Thursday 30 June 2011

Plus other

    A very short post as befits a writer befuddled by medication.
    I was interested to spot today that the new Google Plus social networking service has an "other" option in the gender field on sign-up. I doubt it can be taken as evidence of widespread adoption of non-binary identities because I think most geeks will simply use it as an "I'd prefer not to say because I don't want to make it easy for you to spam me with targeted advertising" option. Still, interesting to see that they feel they need to have it.

6 comments:

  1. Could have used proper language or more choices!

    And I see lots of circles of friends possible instead of one big mixed crowd. Said that was the biggest failing of bookface which I only use for one special kind of person. Will be interesting to see if they can make it work learning from the errors of their competitor, people often like to got to the newest thing but will they abandon their thousand plus friend list? (My list is small and perfectly formed!)

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  2. Does this mean you have Google+?

    Please please send me an invite...or share a post or add me to a circle so that I can hopefully get access myself.

    tanyajaynepark@gmail.com

    Thanks :)

    Tanya

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  3. @Caroline: I'm interested in it as a Facebook refusenik, I don't trust their cavalier approach to privacy. Google handle that topic a lot better. I also like the circles idea.

    @Tanya: Difficult, I like to keep my everyday ScruffyMaleAlterEgo in his own separate box, and other than Googling you to see what you do (Not a million miles from what I do as it happens) I don't know you. Wait though, I'll see if I can get you shared in by someone within this sphere.

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  4. I don't know why there is even a need for gender identity on these sites. Just be known by your name and let others figure it out which gender you are.

    Shirley Anne xxx

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  5. This is a discussion the devlopers of Google+ have been having on this matter.

    Link

    Rachel

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  6. @Tanya, I'm told you got in another way, well done.

    @Shirley Anne: I guess the gender field helps them target their adverts which is after all the reason we get it for free.

    @Rachel: thanks for that, interesting.

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