'My Writer's Network' requests

[Molly McHugh]

As a newbie I looked at it as someone you would ask a direct question to, and have responded to a couple of requests, then sent a couple. I've gotten a couple from names I don't see on any threads I've contributed to, but view their credentials and if legit accept, would feel rude not to.

The ones I asked to join my network were members I wanted to send personal messages to... you can only do that when the person is a part of your network.

Molly
www.vivalabaja.com

[J Repass]

Yes, several requests. FINALLY Molly came up with some reason to be in the network, direct contact. Didn't know that. James, perhaps we need a tutorial on networks. I have no idea how it works.

[Rob]

Three yesterday.

[Steve]

Seems that everyone with a website wants to emulate Facebook and have social networking!!

To anyone who has sent me a network invite - nothing personal, but I really can't see the point in the network, and so have just ignored them. If anyone wants to email me though that is always cool!

Give me anti-social networking any day!

Steve

[Durant Imboden]

I'm not an active social networker, either, but social networking does seem to be popular, and I don't find it any harder to click "accept" than to click "ignore."

[Vera Marie]

I have had four in the past week. Should have looked more carefully before I accepted. Sounds like a spam scheme. Shall we name names: mine were from Allen Cox, Alexandre Prado, Randy Ross and another person I recognized.

Any info to share?

[Durant Imboden]

I wouldn't call it a "spam scheme." The people who invited me to join their networks all seem to be legitimate, and in fact I know some of them personally.

I look at it this way: If anyone is willing to say "Do you want to be part of my network?", it would be ungracious to say "No." (Especially since being part of someone's Travelwriters.com network doesn't require me to actually *do* anything--it's not like volunteering for the Holiday Party Organizing Committee!)

[Barbara Dolny-Bombar]

As usual, I agree with Durant. I'm happy to accept anyone wanting to be in my network and all are welcome (I only have a few at the moment). In the world of MySpace, Facebook, and others like it, it's just another way of "networking" - connecting with people in cyberworld.

When I go to conferences or meetings, I always bring business cards and pass them out. Cyber networking is the same - maybe something will come out of it, maybe not. In any case, you don't have to "do" anything else (nobody expects it either). Most people leave you alone, so you're not going to be bombarded with stuff (or spammed). If there is any odd behavior, then you report it and dump the person from your network with the delete key.

I just check to make sure someone is legit on the site before accepting. It doesn't matter if they have done it for ages or are just beginning. We already have the common thread as writers.

[John]

I confess it was me, well I have sent out a few requests recently although I don’t think to any of the above but I thought I would post this before someone pops up and says its that bloody photographer in Damascus again.
I selected writers who have or are working in the Middle East in the faint hope of future collaboration or at least to make them aware of my presence in the region should an editor/ writer conversation ever involve the question “do you know of a Damascus based photographer willing to work at such a short deadline for such little financial reward”
I don’t really see the point of just randomly trying to add every member but don’t really see the harm either, Steve in case I am missing something how can we email you should we want to since you have no contact information other than via messages once you have been added to a network?
I am not a great fan of the so called social networking sites (or spam) but since the weather is decidedly inclement and work a little on the slow side (it’s the time of year) I feel it worth the effort to try and market myself, I do hope I haven’t bothered anybody.
Should anyone want to join me on one of those sites I am not a fan of please feel free;
http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Wreford/704220178
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwreford
http://www.myspace.com/johnwreford
John Wreford
Middle East Photography
Damascus Syria
Tel: 00963 944 361 947
http://www.johnwreford.com

[Jill]

Makes sense, John, that you would like to connect with others who share your interests.

I think the "some dam just broke in the server" theory makes sense. I got an invite today from someone I know (and like). If I think of it I'll ask her when she sent it.

jill