film phlegm

Ugh...enough Web 2.0! It makes me want to vomit on myself!

There’s no doubt I am officially done with Web 2.0. However, every time I think I’m done, a new, fun, and amazing site appears out of nowhere…so below is my attempt to categorize my current favorite Web 2.0 sites (with links to my profiles in case you feel so compelled to follow/add/fan/stalk me). I will update this list periodically as I get tired of certain sites and ejaculate over others.

Web 2.0 List (Version 1.0)

Facebook (Profile) - Still the champion of Web 2.0 sites, Facebook is using its strength in sheer size, breadth, and numbers to allow other Web 2.0 sites to plug in, which is a compelling proposition since people are sick and tired of having profiles on a bajillion sites and having to log into each to burn inordinate amounts of valuable time doing nothing. Luckily, all the sites I mention below have Facebook applications which allow me to, if not update, then at least view activity on them in one single place. Facebook is also the first Web 2.0 site on which a good majority of my friends, even the technophobes from the middle of Kansas, reside.
Twitter (Feed) - The most brilliant and simple concept to hit Web 2.0 since this whole disgusting phenomenon started. It’s essentially a personal RSS feed of my status/random thought/rant at any point in time, easily updatable from a cell phone. Considered by those in the industry a “microblog”, Twitter boasts an update field that is limited to only 140 characters, so you literally can’t write more than 15 words. I think it’s badass…and it plugs directly into my Facebook status message which is ideal. UPDATE: I use Twitter so much now, I’m sure it’s annoying the crap out of my Facebook friends…so I pulled it from Facebook.
GoodReads (Profile) - This site is allowing me to give away all my real books when I’m done reading them. I used to have a sentimental attachment to them, but what I realized is that attachment was purely a display of egotism and self-worth to others. When friends visited my apartment, I wanted them to physically see what I had read and I wanted to be proud of my literary accomplishments. Well, isn’t that what Web 2.0 is about anyway? Everyone claims to keep their books so they can reread them. I call bullshit, asshole. You keep them so you can feel smart around people you’re trying to impress. With GoodReads, I can just point my friends to my profile and they can see how fucking smart I am. It’s also a good place for reviewing the books you’ve read, connecting with your friends and getting their recommendations and providing them with your own. The UI isn’t great, but it’s still the best book review site out there.
Yelp (Profile) - Ugh yes I opened a new account with Yelp after deleting my first one. Ugh it’s sucking up my life again. And no, I have not become more reserved the second time around. I’m just as obnoxious and incoherent as I always was. There are many levels on which Yelp succeeds. Unfortunately, as a local review site, which is its primary purpose, it’s not as successful. However, Yelp is a big reason why I’m in this Web 2.0 space and why I’m somewhat enjoying it (I think). It does a great job of providing a local San Francisco venue where I can converse with like-minded intellectuals. I’ve managed to make some amazingly close friends over the past two years and I thank Yelp for that. Unfortunately, it’s been matched by an equal amount of time-sucking frustration. My reviews have become far more useful, and I am enjoying conversing with my closer friends the second time around. If you want to see my frustrations with Yelp, check out my review of it.
Tumblr (Blog) - It’s blogging at its simplest. No frills, no crap. It’s a step above the microblogging that is Twitter, but it’s not the rich blogging that you see on Blogger or TypePad. Personally, when I want to jot down a few thoughts and get all philosophical, this is where I like to do it. It’s good for the casual blogger like me. And as we’ve seen in Web 2.0 over and over again, it’s “the simpler, the better” that succeeds.
Spout (Filmblog) - Honestly, the UI is total crap. You can tell this site was not created in Silicon Valley. It would drown. Some asshole could come up with a better site from their living room on a weekend (like Pierre Omidyar did with eBay back in 1995). In fact, this site even looks as janky as eBay. But that said, there is NO GOOD WEB 2.0 site for film reviews (one that’s completely user-generated content I mean). So Spout is the best thing we’ve got and I don’t mind it. The conversation threads are fun and interesting. Get that many film buffs in a room and it’s bound to. As a Spout Maven, I’m a part of this elite crew of film buffs that gets a FREE MOVIE every month on DVD which I need to review on the site. They’re lesser known films by smaller, independent production companies which makes it even more fun. For that reason alone, they get a huge thumbs up. I think it’s a brilliant idea.