Foursquare: Square Peg, Round Hole (Part II)

Yesterday, I talked about why I had decided not to jump on the Foursquare bandwagon. The reaction was mixed – some people completely agreed with the fact Foursquare has no appeal, while other said that I was off the mark because Foursquare is all about putting the “geo” in social networking.

Both sides make valid arguments but, for me, it comes down the fact I’m not interested and/or ready for the “geo” side of the house. The way I operate personally and professionally doesn’t lend itself to broadcasting to friends and family where I’m located. Anyone who has to know where I’m at likely has a pretty good idea of my location.

As well, I enjoy the relative anonymity of being “location-less” given it strikes me as the last privacy bastion amid a world where everything is public unless otherwise defined as private.

That said, I can also appreciate why Foursquare appeals to many people. If you’re out and about on a regular basis, and you want to connect with friends and family who are also out and about, then it makes sense to use Foursquare – much like many people use Facebook to provide regular updates on what they’re doing or where they’re going.

In many ways, Foursquare is a lifestyle service as much as it is a technology. For my needs, however, Foursquare is a square peg in a round hole.