The outer ring, in my opinion, is one of the problems/challenges with Facebook. As an A type personality, I have no problem initiating conversations or introductions with people who I don’t know but of whom I know a possible legitimate connection might exist.

That’s how I approached Facebook. Sure I can “connect” with people I ALREADY have a connection to but what’s the point? To make the connection “stronger”? I don’t need Facebook for that. I want to meet new people with whom I don’t have a connection…the outer circle if you will.

I understand that people don’t want to be awash in strangers approaching them, but one of my sense’s of these on line communities is to be open to professional introduction…despite some mediocre attempts by Facebook to try and do that, I don’t think they do it very well.

But, that could just be me.

Best always,
- Peter

I would argue with you, however, that Facebook in and of itself is a fishbowl. The reaching out is done with all the folks, say, in the Philly blogging community who aren’t facebook users. Or my next door neighbor. Or the guy at the Apple Store, who never heard of PodCamp. Really cracking the fishbowl requires reaching out beyond the screen and interacting and sharing in person- and that won;t be reflective in the graph.

(Sorry for the dupe.)