July 10th Seesmic Update

[by Jeremy Vaught, Community Blogger - Seesmic]

On today's release, what you will notice, when you are logged in, the default tab is  now the 'Following' tab, which of course is who you are following. This is a change from before when the 'Public' tab was the default.

We also have blocking now available.  So if there is a particular user you don't want to see in your timeline, you can now make that happen.

Finally, when a new user signs up for Seesmic, in coordination with making the 'Following' tab the default tab, they will automatically follow the top 30 Seesmic users, as well as the Seesmic staff.  Everyone of course is still welcome to add and remove anyone from their follow list.  So in this vein, these are the 30 topmost Seesmic users by number of videos posted, and I think these are the 30 that are going to be followed by all new Seesmic users.

update: [By Loic] Our intentions were simply to better welcome the new users by not starting with an empty following timeline, the comments below tell us it was apparently a bad idea and as always we listen to you and act fast. We will not have these members followed by default and are interested in your suggestions to welcome our new members.

Comments

[Otir]

Why would you impose to follow users by the number of their videos to new users, not taking into account the reasons why they may want to use Seesmic and personal goals in using the tool?

It does not really make sense. Content of video does not equate number.

Especially when you look at the current list of users and realize that lots of us do not post at the same rythm as previously because, precisely of the evolution of Seesmic.

And if you look at the "networks" of these users, you will see that they have a different constellation of conversations: a new user would then be able to see *one* video out of the context in which each conversation is taking place.

I am not sure this is a completely sound rationale. Has this been discussed on Seesmic, by the way? I will probably bring up a conversation there, it might be interesting to follow, uh?

[Kat]

What a hideous idea! I'd hate to join a service and automatically be following a bunch of people I don't know. Especially based on volume of posts, some people post loads of utter twaddle and I think to inflict that on someone finding their way in Seesmic could traumatise them and send them running for the hills!
Set it for Seesmic team follows as that's the equivalent of MySpace Tom and maybe provide a list of "users you may find interesting" but please reconsider this idea.

[Deek Deekster]

I really think you've made a mistake here. Flattered though I am, I do not want to be followed ANYWHERE by default. It's up to people to make that decision for themselves. Freewill, choice, discovery and all that.

Take me off the list now, please.

[Lobelia]

Yep,it's much better just getting to know seesmicers one by one.

This puts me in mind of the new update on myspace. When you get a friend request, the checkbox to follow that persons updates is already ticked. That's so backward and it annoys me every time I look at it. Don't go the way of that hideous site. Fix the things that need fixing rather than implementing new functions are wholly unnecessary?

[Lobelia]

Yep,it's much better just getting to know seesmicers one by one.

This puts me in mind of the new update on myspace. When you get a friend request, the checkbox to follow that persons updates is already ticked. That's so backward and it annoys me every time I look at it. Don't go the way of that hideous site. Fix the things that need fixing rather than implementing new functions are wholly unnecessary?

[Lobelia]

Eek. The mere fact that you did this without asking the people who it effects most is REALLY disturbing and to me shows the kind of attitude that seesmic seems to have developed towards it's most valued users.

[Starman]

How in the world was this list made up? I haven't seen hache make a post in weeks. The lorax's don't post there as frequently anymore, in fact Kari hasn't posted in a month and other than the dance party thread, and neither has Chris. Other people post so sporadically. And how can you have Dana but not Nicole?

[Starman]

Oh, and for the record, I wouldn't want to be auto-followed either.

[Tony Chimento]

I concur. I don't want to automatically follow people. I know who I want to follow. Follow is an option at my disposal and not Seesmics. The purpose is to provide me with a tool to follow the people that interest me, not everyone else right?

[rojopelo]

I want to choose who I follow, it's part of the process of joining the community and learning how *you* will use the tool. Discovery is very personal.

[Chris Cavs]

I"m not so sure that's a great idea. auto following by number of posts? Like Starman said, many of those people haven't posted in a long time. This only fosters elitism, and makes people who have been on seesmic since the near beginning (like myself) feel less than appreciated. On the other hand, I also don't want complete strangers to be following me until we've conversed a bit.

Not cool.

[delboydare]

Oppps. Big BAD.

Already I've seen and communicated with some of this listed 'Top' Seesmic users and some of those individuals are NOT happy. Mainly because they haven't been asked for their permission.

Another BAD.

Some haven't posted in awhile and have moved to 'other' services also and their posts aren't as relevant to new users.

Think it through first, huh. Doesn't take much Grey Matter.

C'mon guys.

[delboydare]

Oppps. Big BAD.

Already I've seen and communicated with some of this listed 'Top' Seesmic users and some of those individuals are NOT happy. Mainly because they haven't been asked for their permission.

Another BAD.

Some haven't posted in awhile and have moved to 'other' services also and their posts aren't as relevant to new users.

Think it through first, huh. Doesn't take much Grey Matter.

C'mon guys.

[Passer By]

Some of these people don't even speak the same language??
If someone new doesn't speak French or doesn't speak english, a portion of these "superstars" won't make a whole lot of sense to them.

[Loic]

I have just updated the blog post and apologize for the unconvenience. Please see the update, our intentions were good but I understand the issue.

The list was simply the 30 members who posted the highest number of videos and I agree it was a mistake.

That is what I like with our community, we know immediately when we make mistakes.

We welcome your comments on how to welcome new users who will be by default on an empty following timeline and will make the necessary changes to make sure we do not push this release with seesmic members followed by default.

[Starman]

I don't like the idea of going to "followers" first for one simple reason: I can't see what public conversations are going on at the moment.

Can you make this an option for people? Let us decide which tab we want to see first?

[Loic]

Starman, the "public" timeline will just be moved to the right, "following" first, "public" next. Just not the default. So anybody can go to the public when they like as in the past.

[fred2baro]

my proposition :
1/welcomers should be volunteers
2/They should have more than 50 posts and 25 replies..
3/not been flaggued..

but there's a thing .. why making welcomers ? it looks like there's the "good" ones and the "bad" ones... I think because of the video we could never be "bad" with a new guy .. The video suppress the trolls otherwise they are flagged very fast ..

[Loic]

good suggestion thanks Fred

[Starman]

I just think that putting people in the "Following" tab by default shelters people from what's going on in the public timeline. This means that every time I log into or refresh Seesmic I'm going to have to click the "Public" tab to see what's going on.

[Loic]

Starman, I hear you unfortunately the public timeline does not scale as you can understand with the number of members and posts going up so we simply cannot leave it by default, you will only be a click away from seeing it, no big deal right?

[Kat]

Why not set it so that the new users automatically follow the Seesmic team, that way they're instantly linked to what's going on and if they get stuck they can easily ask someone in the know. Then as they find their feet they can easily unfollow the team if they want to and build up their own network. Chances are people will be joining becuase they either know someone or of someone using it so won't be shy about tracking down people to follow. Glad you've changed your mind on this becuase it was all a bit "hand holdy". Lets face it if people have a computer with a webcam then and are joining a video conversation site they're ulikely to be shy about joinng in.

[Giannii]

Simply as Willy Wonka would say "Bad Egg".