>But there is something inside me that always is thinking "Man, there has to be a way to cash in on this"
>
>Years ago when Cabbage Patch dolls were the rage, somebody started a camp you could send your Cabbage Patch kids to. The would write letters home and everything. I just remember thinking "God, that mailing list would be gold !" <bg>
>
>The whole social networking thing just escapes me - very different from friendship. Seems to be based on users and usees.

I think you'd really have to be keyed into the need for 'peer status' and the desperation to 'belong'. For me it's almost impossible to understand. So many people seem to go through life in mortal fear that they won't be noticed. I've spent most of my life hoping to be at least reasonably anonymous.

What I find most unfortunate is the pandering that parents do to their children. Without that, these things would be far less successful.

>
>Rather like the hack science fiction writer who said back in the early 50s "A man would be a fool to write sci-fi for a penny a word. If you want to make real money, start your own religion."

And boy, did it work out for him!

>
>There's a seeker born every minute.
>
>>Don't miss this link Jim posted : http://www.crystalair.com/content.php?id=49200903012
>>
>>Those ads are disturbing :)
>>
>>I'm beginning to think Twitter is to computer geeks as Beanie Babies were to the women who raced to buy them 10+ years ago. Anytime I see a fad, I almost instinctively want to do the opposite.