[master]

Aaron... Aaron... Aaron! GET OVER IT!

House System, was, at best, about 10% as influential in the creation of Facebook as was Friendster. You take every opportunity to hate on Mark and Facebook, even when it makes no sense... Why can't you just move on? Mark/Facebook owe you nothing; quit deluding yourself. Go be productive!!

[pak]

If you made a site and showed it to a guy that made a similar site now valued at $20B, you'd probably think about it a lot.

I think one of the main takeaways here is that an initial media backlash is the fastest way to kill a social site looking for its critical mass. It's like any party, if people think it'll be lame or unsafe because that's the word of mouth, nobody will go. Whether playing fair or foul, somehow Mark got the right words in people's mouths about his site and it took off.

[weego]

That's like saying people who sell their failing business for 100k that then gets turned around to a 100 million business were stupid to sell. By being the one who failed to make it work you would have always failed and the other person succeeded. However, humans are notorious for lacking decent introspection skills I guess so I can see how it could eat someone up slowly.

[thinkcomp]

Always this comment... Sigh.

http://www.thinklink.com

I can be productive and write too.

[adrianwaj]

Why not go help the Diaspora folks? They won't rip you off, it's all open source.

[stanleydrew]

There's no "it" yet. Just a lot of promises.

[lionhearted]

> Always this comment... Sigh.

It's well intentioned most of the time - people who want to see you succeed.

> I can be productive and write too.

Yes and no. Hatred can actually be a powerful motivator - I remember a few years ago, sometimes I'd be low energy, and I'd go check out what my most-disliked-competitor was doing, and then I'd be all fired up and ready to take on the world. The problem is, hatred is a fuel that burns really, really dirty and takes its toll on you. So you've got to meditate a little about whether the price you're paying in terms of time and negative energy is worth the energy boost and subject matter to write about.

Also, you might be getting this reaction because people who read multiple pieces on Facebook by you are getting a very similar angle and facts presented each time. That can get a little boring - and I say that as a non-Facebook user who isn't particularly a fan of Facebook. But whatever, if the Facebook angle is serving your current goals, so be it, and here's wishing for much successes for you.

[thinkcomp]

I completely realize the inane repetition of these themes, and I wish it weren't the case that such repetition seems necessary. Sadly, it does, because even after repeating myself for six years, and watching other people issue similar warnings, we are still at this point.

When I write one of these columns, it's not because I'm filled with hatred. It's because I don't see anyone making a point I think is obvious or important about the whole affair, and each time I write I'm put in a position of having to explain why I think I'm qualified to comment. You have to keep in mind that I'm not writing primarily for the Hacker News audience, even though I'll post some things on here. To people here it sounds like I'm stuck in a cave full of hatred writing about Facebook. I'm not. I just want to make sure I'm reaching the first-time reader who doesn't realize that there's more to this story.

It's much less about "the Facebook angle" serving my goals as you say, and more about sticking to what's right.

[zenocon]

Thanks. I hadn't heard of you before, and knew little of the origins of Facebook, etc. I just read your book. It was a fascinating read.