5 ms·

Mostly network effects/inertia. And it didn't help that Google seemed to be quite pushy about getting people to sign up.

dangerlibrary 10y ago
Also, circles are a terrible metaphor. Someone I don't know added me to their circles. What the hell does that even mean? Do I now see whatever spammy crap they post? Do they see what I post? Why wasn't I asked for my permission? I've never met this person and I don't want to see their spam and I certainly don't want them seeing what I post. Who are they and what do they want? This sucks, I'm leaving.
- BinaryIdiot 10y ago
  I don't know I thought the circle metaphor was genius. It's quite the common phrase to have a circle of friends or a trusted circle of advisors, etc. List, like what Facebook and Twitter use, seems so...I don't know machine like but circle is a very common part of the vernacular.
  - dangerlibrary 10y ago
    As a means of organizing one's friends into groups that only see subsets of what you post, it's not bad. As the sole means of creating a directed social graph, it's awful.
- jpfed 10y ago
  >What the hell does that even mean? It means they want to see stuff you post, and/or post stuff that (if you circle them back) you will see. >Do I now see whatever spammy crap they post? What? No. That would be super dumb. >Do they see what I post? If it's public or if you post it to a circle that includes them. >Why wasn't I asked for my permission? Because they haven't been granted any special powers by virtue of adding you to a circle. >I've never met this person and I don't want to see their spam and I certainly don't want them seeing what I post. Then don't post publicly- choose a more limited audience to post to. >Who are they and what do they want? Go to their profile page and find out, if you care. But you probably don't- it's safe to ignore them.
  - blakeyrat 10y ago
    If you have to invent terms like "circle them back", that kind of supports the grandparent's point.
  - dangerlibrary 10y ago
    "if you circle them back" This right here is where it goes from being a sane metaphor to an insane one. It's the phrase "circle them back" that has no meaning in human relationships, but is an all-important step in google plus.
  - andreasvc 10y ago
    It's terrible terminology because "being in a circle" with someone suggests symmetry and reciprocity that isn't there. They mean "X has followed you", which is clear and to the point.
    - newscracker 10y ago
      I do see how "circles" could be confusing, but isn't it also true that the circles we define may not be reciprocal or symmetrical in others' eyes? For example, I may consider someone an acquaintance but they may consider me a friend. Or I may consider someone as belonging to a book club circle but they may consider me as an acquaintance. To go to an extreme, a relative may consider me related but I may have had issues with that person and don't consider that person a relative (and just as a stranger, or an acquaintance). I always understood the point of "circles" as how we privately define our personal world and our relationships with others, which may not necessarily be how those people view us. In comparison, I see Facebook's "lists" model less intuitive for people to understand and use.
- guitarsteve 10y ago
  I'm glad I'm not the only one. As a very casual G+ user, I never figured out how circles worked.

dangerlibrary 10y ago

Also, circles are a terrible metaphor. Someone I don't know added me to their circles. What the hell does that even mean? Do I now see whatever spammy crap they post? Do they see what I post? Why wasn't I asked for my permission? I've never met this person and I don't want to see their spam and I certainly don't want them seeing what I post. Who are they and what do they want? This sucks, I'm leaving.

BinaryIdiot 10y ago
I don't know I thought the circle metaphor was genius. It's quite the common phrase to have a circle of friends or a trusted circle of advisors, etc. List, like what Facebook and Twitter use, seems so...I don't know machine like but circle is a very common part of the vernacular.
- dangerlibrary 10y ago
  As a means of organizing one's friends into groups that only see subsets of what you post, it's not bad. As the sole means of creating a directed social graph, it's awful.
jpfed 10y ago
>What the hell does that even mean? It means they want to see stuff you post, and/or post stuff that (if you circle them back) you will see. >Do I now see whatever spammy crap they post? What? No. That would be super dumb. >Do they see what I post? If it's public or if you post it to a circle that includes them. >Why wasn't I asked for my permission? Because they haven't been granted any special powers by virtue of adding you to a circle. >I've never met this person and I don't want to see their spam and I certainly don't want them seeing what I post. Then don't post publicly- choose a more limited audience to post to. >Who are they and what do they want? Go to their profile page and find out, if you care. But you probably don't- it's safe to ignore them.
- blakeyrat 10y ago
  If you have to invent terms like "circle them back", that kind of supports the grandparent's point.
- dangerlibrary 10y ago
  "if you circle them back" This right here is where it goes from being a sane metaphor to an insane one. It's the phrase "circle them back" that has no meaning in human relationships, but is an all-important step in google plus.
- andreasvc 10y ago
  It's terrible terminology because "being in a circle" with someone suggests symmetry and reciprocity that isn't there. They mean "X has followed you", which is clear and to the point.
  - newscracker 10y ago
    I do see how "circles" could be confusing, but isn't it also true that the circles we define may not be reciprocal or symmetrical in others' eyes? For example, I may consider someone an acquaintance but they may consider me a friend. Or I may consider someone as belonging to a book club circle but they may consider me as an acquaintance. To go to an extreme, a relative may consider me related but I may have had issues with that person and don't consider that person a relative (and just as a stranger, or an acquaintance). I always understood the point of "circles" as how we privately define our personal world and our relationships with others, which may not necessarily be how those people view us. In comparison, I see Facebook's "lists" model less intuitive for people to understand and use.
guitarsteve 10y ago
I'm glad I'm not the only one. As a very casual G+ user, I never figured out how circles worked.