Thing 10 - Ning

I'm glad I didn't have to create a Ning account for this Thing, because I wasn't really impressed.

Maybe it was reading the anti-Ning article that the NT23Things blog referenced or just how (frankly) messy some of the networks looked.

I'm not sure. But I think it may be social network overload.

How many ways do we really need to connect? I understand that some methods of communicating work better for some people and situations than others. But I really feel like I don't need to be on several listservs, reading billions of blogs (even if they are aggregated in my reader for ease), joining every social network available, attending workshops and conferences, and contributing to all of them, too.

Surely there's a point at which by being so completely connected with other professionals that we've lost time to be connected with our community and customers.

That said, I like the Professional Storyteller network. As a network, I think they made the best of use of their videos and their groups. And I can see how, as professionals, they tend to be scattered geographically, so meeting and sharing online makes a lot of sense.