FriendFeed is a brilliant social media service. Perhaps you’ve not heard of it: With only about half a million unique visitors a month, FriendFeed is dwarfed by its publicity-savvy competitors. But you’ve seen FriendFeed, even if you’ve never visited the site. Part Twitter, part content aggregator, FriendFeed’s realtime technology and features have deeply influenced other services. Facebook found FriendFeed so compelling that it acquired the company and its technology in a $50 million transaction last August.
I was involved with Friendfeed for a long time. To be honest, it was probably my favorite social media tool. But this weekend, I deleted my account. When you do this, all your posts disappear into the ether, so I thought I’d write a few words of explanation in case someone should someone notice my absence and wonder what happened.
Living without a car
I’m a fulltime bicycle commuter. I love being on my bike, and have been effectively carfree since last June. Cycling is a healthy, fun, and environmentally friendly way of getting around. Though I live in a small city with few amenities for non-motorized transportation, it’s quite possible to get by without the burdens of a car note, auto insurance, and all the costs associated with fueling and maintaining a vehicle.
That’s not to say there isn’t some risk in being a cyclist. Don’t get me wrong: I feel pretty confident on the road. I’m an experienced rider, understand the risk factors which lead to most bicycle-car incidents, obey traffic laws, and my bikes are properly lit and maintained. But one thing cyclists don’t have any control over is impaired or aggressive drivers. The same can be said for motorists, though any time a bicycle and a car try to occupy the same space, the automobile always wins.
What happened
Which is why I was horrified to see someone post a photo of a particularly terrifying crash on FriendFeed this Saturday. I’m familiar with the image: a tragic incident which happened just after the start of a cross-border bike race near Matamoros, Mexico, two years ago. A photographer captured the instant a drunk driver plowed head-on into the peloton, killing 38-year-old Alejandro Alvarez and seriously injuring ten others. It’s a frightening picture, with broken bicycles and broken bodies flying through the air.
Someone had grafted the photo to one of those motivational-style posters with what they considered a witty caption. I am absolutely humorless when it comes to violence against cyclists or those who find death amusing, so I added an angry comment. By this time, several prominent FriendFeeders had “liked” the post, signifying their approval.
To the credit of the original poster, the image was removed shortly after my complaint. But the damage was done, and I was as concerned about the community’s endorsement of the post as its appearance. I started a new conversation voicing my displeasure.
Incredibly, someone attempted to equivocate the death and maiming of cyclists with the annoyance motorists suffer in large cities when they come across the occasional Critical Mass demonstration. I don’t support Critical Mass, and only a tiny minority of cyclists are even aware of the organization’s existence. Most of the miles cycled in this country are ridden by folks who are just trying to get to work, run errands, or get some exercise. They’re business people, moms, children — regular people, not activists. Even if this had been an illegal Critical Mass rolling roadblock, the riders would have deserved traffic citations, not headstones. So after stewing about things for a while, I found the FriendFeed account deletion link and erased all trace that I’d ever been a part of the service.
Could I have handled this differently?
Of course. Social media — like the rest of the world — is filled with cretins. That’s why there are tools to ignore such people. I could have blocked the barbarians and continued as if nothing had happened.
But I think there are times appropriate for making a statement. The picture at the top of this article is of a Ghost Bike: roadside memorials to cyclists killed by automobiles. I’m dedicating my ghost account to Alejandro Alvarez. I’ll miss FriendFeed, but not as much as Alejando’s family must miss him.
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“By this time, several prominent FriendFeeders had 'liked' the post, signifying their approval.”
This is absolutely false. 'Liking' a post on FriendFeed does NOT imply that you approve of the content. Sorry to see you go, but this assumption about “approval” is incorrect.
That's true — it doesn't always imply approval (sometimes I'd like things to draw attention to them or quickly mark an article for later reading).
But, in this context, I think most of the likes were approval. Yours wasn't — you seemed to be drawing attention to my comments, which i appreciate.
Liking doesn't always mean you approve of what happened, Louis. I use like most of the time to keep an eye on the post. I wish there was a way to put a “bookmark” type thing instead of liking it.
It's so sad to see you leave FF, and wish you would change your mind. You ARE FF, IMHO. FF is starting to not be fun anymore.
I remember that post and I remember when the incident happened. It was pretty horrific seeing that image on the news and I've never found it funny.
It was definitely insensitive and tactless, and after reading this I totally understand your reaction.
Sorry to see you go
~adf
I understand your outrage and agree with it, but deleting your account over that? What about all the other people/users who haven't offended you? Don't we deserve your continues company? It's not as if it's Paul or Bret that made the post. C'mon man … seriously.
If you're unable to find humor in tragedy, then I am truly sorry for you.
So enjoy your life, but it is my considered opinion that nobody needs to hear from people who see drama at every turn. If you don't like the joke, fine. Say so. But being a drama queen about it just makes you look like a fool.
If you're unable to find humor in tragedy, then I am truly sorry for you.
So enjoy your life, but it is my considered opinion that nobody needs to hear from people who see drama at every turn. If you don't like the joke, fine. Say so. But being a drama queen about it just makes you look like a fool.
