1. I think the manifesto is very impressive but I just wonder if it really responds to the question where is my demand ?

In the sentence " I feel the capability in my network and the potential for new connections and new value opportunities " Mr. Henshall realizes that the social software tools we have available right now are not yet good enough to accomplish the tasks we`re looking for.

But in my opinion, this is only one part of the story. Let me explain why:

The real power of the Web in the words of David Weinberger is all about conversations. But conversations for what !

In this brutal competitive market that we face today, the only conversations that matter to businesses are " Where can we find and collaborate with customers and business partners in our quest for Strategy Innovation ". And the new social networking technology (weblogs and social software) is our best chance to make this vision a reality. It´s true that is not yet good enough but I think it` will be in no time.

Of course, the Collaboration Idea is not new, but unitil now it has been only a theorical concept.

So far nobody has found the " natural incentives " that companies and people have in order to work together neither designed the " collaboration rules " needed to avoid conflicts of interest, opportunism and other related and common problems in managing partnerships. When somebody solves this puzzle which I call it " The Collaboration Trap " I think it`s fair to say that the age of the Collaboration Networks has just begun.

Posted at 8:03PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Eric Rdz

2. Stuart Henshall's post, like most found on blogs covering blogging or social networking, limits the scope and appeal of blogging and social networking. It is mostly relevant to those that a) blog about a specific field and b) want to meet people in that specific field.

Henshall writes that “my blog is much better than any of the SNS as a networking tool”. I certainly agree that a professional blog could be a great tool to meet others interested in the professional fields blogged about. But what about the more *social*, as opposed to professional types of *social* networking? Would a blog be a more efficient tool to help find a geographically local love-interest? Or to find a drummer for a new band? Or a couple guys looking to join a basketball league?

Even limiting social software to a purely professional context, an increasingly prevalent paradoxical flaw of most social software analysis, asserting that a blog is a better networking tool is akin to asserting that everybody has the time to invest in writing. Most people I know that aren't writers are too busy working at their career to spend time writing about their career. People shouldn't have to write a blog....a blog good enough to gain a following no less...to get sales leads or business advice from others in their professional field.

Henshall often implies that social networking is about the meeting new people connotation of the word “networking”. There are uses of social networks beyond meeting new people. This fact is indeed recognized by the statement “My social networking solution will enable me to connect and exchange with family” (assuming the author doesn't want an SNS tool to meet new family members). However the paragraphs “Create Markets for Connectivity” and “Encourage Face to Face” fall back into the social software analysis pitfall of equating social networking with meeting new people.

I know that this is one individual's personal manifesto and it makes some great points. But it is important to recognize that the people that don't know nor more importantly don't care what “SNS”, “VoIP”, and “RSS” mean are not only a majority of the public at large, but a majority of those currently using SNS and blogging sites. Hence, that some of today's sites that target this majority lack the wish-list features described in Henshall's manifesto is as predictable as the Gap not stocking jeans that fit Yao Ming. It would also be interesting and insightful to see some analysis on what kind of social network product will be popular with people that don't have the time to professionally blog nor desire to meet new people.

Posted at 8:03PM on Dec 18th 2005 by Michael