applznorngz/comics

loveloveloveit... Thanks, Blue

I'm EXTREMELY aware of the changes coming to SU.

I will miss what seem to be small things, but they are what shape our

blogs and how we can tell what other stumblers are about.  For

instance:  * I like to know how long a person has been on SU, it tells

a lot about the quality type of stumbles if I know if they're just

starting out, or if this is their on-going style.  * I'd like to be

able to choose to go to everyone's review first.  These are the things

I look at when deciding if I'll subscribe to someone's site.  *I'd like

to know how many visitors I've had the minute I come onto my blog so I

can race over and see who's been there.  *I'd like to be able to "blog"

without stumbling.  (I'd be willing to give that up, I can usually find

an applicable site to compliment what I want to say.)  *I'd like to

have more choices of color background, particularly in lighter shades

of greys and neutrals.


On the plus side, as I'm tripping back and forth between 3 and 4, I do

think that the new way of showing the public profile is an improvement

over 3. (Meaning favorites, reviews, subscribers, subscriptions,

reviews of you... just add how long they've been stumbling.)


   Originally, SU encouraged us to subscribe to other stumbler's sites...

If the personalization is gone, why would we bother...We can just push

the stumble button to infinity and get sites that are often what we are

interested in.  Without developing relationships among stumblers where

is the fun of SU?  It might as well be DIGG or delicious...


Other media sites like Digg and Reddit have the ability to collect info

and even share to a certain extent.  But Stumble alone combines site

collections with easy social connections.  By being able to see each

others sites, we can see if we have common interests.  Stumble still

somewhat stumbles by algorithms that are helpful.  But, even more, I

can visit subscribers and friends to see what they have found that's

new and pertinent or even just serendipitous. 


"When observing the hundreds of social media websites that exist,

StumbleUpon sets itself apart from the crowd by being completely

unique. While many other sites use a cookie-cutter approach,

StumbleUpon is truly unlike any other social media site. That unique

approach is part of what makes it so attractive to users and

marketers."  I don't know who to attribute that quote to, but it sums

up my feelings about SU and is why I feel actual sadness to see the

ability to personalize being winnowed away and actually discouraged. 

Reminds me of, oh, making your own granola, then some little health

food store starts selling their version, and that's great, makes it

easier, more standardized (original SU) then Kelloggs or General Mills

buys their recipe and starts marketing on a large scale and then,

pretty soon, out go the dates, in goes more sugar...  You know...  

Probably inevitable to go for bigger not better, but I really never

found anything wrong with the original Stumble version...          THAT

was Exactly What I Was Looking For.  boohoo.  But that doesn't fit in

this world, and we have to face that we are Not the majority of

stumblers, as the staff keeps reminding.


For now, I'm going to try to minimize my frustration and continue to

socialize and stumble for as long as the socializing part is still here.

Just had to share the discovery of the day!

I thought it was crazy that my daughter's were addicted to Archie and his gang of pals in the 1990's... after all, I'd perused my best friend's older brother's Archie comics from back in the 50's! and with the same stories.... except in the 90's Betty and Veronica's boobs had grown to balloon proportions...
Anyway, check out the slide show.... very much fun...

Scott McCloud just keeps taking the "Art" of Comics further and farther...and farther......and...
Thanks Renrutia for this one!