Amazon reconfigures its Kindle site; reviewers call it "creepy"

L.J. Sellers · 08-10-2011, 10:02 AM

The buzz is that the changes make the site an official social networking platform because of the automatic interconnectivity.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/...acebooktwitter

L.J.

RainingLemur · 08-10-2011, 10:11 AM

I'm more creeped out by the profile picture of Timothy Carmody. The guy in the back on the left looks like he's stalking the other dude (who I assume to be Tim).

lestatar · 08-10-2011, 12:52 PM

huh...not a fan.

tubemonkey · 08-10-2011, 01:19 PM

What's wrong with it? Looks fine to me; but then, I rarely visit.

Daithi · 08-10-2011, 01:40 PM

I'm not a big fan of being forced into social networking. I want to buy books from Amazon. Just because I liked the Twilight series doesn't mean I want to be friends with a bunch of pimply faced teenagers, and STOP UNDERLINING MY BOOKS! I don't care what other people think is clever, or good writing, or whatever. Most people annoy me, so I like to keep my social network small (mobileread is an exception).

Synergi · 08-10-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

I'm not a big fan of being forced into social networking. I want to buy books from Amazon. Just because I liked the Twilight series doesn't mean I want to be friends with a bunch of pimply faced teenagers, and STOP UNDERLINING MY BOOKS! I don't care what other people think is clever, or good writing, or whatever. Most people annoy me, so I like to keep my social network small (mobileread is an exception).

Ok this made me laugh..

lestatar · 08-10-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

What's wrong with it? Looks fine to me; but then, I rarely visit.

Pretty much what Daithi said. With the exception of the Twilight "books". And the part about people being annoying

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

I'm not a big fan of being forced into social networking. I want to buy books from Amazon. Just because I liked the Twilight series doesn't mean I want to be friends with a bunch of pimply faced teenagers, and STOP UNDERLINING MY BOOKS! I don't care what other people think is clever, or good writing, or whatever. Most people annoy me, so I like to keep my social network small (mobileread is an exception).

Terisa de morgan · 08-10-2011, 02:28 PM

No problem for me. I don't have facebook or Twitter account

Barty · 08-10-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

I'm not a big fan of being forced into social networking. I want to buy books from Amazon. Just because I liked the Twilight series doesn't mean I want to be friends with a bunch of pimply faced teenagers, and STOP UNDERLINING MY BOOKS! I don't care what other people think is clever, or good writing, or whatever. Most people annoy me, so I like to keep my social network small (mobileread is an exception).

Some people may say if you like Twilight, you're getting what you deserve.

Some people may say that; I couldn't possibly comment

Seriously, I'm not on Facebook or twitter or YouTube. Spare me all that crap.

alansplace · 08-10-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

No problem for me. I don't have facebook or Twitter account

disney_mommy · 08-11-2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

...STOP UNDERLINING MY BOOKS! I don't care what other people think is clever, or good writing, or whatever...

This! I hate coming across an underlined part in a book, especially when it's usually something I think is inconsequential. And I hate that little message at the bottom of the screen "click the x button to see how many people have highlighted..." I don't care.

DMB · 08-11-2011, 09:57 AM

They don't seem to have changed the UK site.

joenunya · 08-11-2011, 09:57 AM

Not only do I not fully get the point of these social networking sites and features, I do have a concern that within a handful of years from now, they are going to be used to hire and fire employees, political and social witch hunts and any number of small-town style clique-like things. I'm saying this looking from the outside in so I might just not have enough understanding of these services.

I would say it's fine if it's all voluntary and people are smart about it by using fake names and personal info but sometime soon there will be some value placed on using a Real Name to steal Amazon's current designation. I suspect soon there will be something similar to a credit report for your social activity. Remember it is all online and public so someone is going to want to profit from using the data. There will be services doing just that offering Social Stability Evaluations, right out of something like Gattaca or any number of other SF stories.

I wonder if anyone has been fired because they tweeted an off-color remark or commented on Facebook about attending some fringe concert or political event. I seem to recall some pro athletes getting fined by their league or team thanks to tweets. I'm willing to bet worse has happened somewhere but never was the real reason used at the actual time of the firing or otherwise negative event in a person's life.

As my ID says, it's Nunya business.

HarryT · 08-11-2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

STOP UNDERLINING MY BOOKS! I don't care what other people think is clever, or good writing, or whatever.

If you don't want to see it, turn it off. Go to "Settings" and turn off the "Popular Highlights" setting. It's on the 2nd page of "Settings".

avantman42 · 08-11-2011, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

STOP UNDERLINING MY BOOKS! I don't care what other people think is clever, or good writing, or whatever.

I disabled that, so it only underlines things that I have highlighted. I can't remember where I found the option to disable it, though

08-10-2011, 10:02 AM	#1
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	Amazon reconfigures its Kindle site; reviewers call it "creepy" The buzz is that the changes make the site an official social networking platform because of the automatic interconnectivity. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/...acebooktwitter L.J.

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08-10-2011, 10:11 AM	#2
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I'm more creeped out by the profile picture of Timothy Carmody. The guy in the back on the left looks like he's stalking the other dude (who I assume to be Tim).

08-10-2011, 12:52 PM	#3
lestatar LB's lolz Mutt Minion Posts: 2,902 Karma: 5700001 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hong Kong now but NYC forever Device: Kindle3, GalaxyTab, BB Bold9700, BB 8300, Sony Clie, Palm Vx, Palm III	huh...not a fan.

08-10-2011, 01:19 PM	#4
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,850 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	What's wrong with it? Looks fine to me; but then, I rarely visit.

08-10-2011, 01:40 PM	#5
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	I'm not a big fan of being forced into social networking. I want to buy books from Amazon. Just because I liked the Twilight series doesn't mean I want to be friends with a bunch of pimply faced teenagers, and STOP UNDERLINING MY BOOKS! I don't care what other people think is clever, or good writing, or whatever. Most people annoy me, so I like to keep my social network small (mobileread is an exception).

08-10-2011, 02:28 PM	#8
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,686 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	No problem for me. I don't have facebook or Twitter account

08-11-2011, 09:57 AM	#12
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	They don't seem to have changed the UK site.

08-11-2011, 09:57 AM	#13
joenunya Banned Posts: 120 Karma: 234858 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: kindle4pc	Not only do I not fully get the point of these social networking sites and features, I do have a concern that within a handful of years from now, they are going to be used to hire and fire employees, political and social witch hunts and any number of small-town style clique-like things. I'm saying this looking from the outside in so I might just not have enough understanding of these services. I would say it's fine if it's all voluntary and people are smart about it by using fake names and personal info but sometime soon there will be some value placed on using a Real Name to steal Amazon's current designation. I suspect soon there will be something similar to a credit report for your social activity. Remember it is all online and public so someone is going to want to profit from using the data. There will be services doing just that offering Social Stability Evaluations, right out of something like Gattaca or any number of other SF stories. I wonder if anyone has been fired because they tweeted an off-color remark or commented on Facebook about attending some fringe concert or political event. I seem to recall some pro athletes getting fined by their league or team thanks to tweets. I'm willing to bet worse has happened somewhere but never was the real reason used at the actual time of the firing or otherwise negative event in a person's life. As my ID says, it's Nunya business.