theCynch

The outrage over Google Buzz is well founded.

When I found the new link to Google Buzz on the left-hand side of my Gmail homepage, I saw that I was following an ex I haven’t talked to in years.

Can you type “awkward?”

I should not have been put in this weird position. Google “assuming” that I still talk to this person made me feel like I did not have full control of my account.

I understand Google’s reasons for providing Google Buzz. Providing a social network to Google users could be essential to Google’s continued growth, just as dating is essential to the growth of the human race.

However, Google was way too pushy on the first date. Google Buzz should have asked, politely:

1) whether a Gmail user wants to activate Google Buzz

2) and whether a Google Buzz user wants to follow X, Y, and Z.

Simple, right?

Honestly, nothing is more of a turn-off than having a web service “push” themselves onto you.

Google Buzz would have had so much more initial attraction if it had played hard to get. Who doesn’t love the chase? The chase is one of the reasons why Gmail and Google Wave had so much initial buzz.

Exclusivity is sexy.

I’ll admit that I fell into the exclusivity trap with Google Wave when it was first launched. I remember asking fellow Twitter users for a Google Wave invite, then was somewhat disappointed with the service once I tried it out.

Though the launch of Google Buzz is not as favorable as Google Wave, Buzz has managed to get just as much “buzz” about it for its aggressiveness. However, it begs the question of whether all publicity is good publicity.

Does the pushy tactic reveal desperation to join the growing throng of social network users? It certainly looks that way—again, much like an overeager date that tries to lock lips after just a few drinks.

Maybe the folks at Google will learn from the rebuff and plan more carefully for the next launch.

Dear Google,

1) Please keep your hands in your pockets for the remainder of our next date. No touchy-feelies.

2) My eyes are up here.

3) Yes, I’m going to blog about this later.

P.S. I just realized that my previous post endorses Google.  I suppose my relationship status with Google is “It’s Complicated.”  ♥