5 ms·

Hey thanks a lot. Network effects will definitely be the #1 challenge. I considered integrations—I first tried Pony as an email service, actually. I wanted it

Hey thanks a lot. Network effects will definitely be the #1 challenge. I considered integrations—I first tried Pony as an email service, actually. I wanted it to be as accessible as possible. This led to a lot of problems, specifically you get this asymmetry and confusion of some people being on Pony and others being in instant real-time. All of our existing platforms come with norms and expectations, and using a non-instant integration was often perceived as anti-social, which was really unfortunate because I was trying to build something pro-social. You also lose this effect of it being a special place. Anyway, it is hard to get people on, but fortunately the idea seems to be unique enough and resonate enough with that there's already a seemingly dedicated (albeit small) userbase. It suggests that maybe network effects will be possible to overcome. Everything has to start somewhere!

grenoire 5y ago
Wouldn't that be solvable by assigning a Pony-managed reply-to address? That way Pony can still manage how it sends back the replies to you. I really like email as a comms platform and think that it could greatly benefit Pony.
- OJFord 5y ago
  I think the point is you'd get a barrage of ill-thought-out/ephemeral/chatty messages all at once in the day, which is maybe worse than being spread out, and certainly not the 'mindful correspondence' goal.
webwanderings 5y ago
It's a novel idea, and you're correct to keep it out of integration. Assume, for a moment, that your idea takes off and becomes the next WhatsApp. People, you know, will find ways to return to their normal selves. They'll cram a ton of links and messages into their allotted time slots. What you're attempting to address is a fundamental flaw in human nature. Many people are aware of the issue and are taking precautions in their daily communication. Many, however, do not.
- ISL 5y ago
  Even if the link/message-cramming takes place, it provides a useful impediment to the sender and a bulwark for the recipient. A wall of text/messages from a relative is more-readily handled in a healthy fashion when it doesn't arrive piecemeal.
- dmitryminkovsky 5y ago
  > and you're correct to keep it out of integration. Thank you for your support in this. It's a constant exercise in discipline to keep focused in this direction. > They'll cram a ton of links and messages into their allotted time slots. I'm not sure people will be inclined to put links and ephemera in here. At least not most people. I do, to some extent, especially when I want to avoid starting a text back-and-forth, but I think instant messaging is a good place for that kind of thing and I suspect it'll stay that way.
airstrike 5y ago
Now I feel like building a small device powered by raspberry pi or something similar that lets one send and receive ponymail thrice a day so that I have a separate device / activity that is markedly different from simply checking my phone

grenoire 5y ago

Wouldn't that be solvable by assigning a Pony-managed reply-to address? That way Pony can still manage how it sends back the replies to you. I really like email as a comms platform and think that it could greatly benefit Pony.

OJFord 5y ago
I think the point is you'd get a barrage of ill-thought-out/ephemeral/chatty messages all at once in the day, which is maybe worse than being spread out, and certainly not the 'mindful correspondence' goal.

webwanderings 5y ago

It's a novel idea, and you're correct to keep it out of integration. Assume, for a moment, that your idea takes off and becomes the next WhatsApp. People, you know, will find ways to return to their normal selves. They'll cram a ton of links and messages into their allotted time slots. What you're attempting to address is a fundamental flaw in human nature. Many people are aware of the issue and are taking precautions in their daily communication. Many, however, do not.

ISL 5y ago
Even if the link/message-cramming takes place, it provides a useful impediment to the sender and a bulwark for the recipient. A wall of text/messages from a relative is more-readily handled in a healthy fashion when it doesn't arrive piecemeal.
dmitryminkovsky 5y ago
> and you're correct to keep it out of integration. Thank you for your support in this. It's a constant exercise in discipline to keep focused in this direction. > They'll cram a ton of links and messages into their allotted time slots. I'm not sure people will be inclined to put links and ephemera in here. At least not most people. I do, to some extent, especially when I want to avoid starting a text back-and-forth, but I think instant messaging is a good place for that kind of thing and I suspect it'll stay that way.

airstrike 5y ago

Now I feel like building a small device powered by raspberry pi or something similar that lets one send and receive ponymail thrice a day so that I have a separate device / activity that is markedly different from simply checking my phone