Also as a bicyclist myself, I really don't appreciate this sort of thing. You're making the rest of us look bad. Most bicyclists I know are easy-going and fun-loving people, who are quite capable of taking a joke. So if you're going to be upset about things like this, please don't equate it to bicycling or bicyclists in general, kthx.
If you're unable to find humor in tragedy, then I am truly sorry for you.
So enjoy your life, but it is my considered opinion that nobody needs to hear from people who see drama at every turn. If you don't like the joke, fine. Say so. But being a drama queen about it just makes you look like a fool.
Also as a bicyclist myself, I really don't appreciate this sort of thing. You're making the rest of us look bad. Most bicyclists I know are easy-going and fun-loving people, who are quite capable of taking a joke. So if you're going to be upset about things like this, please don't equate it to bicycling or bicyclists in general, kthx.
It's my considered opinion that you are, indeed, entitled to your opinion.
This article represents mine, however. Someone would have to be seriously depraved to view a snuff photo as a “joke.” I'll happily live with whatever opinion something so trivial as departing a social network my leave with people.
As I said in the article, there were other ways to handle this. I think I made clear my admiration for FriendFeed, and my regret at leaving. But I'm plenty easy to find elsewhere — on Twitter, Facebook, and through my sites. I'll be happy to share the company of FriendFeeders, should they care to follow me.
The fact that you call it a “snuff photo” only reinforces my point.
Please, get a grip. It's a photo. Laughing about it is not wrong. People who can find humor in it are not “depraved”.
And you are not the final arbiter of either ethics or morality. Get over yourself.
Actually, laughing at death and maiming *is* wrong. I may not be the final arbiter of anyone else's ethics and morality, but I'm the final arbiter of mine.
I am not going to debate whether or not “liking” a post is endorsement or not, nor am I going to debate who is the arbiter of what. All I am going to say is that you are going to be missed.
Will keep an eye out for your tweets & FB updates…
Thank you.
I am not going to debate whether or not “liking” a post is endorsement or not, nor am I going to debate who is the arbiter of what. All I am going to say is that you are going to be missed.
Will keep an eye out for your tweets & FB updates…
Thank you.
I am not going to debate whether or not “liking” a post is endorsement or not, nor am I going to debate who is the arbiter of what. All I am going to say is that you are going to be missed.
Will keep an eye out for your tweets & FB updates…
Thank you.
Thanks. Still around — and I'll see you down the line.
Thanks. Still around — and I'll see you down the line.
Thanks. Still around — and I'll see you down the line.
Wow. It must suck to actually think that the entire rest of the world is sick and/or depraved. Either that or it's one hell of an ego boost.
The rest of us are perfectly capable of finding humor in tragedy. That doesn't make us “wrong” just because you happen to disagree.
You're free to have your opinion, you're free to state your opinion, and you're even free to judge others based on your opinion. However, we're just as free to think that you're a total dick because of it. Something to keep in mind, yeah?
“By this time, several prominent FriendFeeders had 'liked' the post, signifying their approval.”
This is absolutely false. 'Liking' a post on FriendFeed does NOT imply that you approve of the content. Sorry to see you go, but this assumption about “approval” is incorrect. –reposted
“By this time, several prominent FriendFeeders had 'liked' the post, signifying their approval.”
This is absolutely false. 'Liking' a post on FriendFeed does NOT imply that you approve of the content. Sorry to see you go, but this assumption about “approval” is incorrect. –reposted
“By this time, several prominent FriendFeeders had 'liked' the post, signifying their approval.”
This is absolutely false. 'Liking' a post on FriendFeed does NOT imply that you approve of the content. Sorry to see you go, but this assumption about “approval” is incorrect. –reposted
When I'm ready to leave Friendfeed like I recently deactivated my Facebook account, it was a decision I made as a grown adult. I didn't open my account at the approval of friends and I sure don't need approval from these same friends at my departure. Furthermore I have a life to live and won't miss any account that I chose to close. Half of these so called friends only come around to say something after they learn you're leaving anyways. Most of the years go by and you don't hear a peep from them so what do they matter to me anyhow? I commend you for making a decision as a grown adult and after reading what you have to say I can see why you chose to leave and after reading some of these off the wall comments I can see why you you're leaving. I sure as hell don't need friends who choose to judge my decision to leave or make a stand for what I believe in. It's like I never knew you people. Like you said “I may not be the final arbiter of anyone else's ethics and morality, but I'm the final arbiter of mine”. Bravo and according to these friends how dare you have one.
When I'm ready to leave Friendfeed like I recently deactivated my Facebook account, it was a decision I made as a grown adult. I didn't open my account at the approval of friends and I sure don't need approval from these same friends at my departure. Furthermore I have a life to live and won't miss any account that I chose to close. Half of these so called friends only come around to say something after they learn you're leaving anyways. Most of the years go by and you don't hear a peep from them so what do they matter to me anyhow?
