Dare recently posted about the great new social features that Windows Live Spaces has deployed. I think they are good features, the problem is Live Spaces has changed into a mini FaceBook (well I think I’ve not been there) or MySpaces to compete with that Gen Y crowd. But there was no options to not get these “upgrades” and the tool became more of what I didn’t want it.
My core problem is that the people in my Windows Live Messenger contact list are not the targets of my blogging at all. So all these new ways to interact with my WLM contacts added zero value, and a lot of screen clutter.
I already have a RSS feed reader that I love, and when the few of my WLM contacts update their blogs I know about it. All the contact auto management features seem like some form of Plaxo (that I’m not using any more). The friends lists seem to be some from of LinkedIn/FaceBook. Not interested.
Someone (in my feed list) was remarking about how the A-List blogger’s are behind the times (in regards to FaceBook etc) and not trying to A-List myself, but I think I’m even more behind the times, so much so I’m just plain not interested.
I think Jeff Atwood summed it up best when he said own your presence on the Internet (can’t find post) and that is what I want. I’m here, I’ve got stuff to contribute. It’s just here on my domain. It’s there to find via Google and that’s the way I like it. What’s more I am prepared to pay for that privilege of control.