Oh gods, another social network. But wait…
This week I joined Pinterest. Yep, just what the world needs, yet another social network. But wait, if that’s how I feel, why have I joined?
Interesting question, and one I’ve been thinking about.
As is often the case it was brought to my attention as a potential marketing method for spreading the word about eBid sales and wotnot, and as is often the case I have yet to consider using it that way as I think social networks and marketing are a delicate balance and it’s wise to wait until you have the feel of a place before you start spamming your neighbours. So I’m there to use it for its intended purpose… so far at least!
There’s always been a little bit of the back of my brain that’s gone “oooh…. scrapbooks!” But the art of actual scrapbooking, buying little bits of twee nonsense to stick on pages, keeping tickets and cards to paste into books you never open again, has never quite added up for me. Maybe when I’m old and bored I’ll regret it - or maybe technology will have moved on so far paper books are only seen in museums, who knows?
Pinterest is rather like an electronic scrapbook. You paste in the little bits of nonsense and pretty things you find when wandering around the web. Or your own bits and bobs you’d like more of the world to see, of course. It has an attractive and easy to use interface, and does actually appear to achieve something both useful (in a limited, entertainment sort of way) and fairly original.
All of which got me thinking about the various forms of social networking I use (or don’t) and why them, what for?
I conclude I’m driven as much by style as function (though they can be the same thing). I use Pinterest (for now at least), Twitter, Squidoo and Tumblr because they are both attractive and functional. After all, to use these things you have to sit and stare at them to some extent, so you might was well be resting your eyes on something not too painful to behold. Are they the most effective sites to use? Not sure… but they’re fun, and I’m there because I like them, which keeps me coming back - so there’s some successful function based on style right there.
Then there’s Facebook. Basically I hate Facebook. But I use it every day, more than the others put together probably. So why am I on Facebook? Because everybody else is. It has neither form nor function that impresses, but it has the user-base. And Scrabble. So for now I’m stuck.
Which leaves us with the elephant in the room. Shall we talk about Google+? I’m giving it a second effort just now, since a bunch of friends from elsewhere have decided to run with it for a while - I’m hoping this means I may end up with more variety and content because right now it’s a little lonely in there. It’s difficult to judge the style and performance fairly so far, since it doesn’t do a great deal and what it does is still being developed. Sure, I prefer it to Facebook at the moment - but when it tries to do more Facebooky stuff (assuming it’s inevitable), will it keep it clean and simple? Who knows.
So meanwhile I’ll paddle about in the sites I actually like, picking up a few new virtual chums along the way, and will dive back into Facebook at intervals to see how my actual friends are doing!
See you around. :o)
Snake Oil
Seeing a post elsewhere on a face-cream that’s as close to real snake oil as one can imagine (cosmetics with venom, yum), it struck me that it’s the perfect market for anything incredibly rare and utterly useless. Found a new substance that’s massively hard to come by, but has no known properties? Stick it in a face-cream. Make sure everybody knows how immensely rare it is. Bingo. Doesn’t do anything? Doesn’t matter; none of it does.
Actually, that could be a description of my blog posts. Very rare and serves no purpose. I should bottle them. ;o)
Here’s one for everyone to play…
Achtung!
Alles touristen und non-technishen looken peepers! Das machine is nicht
fur der fingerpoken und mittengrabben. Is easy schnappen der springen-
werk, blowenfusen und popencorken mit spitzen sparken. Das machine is
diggen by experten only. Is nicht fur gerwerken by das dummkopfen. Das
rubbernecken sightseeren keepen das cottenpiken hands in das pockets.
Relaxen und watchen das blinkenlights.
Plumbing the depths
My landlord is kicking himself. This flat sat empty for six months, during which time he could have spotted the leak in the airing cupboard and arranged to have it fixed without disruption or disturbance to a soul, let alone to his keen new tenant - me. But be fair - with nobody living in the place, how do you spot an underfloor leak?
