William Shatner Takes On Social Networking 294
nut writes "Everybody's favourite actor, author and starship captain is bringing some new ideas to the world of social networking. Myouterspace.com is, in the Captain's own words, '...a Sci Fi Social Network for those with a passion for the arts.' Facebook and Myspace should be worried. Sign up now. Go on, you know you want to."
Not social networking... (Score:5, Insightful)
Myouterspace.com is, in the captain's own words, '... a Sci Fi Social Network for those with a passion for the arts.'
But that is exactly why it won't catch on. The reason why Facebook is so popular is because -everyone- can use it. You, the people who you went to high school with, your mom, your grandma, your college classmates, your boss. Everyone can use it. No one feels alienated. That is why it is successful. Shatner's site seems more like a glorified forum, a great place to find people who share the same interest, but that isn't what Facebook is for.
Re:Not social networking... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Not social networking... (Score:5, Insightful)
Shatner's site seems more like a glorified forum, a great place to find people who share the same interest, but that isn't what Facebook is for.
If I were going to draw a comparison with an existing site, I'd compare it to deviantART [deviantart.com], but for sci-fi. It's a social networking site in the sense that's intended for people with a common interest to network with each other - but it's not taking on Facebook.
But suggesting that it is will likely get more attention.
Re:Not social networking... (Score:5, Insightful)
Generally speaking, a lot of nerds are social pariahs and don't necessarily WANT to talk to anyone they went to high school with. I know I'm in that category. All but for 2 people that I still keep in touch with from back then, I'd just as soon never see or hear from them again.
Plus is freaking SHATNER.
This. Will. Get. Rabid followers. Almost. Instantly.
The whole point is that its social networking for those that don't really like the current social networking. Using facebook is often to these people the same as being in high school again. I had a pretty good high school experience compared to some nerds, but I don't keep in touch with most of those idiots for a reason.
I take that back, facebook is WORSE than being in high school again, because in high school you could ignore people and generally they would leave you alone. On facebook you ignore them and they whine to everyone they know that you're ignoring them and then those people whine at you. Don't look at me like I'm an elitist jerk or something, everyone has a few of those people in their histories.
Re:Not social networking... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Not social networking... (Score:2, Insightful)
If you carry grudges from high school past the age of 20, you are definitely doing life wrong.
Re:Not social networking... (Score:4, Insightful)
If you carry grudges from high school past the age of 20, you are definitely doing life wrong.
I don't think grudges are involved. It's probably because of lack of common ground. His high school colleagues (probably not friends even) were grouped together just by their location at the time. In my case, a good number of people I knew in school were complete blanks. Among others I knew a guy who drank alcohol heavily, for example - I'm not sure he is alive by now, and if he is I'd rather leave him alone. And I maintain contact with two guys because we have common interests (technology, electronics, etc.) Other people may also develop into something of interest to you, but so may anyone else - you won't be better off tracking their fate; statistically they are the same as any guy in the street.
This means that the "high school set" is chosen for us, and it is not optimal. We leave it behind as soon as we can, and then start building our own network of friends, out of people that interest us and to whom we are interesting. We may take a few contacts out of the school set, but generally it is not required. Once out of school, people get lots of new contacts and have wider choice. Of course one can have 500 friends of all kinds, but then dealing with them becomes a full time job.
Pfff, this is common (Score:4, Insightful)
Patrick Stewart wants to be taken serious again as an actor, but can't resist performing as captain every time he is called out.
Leonard Nimoy didn't want to do the new series (it was cancelled in favor of Star Trek: The Motion Picture) but again, can't resist the call.
Shatner has always been more relaxed about it, the point about "get a life" was more "be a fan but don't take it so serious". There are trekkies that tend to loose the line between the actor Shatner and the fictional person of Kirk. It was also done as part of a skit, a comedy piece.
For all the trek actors the series has been a mixed blessing. It is probably the biggest earner for any of them in their entire life, yet it also highlights that most actors have only a limited shelf life. There are plenty of actors that only are visible for one film or one series and are then never heard from again. To still get gigs for a series done decades ago, that is not bad, from a financial point of view. From artistic. Well some actors need to be reminded they are acting for a wage. If acting a ham pays the bills, then a ham you are.
And of course he thinks there is money in it, else he wouldn't be trying to start a business with it. The whole point of a business is to make money.