I read a book about Diaspora a “startup” that tried to create an open social network platform which failed. Prob because they didn’t have the economic might to create a powerful platform (complete with all the tricks you describe). I tried the platform that Jimmy Wales from Wikipedia created and it’s pretty weak from a feature and network point of view. Seems that economic might just isn’t there for second, third, fourth etc movers who don’t do what Facebook is doing.

Over the years I’ve tried to be an activist, green energy lobbyist, entrepreneur for socially conscious products and have failed miserably every time and seen others meet the same fate. I wonder if it’s just a mathematical reality that the world is going down a rathole. Shit always floats to the top of the toilet bowl.