Throwing its lot in with Facebook - Think Progress (TP) makes a verystupid move...

Over the past few months, I have really become addicted to TP.  I loved the content and the detail in the Wonk Room and the style of Matt Yglesias in general.  But the new format forces comments away from DISQUS and onto FB.  How many times can I say that this is a STUPID, STUPID, STUPID idea?

I'm a busy person.  I do NOT have TIME to log off of FB in order to post to TP. I DO NOT WANT to use Yahoo or AOL just to post to TP  in order to avoid having all my comments posted to my FB account.  Who uses AOL or Yahoo anymore anyway? And Hotmail?  Please!



With the old DISQUS system - you could link back to your own blog or another site of choice  - which was good for those of us trying to build a small readership. (Not that anyone was beating a path here - but over time it might have become a plus)  Better still - that readership and that "sideline" as a politically active person - could be kept separate from my Facebook persona.   This is particularly critical for anyone running a business where social media such as FB have unfortunately become inextricably linked with our ability to promote ourselves and what we do.

I HATE that I have to use FB for business because it does interfere with my private life... and it is for that reason that I HATE that FB forbids us to have multiple identities.  I think we should be allowed to have a public and a private face. This is particularly true since anyone running their own business no longer really has a choice about using FB to promote it. It's too popular so I am forced to use FB for business.  I know FB thinks not allowing for multiple identities helps create "transparency." NO!!! All this does is stifle free expression on important issues. But there it is.  Since I have no choice about using FB for business this has forced me into doing a major Kabuki dance in order to keep my political and business lives separate.  I was trying to do this while also trying to express myself publicly on issues that I am passionate about - not an easy undertaking given the way FB has blurred the lines between our public and private selves.   FB has made it very, very difficult for me to do what feel I should be doing.  Being active, outspoken and involved can kick back on my business and all of us in this position have to guard against this impact - particularly in these hard times.  Now Think Progress is making it harder still.   So now that TP has made ITS choice to throw its lot with FB - I once again have no choice. I have to sever my connection to Think Progress.

The people who thought about this simply were not thinking at all.  The Yin/Yang between our private and public lives has become dangerously blurred to the point where it gets harder for our true thoughts to flow freely. Times are tough and we need to be as outspoken as we dare about what we see in the world around us.  But tough times means that no one can afford to lose business to our political views.

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