“How will this software get my users laid” should be on the minds of anyone writing social software (and these days, all software is.)

“Social software” is about making it easy for people to do things with each other: meeting, conversing, sharing, collaborating.

Freedom

Annoyingness

• Identity

• Presence

• Relationships

• Reputation

• Conversations

• Groups

• Sharing

• Identity

• Presence

• Relationships

• Reputation

• Conversations

• Groups

• Sharing

Scary Idea #1

Radically lower the bar for participation

No registration.None. Nada. Zilch.

The Tragedy of the Commons

everyone’s

attention

Views 5,348,838Comments 48,710

Fred Rescues the Neighborhood Squirrels

Views45,866Comments153

Optical Effects of Special Relativity

Scary Idea #2

Trusting (some of) your users

What if everyone could edit everything?

OilThe value of the information is more important than the individual authors.

WaterInformation from credible authors is more reliable.

Channel Rules 1. No whining 2. No colours or other formatting, especially in

automated scripts.3. Do not paste code (or anything) on the channel. 4. If you feel you have been unfairly treated, abused or

just aren't getting your money's worth ($0), see Rule #1.

Scary Idea #3

Life is the world’s biggest MMORPG

What if you embraced the game-like aspects of your profession?

Slashdot

How Moderation Happens

“A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.”

“Even though points on Consumating were redeemable for absolutely nothing, not even a gold star, our members had an unquenchable desire for them.”

Scary Idea #4

Bad stuff happens

It’s OK for bad things to happen as long as the community has ways of dealing with them.

“So, Lone Starr, now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.”

Don’t be dumb.

3138 Edits 1574 UsersAve: 1.99

“I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby) [...] I'd like to know what features most people would want.”

“Humor me. Go there and add a little article. It will take all of five or ten minutes.”

Wikipedia

Linux

1. Radically lower the bar for participation

2. Trusting (some of) your users

3. Life is the world’s biggest MMORPG

4. Bad stuff happens