What the Plurk?!
So I recently got hooked on Plurk, in case that isn’t already evident. Safe to say that right now, Plurk is giving me what was apparently lacking in my Twitter experience. Lacking, you ask? Well, Twitter did a mighty fine job in the micro-blogging business, but that was just about it for me. On the other hand, Plurk manages to tip-toe up from the realm of micro-blogging to more of social networking, so I think a bit of assessment is in order.
For starters, Plurk gives you more credit for updating your profile information — the fact that they give you credit (see: karma) at all gives it a huge advantage. The feel seems more similar to Facebook feeds than it does to Twitter, because it’s more flexible with the type of content a user can “plurk”. Heck, it even seems more similar to a multiplayer game, what with the points and all. And ultimately, looking at the Plurk timeline actually makes you feel like you’re part of a social network, and non-linear replying seals the deal for me.
But what does Twitter have over Plurk? The blue bird. Let’s face it, save the yellow platypus thing, Plurk creatures are butt-ugly.
But seriously, I think Twitter does have some advantages over Plurk. The very thing that seems to have Twitter left behind is actually it’s strongest advantage to many people — simplicity. And I have a few of my own concerns. Though I’m certainly not at that point, what happens when you get hundreds of friends? Should you be forced to “un-follow” them to avoid a cluttered timeline? Does it end up using way more of a user’s time than what it’s worth? Will no 3rd party tool come to rescue it from the website?
It’s for these reasons that I’m not truly confident in Plurk’s shelf life. After all, from what I see, most if not all social networks reach their saturation point. After that they slowly fade away — or others take their place. I wonder what (or when) Plurk’s downfall is gonna be?
November 21st, 2008 at 02:05
The only reason I prefer Twitter is the fact that I use the Pidgin chat client. There’s a plugin that lets me update via chat, most useful since IM updates in Twitter are jurassic.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:00
@kilawinguwak - Yeah Ernest uses Pidgin too, though I think he’d sooner cut off his hand than join Twitter haha. I seriously wish that Plurk had an external app for it, I’d prefer that to having to check the site. I still have Twitterfox too, so I can still regularly see Twitter updates.
November 21st, 2008 at 13:25
Plurk’s downside, IMO? The people who spam-bomb (…plurk-bomb?) just for the sake of Karma. -_- I sound mean, but there are people that I’ve un-followed because they just… overdo it. @_@
Thinking of blogging about this, actually. Maybe when I un-lazy. xD
November 21st, 2008 at 16:48
@elizel - You know I actually told them to quit it haha. In a joking way, but I think it worked anyways. :] If they didn’t I probably would’ve un-followed them too. :\
November 22nd, 2008 at 08:04
I think there’s an external app for plurk… Mike uses it. ^^;;;
I never got around to using twitter. It made me think “what’s the point?” Plurk I only tried because our forums went kaputz for a while and that was the only place I could keep in touch with the forum peepz~ :3
But, MWAHAHAHA Abby’s addicted to plurking~ ABBY, YOU PLARK! x3
November 22nd, 2008 at 08:52
@許・美美 - Hahaha! I am, and I can hide it no more! *throws stuff around* Frap, I was out with friends last night and one of the first things I asked was if they had Plurk! LOL. Sadly, I’m the only one interested in these things in the group. :\
About the app Mike uses, I think I remember that it updates ping.fm — so that could work. :o I might give it a shot. Thanks! :)