Yes, I paid $50 to get access to the App.net alpha test with “boles” as my username and yes, I’m an Old White Guy who had money burning in his pocket to make him feel special. I was finally granted access to the App.net site this morning and, after a password reset or two, I was able to get into App.net and poke around a bit — and let me tell you right now — it’s one lonesome place… and that’s the excitement of it all!
I have no idea how to find people or how to see what other alpha testers are saying — all I know is I am still thrilling on the email notifying me my account would soon be set up that arrived a day or so ago:
Here’s the PR blurp on what App.Net is meant to be:
App.net is a different kind of social platform.
We’re building a real-time social service where users and developers come first, not advertisers.
Our team has more than 9 years of experience building social services, developer platforms, mobile applications and more.
We believe that advertising-supported social services are so consistently and inextricably at odds with the interests of users and developers that something must be done.
Help us create the service we all wish existed.
I decided to join App.net because I liked the idea of a whole new “Twitter-like” service that would become what Twitter was supposed to be. I missed the early bird boat on Twitter and I still, even at this late date, have no idea what Twitter wants to be except an advertising pipeline as a bodily fluids update streaming service.
I believe App.net hopes to be something grander and something other than Twitter — and the first hurdle into the greatness of that exclusion is the $50.00USD per year membership fee you have to pay to get in the door and stanch the advertising meme. I like saying “yes.” I like founding things. I enjoy the pioneer spirit. I’ll put my money where my hope belongs.
Sure, that fee is elitist and stratifying — but I don’t mind that mark if it means the nonsense level that makes Twitter into a White Noise bullhorn will be missing from App.net. I am happy to pay for something that adds reliability and calmness and focus to my life, and I am hoping App.net will become a serious resource for thoughtful people.
If you’re on App.net — be sure to find me — look for boles — and I’ll look for you, too!