The tank is leaking near its base, behind the lagging, and the resultant drip is quietly pooling in the bathroom and hall floors; soaking gently into flooring, boards and, for all I know, the little pixies that live under vinyl everywhere. Until the walk to the loo becamee strangely corrugated as the sodden areas of floor sagged under the unaccustomed onslaught of a (perfectly normal, I assure you) lavatorial schedule, there really weren’t too many clues. Even after I moved in, I initially dismissed the air of mustiness in the bathroom with a careless “well, the flat was empty for six months”, not realising the odour emanated from underfoot.
So now the problem has been fully diagnosed, and the solution decided upon. Several false starts and phoney arrangements, while A waited on B who was waiting on A, have been set aside, and all kicks off tomorrow afternoon. The floor comes up and is replaced, the tank comes out and is likewise - this time with a spiffy pressured high-tech number that does away with the need for header tanks I’m told - and, by knocking-off time the following day all will be peace and tranquility. Dry peace and tranquility, specifically.
Admittedly, a night of no hot water will be a bore, but thanks to an electric shower not a disaster. And if it’s really done in two days, only a week or so after first reporting it, this will compare pretty well with the year and a half to replace a light switch that my previous landlord took. Fingers crossed!
Black & blowy; Cornwall is Grand
It’s just gone eight in the evening. It’s a black and blowy night - I know this since I’ve just ventured out to the outer harbour and sniffed the air; black sea, looming cliffs, a stiff breeze, the beginnings of rain. Glorious. Only Cornwall does glorious drizzle.
Over the village a few noisy but undemanding fireworks are going off; small back-garden family affairs just squeezed in before the weather worsens and the kids have to go to bed. Beyond the lighthouse a confusion of masts, spars and rigging is visible where the lights of a moored tall-ship, swung bow-to in the strong off-shore breeze, shine and dazzle. Two masts, maybe three, cut with the strong horizontal lines of the yards, a tangle of ropes as rigging is layered over its neighbours by perspective. It’s a stirring sight.
It’s a stirring place.
Cornwall is grand.
If you like Masterchef, you’ll love this. Even if you’ve never seen it, it will probably make you smile.
When somebody invites a line-by-line response, it’s rude not to…
[PastTimes] I wish eBid would get it together and make eBay sit up and take notice it hasn’t happened yet why?
I will try and tell you:
Please do. *reaches for popcorn*
[PastTimes] 1) Your antiques section is chronic because it is mainly junk. I will also answer anyone disagreeing with these comments. That is if I haven’t been thrown out of eBid.
Is that “junk” as in low-cost, pre-loved, eclectic items? I love junk shops.
[PastTimes] 2) You have many items across the board that have been on sale for months without any bids.
Yep. Isn’t it great that eBid’s fee structures means it’s possible to list items that can take that bit longer to find the ideal buyer, without breaking the bank. Unfortunately, that can mean that some bad sellers just dump their items and vanish, leaving the place cluttered with non-performing listings. The good news is that ebid has been putting more rules and checks in place to restrict the problem. I’m sure there’s still room for improvement though.
[PastTimes] 3) I have in the past done a few listings on your site, excellent goods ,excellent prices, but no takers.
The site doesn’t work for everybody, of course. Without seeing your listings there’s no way of know if your own failure was due to some short-comings in your listings or failure to perform adequately, or if they were just things that don’t do very well here. Did you ask for help at the time?
[PastTimes] 4) You keep bringing out the £79 down to £49 for sellers it gets a bit tedious and it also makes you look desperate.
Really, why do you think that? I don’t know of any new sellers that have arrived and taken up the offer that said they nearly didn’t bother because it was too tedious. Sure, those of us who’ve been here a while selling successfully have seen it many times, but we’re not the target audience.
[PastTimes] 5) Why no direct contact other than forums.
You must have missed the excellent, and rapid, email support system.
[PastTimes] 6) You have a good web site but that’s it in my book.
Is it quite a short book? With large type? And padded covers? Just checking you understand.
[PastTimes] I would hope that somebody directly connected with eBid will answer me.
I hope they’re spending their time more productively, but you never know. They might just be waiting for the kettle to boil like me, I suppose… ah, there’s a click now. Cuppa, anyone?
Still, it’s not as though any children are going to think he’s a good example. Just look at him: He’s got a face like a prune’s wallet.
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