfortable receiving group messages about various topics.

Perhaps there needs to be a “Reply to Some” button in e-mail clients/web apps. It would provide an easy interface (e.g. checkboxes) to reply to the author and a few select others that may care to hear about your spelunking in geriatric land.

I’m not saying it is a more efficient way to e-mail, but maybe less annoying for the majority. Gmail users can apply the “Mute” function to such e-mails. The rest of you are stuck hearing random people’s uninvited thoughts.

For at least the past year, if not longer, I’ve seen bumper stickers like the following:

I understand the liberal folks of America are angry about George Bush and his questionable decisions as president. I’m sure even Republicans feel let down. Many people will be happy next January 20th when President Bush finally leaves.

But, what if the man replacing him happens to be an old white dude?

Democrats talk a lot about how similar McCain is to Bush.

Obama ads cite that McCain voted with Bush 95% of the time. I’m not denying this claim. Although, according to our friends at factcheck.org:

Obama voted in line with fellow Senate Democrats 97 percent of the time in 2007 and 2005, and 96 percent of the time in 2006…

Seems like party lines are popular voting strategies.

At the Democratic National Convention, Senator Clinton said something along the lines of:

We don’t need four more years of the last four years…

Are Democrats saying McCain would be the third Bush in the White House?

If McCain wins, someone better register www.mccainslastday.com and start selling those lovely mousepads (a set of three for $21.95!)**.

All those hybrid owners can put the “McCain’s Last Day” bumper stick on top of the Bush version. Easy and convenient. They will be crying inside, but at least they will have their spite!

And just think how long their bitterness will be broadcast. Instead of just a year or two, all eight four years! Imagine the cry for “change” during the next democratic primary.

** Editor’s note: Sorry, these guys already own the domain if McCain wins.

I’m a fan of social media.

I wouldn’t say I’m a fanatic or anything, but I do like to keep up with the scene.

I’ve never been to any sort of “2.0″ conference, but thanks to Startup Schwag, I have a few t-shirts and a lot more stickers.

I’d like to cover my 17″ MacBook Pro with some stickers.

My wife claims the laptop is too expensive to deface.

But, it does have quite a bit of sticker surface area….