Okay. Now you’ve done. Now you’ve really done it.
I was in a crappy mood (the gum on my sock to start the day) then I read this pap…
NotOverTheHill.com provides an opportunity for the 40+ crowd to experience the fun and excitement that has made sites like Facebook and MySpace so popular. Unlike other social networking sites, which cater to a younger audience, NotOverTheHill provides a unique environment where mature adults can share photos, music interests, videos, and blogs. Membership is free.
The Savvy Boomer has documented many times how social websites targeted at boomers are a total BUST.
Boomer bloggers have had a spirited discussion about how we don’t want, don’t need, don’t like our “own” social network. We’re on Facebook or MySpace if we feel the need.
But these Michiganders think they have the answers to tap into our psyche and shepard us into a group large enough to get some ads.
The refer to their target as the “so-called” baby boomer generation.
In that context “so-called” gives the impression that there is no legitimacy to the term “baby boomer.” Ahem, it’s a recognized demographic term used for decades to describe us.
Their press release just keeps getting more and more patronizing. All the crap every boomer-focused-site has babbled before:
- boomers have been ignored
- boomers don’t like the content on big social nets
- boomers are scared of the big social nets
- blah, blah, blah
But I joined anyway, just to see what kind of initial experience they offered.
It’s bad.
Starting right with their registration page.
They have a CAPTCHA, I hate CAPTCHA
I flamed them about their CAPTCHA.
It’s CASE SENSITIVE! So is that a zero or an “o” and the registration form clears passwords and “agree to terms” checkbox if you screw it up, well you care you can read the rest here.
(Boy that gum on my sock really got me off to a bad start today. )
Their next mistake was sending me FOUR (so far) “welcome” messages! SPAM. One message? expected and appreciated, two? overkill, three? SPAM. four? PISSES ME OFF!
My first impression of NotOverTheHill.com is bad, real bad.\
UPDATE: Social Net for adults 18+ croaks.
ReadWriteWeb’s resident Baby Boomer, Bernard Lunn, wrote a great post entitled: Why Eons, a MySpace for Old People, Failed. Bernard claimed that “the idea of targeting by age is just not smart marketing.” Instead you should target by content, he wrote. With both Eons and iYomu now having failed, it’s difficult to argue with that logic.
And Sixty…I don’t think this one is for you….:)
Sorry about the gum on your sock . . . sort of. Karma sucks, don’t it? xoxo
Gretchen’s last blog post..The Comedian.
@Gretchen: When Karma has a sense of humor, it can be lots of fun! This is one of those cases!
The so-called spam you got was not spam at all.. it was some of the welcome wagon volunteers sending you a greeting and offering to help you get started. You can log in to your account and turn off email notifications so you don’t get them too.
The captcha at signup is to help protect the site for bots and all from joining. And you have a choice to refresh it several times until you can read it well.. and the picture of the captcha you show is much samller then the actual one on the site.
Its too bad you choose to be critical instead of actually taking a look. Had you read the so-called “spam” you would have found it was very nice personal written messages and not spam at all.
I read all four messages. I don’t need four people welcoming me. But that’s just me. If I would have gotten four friend requests, that’s different.
The CAPTCHA can be viewed at full size if clicked on.
It’s not just this site CAPTCHA, I hate all CAPTCHAs.
Again, what really honked me is the form clearing! That is just bad design!
I looked at the site, I blogged at the site.
BTW: I just got another message from Fred welcoming me to the site.
I got gum on my sock. So I’m in a pissy mood.
Have fun.
Gretchen’s last blog post..The Comedian.
If that’s you in a pissy mood, I’d hate to see you in a really bad one….
Grandad’s last blog post..Lazy hazy days of summer
Sheryl’s last blog post..Floods!
Amy Sherman’s last blog post..Baby Boomer Empowerment Support Groups
OMG, I just looked at your site and you are a “boomer helper.” ((((sigh))))
Now the two of you have been introduced, stop bickering, or you’ll both go on the naughty step.
Grandads last blog post..Staff problems
You dope: I signed up to check it out. I got a dozen welcome messages. You think it would happen the other way around?
Sheesh. Go slide under the toilet seat from whence you escaped.
Mr Business Golfs last blog post..How To Pitch a Deal on the Golf Course
The captcha may be annoying to some and a comfort to others, to me it has a double edge… it keeps out the ‘automation’ and it deters critics/annoying people who try to drive home their own opinions on others, like yourself!
The welcomes you receive are from real people who are happy you joined and wish to make everyone feel welcome. How do I know this? I am one of your ‘automations’ !
Why do I try to welcome every person personally? To let them know I am glad they are discovering NOTH, a place for fun, energetic, warm hearted people from all walks of life and all over the world.
NOTH has blogs, forums, personal pages, games, contests… but if you had taken the time to find out what you were supposed to be talking about, you would have known all of this, right?
I have had a myspace account for several years, I became depressed from all the sadness that permeates from so many people; missing children, murdered children, dying children….
Support this cause or that cause…. promote this singer or that singer…
Being hacked into and all of a sudden you are sending hate mail or promoting porn without your knowledge…
I found NOTH …. I found peace …. I found fun… and more importantly, I found real people who care about you as a person.
Too bad, you got gum stuck on your sock that morning… it would have been better for a lot of us if had gotten stuck to your typing finger instead! I wouldn’t have had to get on my soap box (although it does make me taller) and shake my finger and head at you!
Truly wishing you a great day with much love & laughter, you obviously need it.
Tommie Lea
Don’t you love it when you’re right ?! *wink*
If someone does not like social networking sites, it seems odd they would join to check it out, then write a huge blog about it. Looks more like you are using notoverthehill site to get your count up on this site. And it worked. You peaked the highest you have ever been after posting this blog. But, I see you dropped back down too!
For those of you who were tricked into coming here based on the search engine results, the correct link is http://www.notoverthehill.com
2. I joined.
3. I didn’t like it.
4. I wrote about it.
Members does not equal traffic.
Here’s the latest — note that last month these two sites were equal, and I don’t have any “members.”