36 comments

[ 2.8 ms ] story [ 81.9 ms ] thread
Backstory: This concept spawned from feedback received on HN for a previously failed idea. I look forward to your feedback and to getting to know some of you!
First thing I noticed was the lack of capitalization just about everywhere. The font-size is a little small, too. Other than that, it looks pretty good.
Expect this one to fail too. It is amateurish and raises serious concerns about data safety.
The text is so small I have to zoom in 3 times to get it the same size as Google with no zoom. I was too distracted by that to attempt to read anything. The only button on the page is a Facebook login that requires access to every bit of data in my account. I passed on that.
Echoing the Facebook thing. Sounds like a neat idea but until you remove the FB requirement, I won't be trying it. Sorry, I just viscerally don't like tying things like this to things which are at best unrelated, possibly even the opposite in ethos.
I don't even have a facebook account in the first place.
(comment deleted)
Sorry to hear that. We went with the smaller font to fit everything on one page. Working on it now. As far as FB, we only ask for your email.
Increase the width of the page if you want to fit more in there. Your line length wasn't too long.
The width takes up 1/4 of my browser width. Even on smaller monitors, I expect it could be close to twice the length without running off the page.
As far as FB, we only ask for your email.

"thirdplace is requesting permission to do the following:

* Access my basic information - Includes name, profile picture, gender, networks, user ID, list of friends, and any other information I've shared with everyone.

* Send me email - thirdplace may email me directly at <email>

* Access my data any time - thirdplace may access my data when I'm not using the application "

Unfortunately, with FB all apps are required to ask for basic information. All we have control over is the additional data (email). You are right though, FB sometimes asks for/gives away a lot of data unnecessarily.
But why do you want to access my data even if I'm not using the app?
when someone introduces themselves to you, you are notified via email, this way you don't need to constantly check the app for new intros. the only way to retain your email is to ask for offline_access
Sorry, but it sounds like you are doing it wrong.
I've only glanced at the Facebook API but I'm pretty sure he is doing it right.
What do you need FB for? Is it just for authentication? I have a certain level of paranoia when a site wants my FB info to connect; I almost always say "no". As much as I hate the proliferation of accounts, I'd rather create a local account to try out some new web site than associate my FB info.

For my own projects, I try to offer users the best of both worlds: create a local account if you want, or login with FB (example login screen: http://armhold.com/resources/com.armhold.QuickstartPage/comb...). It's certainly more work for you as a programmer, but you'll have fewer drive-bys that way.

Good luck.

Why not just let me enter my email? I can't use this as-is because I don't have a facebook account.
(comment deleted)
I don't have a facebook account, so for now, cannot use it :(
Added myself, but thought twice about giving you access to my Facebook stuff, so revoked the FB app stuff again. You don't need to access my FB account, period.
Especially since it's requesting offline_access. That's shady status for sure.
Damn, I was hoping this was going to be a real third place; you know, not on the Internet but in the real world.
I hate to sound like a grammar nazi, but is there a reason there is no capitalization on the front page? And I second everybody else. If anonymity is one of the features, having Facebook as the only login option kind of defeats that purpose. OpenID would be better.
Please repost when/if you drop the FB requirement. I don't use my FB account anywhere but FB, and it really seems at odds with the "anonymous" aspects discussed.

I would love to see it, thou, so here's hoping you don't stop here.

It's anonymous in that you don't have to give your name to anyone at any point. We keep it confidential. The FB requirement is a way of ensuring a few things, but primarily that you are acting as yourself (with your own photo).
Require a twitter or google acct. Use gravitar for the photo.
Nice concept, terrible implementation design-wise.
Passed because of the Facebook requirement.
Sorry, but I don't use Facebook so I'll pass on this.
hmm...

You seem to fail to take your audience into consideration. It is common for HN to resist facebook login.

I was resistant to the FB login, but clicked it anyway. I balked when I saw your app requesting access to my information any time. Nope, not gonna happen.
Yeah, what this needs is just a regular openid login...
_"everyone provides a brief, anonymous introduction to their life"_

It still can track your identify since it uses facebook connect. Please make this anonymous for people who wish to be anonymous.

Saw the font size, closed the window. You have a column that is 330px wide? Make it twice that width, and increase the font size.
When editing my profile, I click on "twitter username" or "blog or website url" and it immediately replaces the form with "entering a third place..." and it just sits there.