Recent Blog Entries
An Argument Against the Network?
Written by Mike Rundle on June 22, 2005
Matthew Pennell posted an entry titled “Them and Us” at his weblog which detailed how he was very much anti-9rules and what we’re trying to accomplish. Is he right? Are we the Evil Empire™?
9rules is trying to showcase the best content on the web, regardless of if the content is in a wiki, a weblog, a website, or anything else. We’re trying to make it easy for non-technical people to find weblogs about topics they love to read without resorting to Google or other search engines (many features associated with this coming soon.)
But regardless of whether I agree with Matthew or not, we love to hear this kind of feedback. We’re trying to stay transparent and keep our feet on the ground while doing something we love, and people voicing their opinions regarding 9rules is never a bad thing.
June 22nd, 2005 at 11:42 am
Its great to hear you take the feedback in the form that you are currently taking it in. The only thing worse then some negative feedback is a response to the negative feedback. In no way, shape or form that post a bad thing, but its an eye opener. I disagree with him. Private communities serving a good purpose is what makes the internet a more social life-like place. In any case, its always up to you to either read or exit.
June 22nd, 2005 at 12:06 pm
I don’t think ya’ll are “evil”, but I do question your business model thus far.
From the comments in the article you reference, there are mentions of 9 Rules being a social network. That’s cool and all, but organized social networks are a dying breed according to this CNET article.
Blogs, by their very nature, are a “naturally occuring” social network that just happens. Is trying to come into that “natural” environment and launching a “forced” (not sure that’s the best word, but lets just call it that for argument’s sake) network really something you think will stick and put food on your tables for the long run?
Mike mentions (again, in the Watchmakerproject post)that his vision for the network is to make it really easy to find good information on spelunking in South America or articles on gardening for his mom. Isn’t this exactly what del.icio.us really excels at?
In fact, couldn’t you say that del.icio.us is in itself a network? Only difference (benefit?) is that no one is obligated to put a del.icio.us logo on their site, and if they do have some type of advertising program, they don’t have to pay any kind of percentage to the network host.
Not trying to dog your thing here. I just don’t see how this whole blog networking movement (among the many who are trying it) will work out for the long term and I don’t see how setting up a network within a network you’ll be able to escape the exclusivity tag.
June 22nd, 2005 at 3:13 pm
That was quick work, Scrivs! I’ll let you know if my traffic doubles…
I’d just like to clarify one point though - I am not “very much anti-9rules” (and especially not setting myself against what you are trying to accomplish, at least as it was described by Mike in his comments on my article); I am simply questioning the value and ultimate goal of a “members only” club, run by a company which has to make money. We all know that you can’t get rich by “doing the right thing” - it just remains to be seen at which point 9rules succumbs to this truism.
June 22nd, 2005 at 3:15 pm
Damn, sorry Mike - I just assumed it was Paul who had written this.
Anyway, I also meant to say that I think Mark’s comment is spot-on - there are already several ways to highlight great content. Del.icio.us, Bloglines, Technorati - they all spotlight the most popular topics and links, without creaming a percentage of your Adsense income for the privilege.
June 22nd, 2005 at 3:21 pm
Regardless of whether you’re evil or not, I was disappointed visiting again to look at the pretty blog design, and instead finding stuff squashed into the 9 Rules Corporate Template.
June 22nd, 2005 at 3:34 pm
Matthew: “We all know that you can’t get rich by ‘doing the right thing’ — it just remains to be seen at which point 9rules succumbs to this truism.”
Matthew, there are a lot of companies making a boatload of money by doing the right thing who would disagree with you.
June 22nd, 2005 at 3:45 pm
I couldn’t find any mention of “Do no evil” in a 9rules mission statement, so I suppose you might be evil. Evil is sometimes necessary to show the good. If the network itself is evil, that does not necessarily mean the sites within the network are evil.
9rules: An evil network of good sites.
If you like that tagline, please send me $100, which is the equivalent of a half hour of Scrivs time.
June 22nd, 2005 at 4:20 pm
James - which companies would you cite as examples of lovely, fluffy companies that no right-thinking person could possibly find anything wrong with?
I’m just curious.
June 22nd, 2005 at 4:42 pm
Watch the evil empire rise:
Revenge of the Scrivs.
June 23rd, 2005 at 4:01 pm
to my mind, you’re a newspaper.
an editor selects the best of what is available to them and publish’s or promotes it.
that’s it.
personally i like it.