I commend you for making a decision as a grown adult and after reading what you have to say I can see why you chose to leave and after reading some of those off the wall comments I can see why you're leaving. I sure as hell don't need friends who choose to judge my decision to leave or make a stand for what I believe in. It's like I never knew you people. Like you said “I may not be the final arbiter of anyone else's ethics and morality, but I'm the final arbiter of mine”. Bravo and according to these friends how dare you have one.
When I'm ready to leave Friendfeed like I recently deactivated my Facebook account, it was a decision I made as a grown adult. I didn't open my account at the approval of friends and I sure don't need approval from these same friends at my departure. Furthermore I have a life to live and won't miss any account that I chose to close. Half of these so called friends only come around to say something after they learn you're leaving anyways. Most of the years go by and you don't hear a peep from them so what do they matter to me anyhow?
I commend you for making a decision as a grown adult and after reading what you have to say I can see why you chose to leave and after reading some of those off the wall comments I can see why you're leaving. I sure as hell don't need friends who choose to judge my decision to leave or make a stand for what I believe in. It's like I never knew you people. Like you said “I may not be the final arbiter of anyone else's ethics and morality, but I'm the final arbiter of mine”. Bravo and according to these friends how dare you have one.
You know, you guys seem to be happy to talk about anything other than the original FF post, or the discussion which followed afterward. I stand by my article and my decision to leave.
You know, you guys seem to be happy to talk about anything other than the original FF post, or the discussion which followed afterward. I stand by my article and my decision to leave.
You know, you guys seem to be happy to talk about anything other than the original FF post, or the discussion which followed afterward. I stand by my article and my decision to leave.
I didn't see the post, but I respect your decision, though I do feel utter deletion is an extreme measure. Take care and I'll see you around the other socnets and sites
I didn't see the post, but I respect your decision, though I do feel utter deletion is an extreme measure. Take care and I'll see you around the other socnets and sites
I didn't see the post, but I respect your decision, though I do feel utter deletion is an extreme measure. Take care and I'll see you around the other socnets and sites
Well, of course it was. And I'm glad to be connected with you elsewhere.
Well, of course it was. And I'm glad to be connected with you elsewhere.
Well, of course it was. And I'm glad to be connected with you elsewhere.
Sorry to hear about your experience on FF. However you over reacted somewhat in my opinion, and I'm speaking as a serious dedicated urban cyclist, who sees bad drivers everyday.
Additionally you do realize that “liking” a post/comment on FF doesn't mean that one likes the content — I use it as a way to say it's an important post or something to read in depth later OR more importantly, it's a way to get a post into one's personal feed if they aren't subscribed to the individual in question.
You cut off you nose to spite your face … Immature to say the least.
All that said, hope you come back to FF. As you know it's a great service!
Sorry to hear about your experience on FF. However you over reacted somewhat in my opinion, and I'm speaking as a serious dedicated urban cyclist, who sees bad drivers everyday.
Additionally you do realize that “liking” a post/comment on FF doesn't mean that one likes the content — I use it as a way to say it's an important post or something to read in depth later OR more importantly, it's a way to get a post into one's personal feed if they aren't subscribed to the individual in question.
You cut off you nose to spite your face … Immature to say the least.
All that said, hope you come back to FF. As you know it's a great service!
Sorry to hear about your experience on FF. However you over reacted somewhat in my opinion, and I'm speaking as a serious dedicated urban cyclist, who sees bad drivers everyday.
Additionally you do realize that “liking” a post/comment on FF doesn't mean that one likes the content — I use it as a way to say it's an important post or something to read in depth later OR more importantly, it's a way to get a post into one's personal feed if they aren't subscribed to the individual in question.
You cut off you nose to spite your face … Immature to say the least.
All that said, hope you come back to FF. As you know it's a great service!
You must be kidding. Come back to a service which has spent the last 24 hours berating me for the impudence of leaving? I still respect FF and many of the people there. But I'm not going to indulge co-dependence.
You must be kidding. Come back to a service which has spent the last 24 hours berating me for the impudence of leaving? I still respect FF and many of the people there. But I'm not going to indulge co-dependence.
You must be kidding. Come back to a service which has spent the last 24 hours berating me for the impudence of leaving? I still respect FF and many of the people there. But I'm not going to indulge co-dependence.
I am a cyclist and I've been hit by a car. I know the (out)rage that can come when the troglodytes start blathering about bikes being in the way or the damaged (and there are lots of 'em) who find that type of injury and violence enjoyable.
Sadly, too many motorists find cyclists to be in the way of their speedy commutes in a cocoon of two ton hunks of metal. And they grouse when cyclists take greater precautions to ensure they're not run over.
I detest these people. And when I find them, I give them a piece of my mind.
I know I can't change everyone's mind, but I want them to hear it, want them to know that it's not funny and that maybe, just maybe I'll get them to change their behavior.
So, I'm a bit sad since your voice will no longer be around. That some idiot might not get a blast of bicycling venom to shake them up.
Be will Chris, you'll be missed for cycling and green and everything in between.
Oh, I'm around — just not on FriendFeed. I've always enjoyed following you there, and promise to remain connected.
Thanks for your kind words.