Saturday, December 1, 2007

Social Networking for the Socially Exclusive

Are you a high net-worth individual that just can't find a place online to connect with people you feel comfortable with? Feeling unfulfilled by the stodgier trappings of wealth and privilege? Want to get in on the social networking phenomenon, but just don't want to mix and mingle with the nouveau riche? Rest assured, there IS a place for you.

There are several, in fact. As the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, "a new crop of social networking sites has taken aim at the rich, seeking to create exclusive Web communities of like-moneyed friends."

Interested parties should apply to the Diamond Lounge and A Small World. But be warned, the barriers to entry are high. And as with many social networking sites, members find much to complain about.

One member recently posted the question: "Is it just me, but lately I see people on ASW who really shouldn't be there. Who invites these people? We should be selective who to invite. What about quality control?" Another member wrote: "In the real world, we are each discerning about who we make friends with, who we socialize with. There is no reason why when we come online we should have to socialize with truck drivers etc. from hick parts of the USA."
What was it Groucho Marx said about membership in these types of clubs?

12 comments:

Jeff Pelletier said...

Groucho said: "I would never belong to any club that would have me as a member" He also when his family was denied membership in a prestigious membership in an LA Swim Club because he was Jewish said," Can my daughter go in up to her waist, she's only half Jewish?"
(From the Book "Groucho and Me"

¡El Gato Negro! said...

Finally, we see how a few bad apples can ruin the web for everyone.

Gracías for providing such a clear example.

Pfui.

David said...

I'm always amazed by online communities.
These people are joining a social networking site to meet people and make new friends...
And then they are picky about the kind of people they are introduced to...

Unknown said...

Interesting post..I had never heard of these upscale social network sites!
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Unknown said...

Sounds like some small scale Darwin Award competition material to me; cleaning up the "people" pool.

But honestly, would you be angry or upset if you (assume you are a female if you are not one) are to meet a guy in a female-only spa club?

I know I would.

Anonymous said...

You have shown that it really is better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt.

Whom does society types make their money off of? what did you call them ..... hick truck drivers?

Let me guess, you have absolutely no idea about real life. If you had to be a truck driver, you'd be eaten alive because you couldn't hack it in the real world.

Thanks for showing your true colors oh, and thanks for removing all doubt about you being a fool.

Carter said...

Not quite sure I feel the same way as everyone else on this. Yes, these rich losers are assholes (there's no doubt about that), but shouldn't they have the right to pick who should or should not join their exclusive clubs? Yes it's an online country club, but a country club nonetheless. SHOULD they do it? No. Should they be ALLOWED to do it? Yes. In any case I'm with Groucho on this one.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't afford the monthly fees, so I guess that counts me out. I'm interested in people with a social and environmental conscience.

Matthew Hennessey said...

I can't believe I have to do this, but Anonymous 12:36AM appears to think I was responsible for the pejorative directed at truck drivers. I was merely quoting the words of a member of the online community A Small World, as reported in the Wall Street Journal article.

Whether or not it is better to be silent and thought a fool, it is clearly better to be anonymous and thought a fool.

Jeff Pelletier said...

Now now people, surely you have day jobs.

Julie Parker, Social Media Executive said...

Thanks for the info but I think that everyone should be included in a blog and that if the rich feel they are too good to socialize with ordinary people that is their social problem.

We are what make life intersting!

thisismary said...

Well it is about time! Amen.

Soon, I will no longer have to deal with the horror of discovering that the person I have been talking to for an hour has not the first idea how to start let alone run any form of tractor.