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Comments: 294 + - Technology: William Shatner Takes On Social Networking on Thursday March 11, @07:22PM
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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."
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How? Could we. turn. down. Such! an offer? (Score:5, Funny)
KHAAAAAAN!
Re:How? Could we. turn. down. Such! an offer? (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:How? Could we. turn. down. Such! an offer? (Score:5, Funny)
Damn it Jim, I'm a doctor not a DBA.
Parent
Re:How? Could we. turn. down. Such! an offer? (Score:5, Funny)
I'm bringin' up all the servers we've got, Captain! If those Slashdotter's push it any harder the whole thing will blow!
Parent
Shatner will be everything to Social Networking... (Score:4, Funny)
...that he has been to acting. And music [google.com].
Scotty, beam him up, please!
Parent
Twitter should be scared too. (Score:5, Funny)
In order to foster his unique style, and to one-up Twitter, the main form of communication on this social networking site are tiny posts, known as "Shats", limited to exactly one word.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Okay,...
shat...
is...
coming ...
out
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
In order to foster his unique style, and to one-up Twitter, the main form of communication on this social networking site are tiny posts, known as "Shats", limited to exactly one word.
Screw you, buddy. Now I have to wipe yogurt out of my keyboard.
There's an app for that (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:How? Could we. turn. down. Such! an offer? (Score:5, Funny)
I would suggest that everybody register with that name, just vary the number of A's in it.
Parent
Don't bother - it's pretentious suckage. (Score:3, Informative)
Can you say "artsy-fartsy"?
Choose Account Type
ORPHEUS
All things music! Orpheus is inhabited by musical artists of all varieties, such as, singers, song writers, film composers, musicians, and bands trying to place songs into films. Musical artists of all ranks are welcome on Orpheus, whether you be a student, professional, signed, or unsigned.
CREATIA
People like writers, directors, and playwrights call this planet home. Creatia hosts a creative environment for thinkers of all kinds like writers, directors, a
Re: (Score:3)
Nice. I have to choose one eh? I don't fit. I'm in the Lagrange point between Orpheus and Anteros. :(
Re:Don't bother - it's pretentious suckage. (Score:5, Funny)
Really?? I mean..."Creatia"? What kind of fucking tin-ear thought up that name? It's ugly on the eyes and hits the ears like a volley of spit. If words could smell, "Creatia" would be a waft of ass. If you're a writer, or a hope-to-be writer, and you see a social network for writers with a name like "Creatia", your best instincts have got to tell you to run for the hills.
God, what an embarrassment. Can you imagine that someone thought up "Creatia" and then pitched it to other people as if it were a real brainstorm - a real stroke of creative genius.
This is one of the problems with the Internet: there's no "farm club" where you can learn your trade in a reasonably supportive atmosphere where you can be criticized and work the shitty ideas out of your system without the entire fucking world seeing them.
Maybe this guy is a wannabe ad-writer or something, and hopes to get a job somewhere, someday. Unfortunately, in some cache, encased in carbonite, there's going to be a permanent record of "Creatia" and he will never, ever be able to live it down. He's going to be looking for a job, maybe in competition with a few other writers, and somebody's going to pull out this turd and say, "Hey, was this your work?" and that's it. Game over, man. Maybe he can write copy for Home Shopping Network or come up with model-names for some Korean auto manufacturer, but even then, he'll know that one day he put "Creatia" on the internet for all the world to see and will know, deep down, that no matter how big he gets, no matter how rich, he'll know that he's not worth shit as a writer, and the first time he had a chance to be creative, in fact, to define creativity with the name of a social network for creative people, the best he could come up with is "Creatia".
And he'll get flop-sweat. And he'll double-down on the anti-depressants and Grey Goose and sometime, somewhere, he'll end up face down in a swimming pool because he shat the bed with the entire Internet watching.
Honestly, he ought to change his name right now, go back to school and get an accounting degree, and never again try to be creative because it will only end badly. If you're the guy who came up with "Creatia" and you're reading this, I hope you understand that I'm only looking out for you. You ought to thank me.
Parent
Re:Don't bother - it's pretentious suckage. (Score:5, Informative)
While it is obvious you are dealing with many significant personal issues, there are better reasons to dislike Creatia.
http://www.creatia.org/page.asp?page=1 [creatia.org]
Parent
Should've called it... (Score:5, Funny)
...Spacebook?
HYPErspace? No, wait, Lucas got that already.
Whatever you call it, as ideas go, it's pure Shat.
Captain (Score:5, Funny)
Everybody's favourite actor, author and starship captain
Jean-Luc Picard?
Facinating... (Score:5, Funny)
It is logical (Score:5, Funny)
Amas enough virgins in one place, and one of them is likely to get laid................
Parent
Re:It is logical (Score:4, Funny)
One?! I'm thinking most of 'em already get the kind of "laid" where it only happens to one.. ;)
Parent
Re:It is logical (Score:5, Funny)
Amas enough virgins in one place, and one of them is likely to get laid................
I think you mean "amass".
Hmm, except "amas" means "you love" in Latin.
Never mind. Carry on.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I would expect two
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
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, Funny)
Parent
Re:Not social networking... (Score:5, Funny)
Idiot.
