Marc Canter has been banned from Orkut, possibly because he linked to 300 friends in a week.
Hmmm. I've ranked every one of my Orkut friends as maximally fan-worthy, trust-worthy, cool and sexy, except for the handful of people who've asked me to be friends who I actually have never heard of before; they only get 2 stars out of 3.
So, will I be next? One can only hope...
Oh great, with each new social software system release we all go in and try to *subvert* whatever fancy bells and whistles the service provider is beta testing? ;)
2. Scott Moore on January 30, 2004 7:39 PM writes...
I certainly hope so! As someone who has helped develop and manage online community systems, I bless those subverters and the breakers. Bless them for they make our software robust and expose the folly of our social behavior assumptions before too much money has been spent on the project.
Social software has two important parts that have to be developed, tested and tweaked. The technology itself and the social behaviors that come from using (and abusing) the technology. Beating on the bells and whistles reveals potential for abuse that is very necessary. It's good that Marc beat on it with 300 during a beta instead of someone else doing it with 3000 during a public launch.
All too often, users play nice during the beta keeping exploits and security holes underwraps and then hand the developers a nasty surprise at the public release. Ask the Massively Multiplayer Game Developers about this reoccuring behavior and their attitudes about people who subvert beta tests.
And those who can see through the bullshit and call a spade a spade. I wonder if all the Google insiders - who have more firends than me - got put into jail.
Within the context of a beta piece of software, I completely agree with you Scott (and Marc). However, in the more general sense, a sexiness (or coolness) rating may have value to a certain subgroup of network participants. It bugs me that its so damned easy to rate ALL your friends as sexy.
5. Foolish Jordan on February 2, 2004 9:50 AM writes...
Are we sure that it was linking to 300 friends that got him into jail? As far as I can tell that is only speculation on his part, and we have no official word anywhere.
I can only speculate in the same direction, 281 friends in 2 weeks and now in jail as an award to help the service to grow.
http://www.orkut.com/Profile.aspx?uid=13086236090759842440
8. John Michael on March 25, 2004 7:51 AM writes...
I have been reading alot lately about the Orkut community. What an amazing and fantastic concept. Good ridence to chat rooms filled with spam bots and people that only want to have a good sexual encounter. Hopefully I will get invited soon so that I can enjoy this fantasic community.
I got put in Orkut jail! Here's why. I had created a community for those critical of the Macintosh and the mac zealots all ganged up and marked me as bogus user! I sent a fed-ex to Orkut demanding he remove from his system all of the Mac users who abused the "bogus user" button. So far, no reply
1. eric gradman on January 30, 2004 2:12 PM writes...
Oh great, with each new social software system release we all go in and try to *subvert* whatever fancy bells and whistles the service provider is beta testing? ;)
Permalink to Comment2. Scott Moore on January 30, 2004 7:39 PM writes...
I certainly hope so! As someone who has helped develop and manage online community systems, I bless those subverters and the breakers. Bless them for they make our software robust and expose the folly of our social behavior assumptions before too much money has been spent on the project.
Social software has two important parts that have to be developed, tested and tweaked. The technology itself and the social behaviors that come from using (and abusing) the technology. Beating on the bells and whistles reveals potential for abuse that is very necessary. It's good that Marc beat on it with 300 during a beta instead of someone else doing it with 3000 during a public launch.
All too often, users play nice during the beta keeping exploits and security holes underwraps and then hand the developers a nasty surprise at the public release. Ask the Massively Multiplayer Game Developers about this reoccuring behavior and their attitudes about people who subvert beta tests.
Permalink to Comment3. Marc Canter on January 31, 2004 3:04 AM writes...
God bless the subverter!
And those who can see through the bullshit and call a spade a spade. I wonder if all the Google insiders - who have more firends than me - got put into jail.
Permalink to Comment4. eric gradman on February 1, 2004 6:25 PM writes...
Within the context of a beta piece of software, I completely agree with you Scott (and Marc). However, in the more general sense, a sexiness (or coolness) rating may have value to a certain subgroup of network participants. It bugs me that its so damned easy to rate ALL your friends as sexy.
Permalink to Comment5. Foolish Jordan on February 2, 2004 9:50 AM writes...
Are we sure that it was linking to 300 friends that got him into jail? As far as I can tell that is only speculation on his part, and we have no official word anywhere.
Permalink to Comment6. David Weinberger on February 2, 2004 10:41 AM writes...
Nope, you're right. Orkut never explained what his offense was, so Marc is speculating.
Permalink to Comment7. Jose Luis Orihuela on February 16, 2004 4:40 PM writes...
I can only speculate in the same direction, 281 friends in 2 weeks and now in jail as an award to help the service to grow.
Permalink to Commenthttp://www.orkut.com/Profile.aspx?uid=13086236090759842440
8. John Michael on March 25, 2004 7:51 AM writes...
I have been reading alot lately about the Orkut community. What an amazing and fantastic concept. Good ridence to chat rooms filled with spam bots and people that only want to have a good sexual encounter. Hopefully I will get invited soon so that I can enjoy this fantasic community.
Permalink to Comment9. Reuven on May 19, 2004 1:05 AM writes...
I got put in Orkut jail! Here's why. I had created a community for those critical of the Macintosh and the mac zealots all ganged up and marked me as bogus user! I sent a fed-ex to Orkut demanding he remove from his system all of the Mac users who abused the "bogus user" button. So far, no reply
Permalink to Comment10. Bry on May 19, 2004 12:50 PM writes...
It didn't take long for someone to try a Cafe Press store selling Orkut Jail T-Shirts!
http://www.cafeshops.com/jailed.11289506
I may buy one myself ;-)
Permalink to Comment11. reza on June 24, 2004 9:50 AM writes...
please invite me orkut!!!!!
Permalink to Comment12. Beatriz on July 19, 2004 10:03 PM writes...
How long do they keep you in the orkut jail???
Permalink to Comment13. Armando on July 26, 2004 1:02 AM writes...
I'm in Orkut jail since Tuesday.
Permalink to CommentWhy ??
What i should do to get out of jail ??