So I’ve been invited to join Google+ and I’m not sure I want to do it. It’s not that I’m anti-social or anti-tech. It’s just that I don’t want to have to check Facebook + Google+.
You see, to me, social software is a natural monopoly. Why do I want to be active on two services? What does it get me that Facebook does not?
Then again, I’d hate to lose opportunites by just being obstinate. But still, Google+ seems like little more than an annoyance — a requirement to have to read two websites to keep up with friends and family. I’m thinking of boycotting it.
What do you think?
About Jay F Guin
My name is Jay Guin, and I’m a retired elder. I wrote The Holy Spirit and Revolutionary Grace about 18 years ago. I’ve spoken at the Pepperdine, Lipscomb, ACU, Harding, and Tulsa lectureships and at ElderLink.
My wife’s name is Denise, and I have four sons, Chris, Jonathan, Tyler, and Philip. I have two grandchildren. And I practice law.
I’m a techy by nature and by profession and have also refused to join up. It has nothing to offer me that I am aware of. If you find any greater benefit, then let us know!
I have signed up on Google+, but cannot really make the case for it. I will only observe that if you have a gmail account, they recently added google+ posts to the gmail user interface, which makes it easier to see your google+ posts … but I’m still not paying much attention.
So now we will not only have divisions theologically, but also divisions technologically!
Seriously, I face the same issue with other social networks – e.g. Linkedin and one that (I think may be defunct) that was for members of the CofC, both of which I joined. I joined Facebook as well, but do not really actively participate in it – except rarely. I value it as a small way of reestablishing contact with people whom I have known in the past but have lost touch with. But beyond that initial exchange of information of where you are now and what are you doing, little has come of it.
I’m on Google Plus personally, and with an identity for my church, and with an identity for New Wineskins.
Honestly, the best and most accurate quote I’ve seen about it was a tweet from a friend a few days back: “Google Plus is just like a gym membership. Everybody has one, but they never use it.”