Parent
Re:Not social networking... (Score:5, Interesting)
Parent
Re:Not social networking... (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
It also seems to have a rigid structure perhaps verging on caste. Everyone has a particular planet (and perhaps spaceship) that they can belong to which seems based somehow on their interests. That sounds likely to exacerbate the problems you mention above.
Geocities is dead! Long live Geocities!
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.
Parent
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.
Parent
give it time (Score:4, Interesting)
Far be it from me to equate my experience to yours, but bear with me. Twenty years ago, I was ecstatic to get out, get away, and shrug off the ties that held me down. All four in our group felt like that, and all four of us went out and made our marks on our corners of the world (mixed results, but mostly good). We each did things that the other three didn't; mine was waving a red cloth in front of a bull. Google "shakabuku" for an idea of what that's like.
At our twentieth reunion, between 1/3 and 1/2 of our class was there--sadly, only one other from our group of four--and there wasn't a single frown in the bunch. Everyone had grown up, and everyone was happy to see one another. I even have a picture of myself with the two women who were the biggest elitist snobs of the class. Back then, I was the last person they would have posed with.
I don't know how old you are, or how fresh the pains of high school are, so the only real bit I can pass to you is in the subject line. I certainly won't extol the virtues of FB; I'm too security-conscious for that. But I can promise you, after you give yourself time, you'll breathe easier at the prospect of dealing with your classmates once again. I'm living proof of it.
And never mind the above comment about carrying HS grudges past 20. That's far too soon; 30 is more reasonable. I would have modded it down, but my mod points are fresh, so I'll comment instead.
Parent
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.
Parent
Re:Not social networking... (Score:5, Informative)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Not social networking... (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
I'm givin' it all she's got, Captain! (Score:5, Funny)
Don't do it. You will not be able to resist. (Score:4, Funny)
The year is 2045 and "tek," a highly addictive computer-based reality drug takes the users of the drug into a fantasy world.
Oh, I see where you're going here, Shatner!
To all you slashdot readers, please heed my words...
"JUST SAY NO!"
I would but..... (Score:5, Informative)
I tried to sign up, but during the login process a wild pack of jocks showed up and gave me a wedgie of galactic proportions, stole my lunch and banged the picture of a girl I planned on talking to eventually.
Re:I would but..... (Score:5, Funny)
If that comment was on any other website besides /. I'd think it was a joke, but I'm not so sure here...
Parent
It wasn't a joke! (Score:5, Funny)
I DID plan on talking to her! I even wrote some (pseudo) code for said conversation:
if (!ArmPitsSmell() && CrustinessOfClothes() != OH_MY_GAWD_TOO_CRUSTY) {
var sexytime = Girl.ComplimentTeeth();
if (sexytime) {
FeelBoobs();
CleanPants();
} else {
AssumeFetalPosition();
}
}
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
First? (Score:5, Funny)
It's the first anti-social network.
Re:First? (Score:5, Funny)
It's the first anti-social network.
Truly News for Nerds, Stuff that Antimatters.
Parent
Let's Talk About Captain Kirk's Resurrection... (Score:3, Interesting)
I have a lot of time & respect for Mr. Shatner these days - after spending decades as a bit of prima donna, in these twilight years of his he does appear to have developed something of a sense of humour & the ability to not take himself too seriously.
And whilst I don't deny his impact on sci-fi TV & movies, he has put his name to a total of three trilogies (yes, nine books!) detailing the second coming of Captain Kirk following his resurrection by the Borg after "joining the choir invisibule" in Star Trek Generations. For those of you who haven't read any of them, rumour has it they were ghost written by Judith & Garfield Reeve Stevens (who have written a host of other Trek books) but within those volumes, The Risen Kirk goes back to meet and ultimately defeat himself as the Emperor of the Mirror Universe, single-handedly defeats the remainder of the Borg race Picard didn't defeat in Star Trek First Contact, and has many other adventures alongside Picard, Janeway, and just about every other character & spaceship from TNG, DS9 & Voyager... and I haven't even read the last trilogy yet!
Don't get me wrong, they're occasional "The Adventure Book For Boys" fun pulpy reads in a similar fashion to those "Commando" war comics where every German stormtrooper dies at the dangerous end of a British Tommy's machine gun next to a "Yiearrggh!" speech bubble, but they're hardly classic science fiction...
I'm sure Bill's heart's in the right place & there's a fun element to what he's trying to do here - but I wouldn't ask a teenage McDonalds employee to give me his opinion on cordon bleu cookery, so I'm certainly not going to take Bill's views on sci-fi too seriously either...
Star trek networking (Score:5, Funny)
obligatory (Score:5, Funny)
Captain! Captain! The server is Slashdotted! There's fecal antimatter all over the deck! If we don't upgrade soon she'll blow apart!
[/Scotty]
Whose favorite starship captain? (Score:4, Informative)
Everybody's favourite actor, author and starship captain is bringing some new ideas to the world of social networking.
Not mine. Nor most of the sci-fi fans I know. My father-in-law and my virgin ex-roommate are about the only exceptions.
Of all the Sci-Fi "heroes": SHATNER??? (Score:3, Informative)
The man that told Star Trek fans to "get a life" and who wanted to put as much distance between himself and the role of Kirk as humanly possible? I could see Koenig, but Shatner?
I smell a "there's money in it, and those Sci-Fi geeks gobble up anything Star Trek, let's cash in".
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.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I suspect the database fields are out of alignment.