netmeg - 2:35 pm on Aug 30, 2011 (gmt 0)

Google can do what they want with Google+. It's their playground. Personally, I don't think it will work out the way they intend. People have been trying to legislate user behavior on the net as long as there's been one (I've been watching idiots online since 1985, remember) and it hasn't ever worked yet.

Moreover Google has a serious disconnect with its users that has taken a quantum leap in 2011. They think we should be grateful that they're giving us all this cool and seemingly free stuff, and we're getting more and more creeped out.

Google: Look, we're gonna give you this and that and those, and all you have to do is fill out this form and tell us everything we want to know about you, and here's some Angry Birds, and we bought another company just so we can give you...see here? *Shiny* ! Us: Wow, thanks, looks interesting, but I'm okay with what I'm doing and what I have now. Google: But you should be GRATEFUL! It's FREE and all your friends are using it, and we're cleaning up the web and making you safe, and if you use it too, we might de-Pandalize your website or we might not, but do you really want to risk it? and by the way can we have your phone number and your dog's name too? Us: Um, don't stand so close to me.

They're rapidly turning into the "funny uncle" of the internets.