Yesterday, after Bryan Person pointed out that there were some problems with it, I removed the FriendsRoll block from my site.  Steve, one of the developers at 76design, whipped into action and released a corrected v1.2 beta.

My FriendsRoll block is back online.

There has been a growing trend of online services designed to build social networks in centralized and sometimes closed environments. While there are merits to this approach, the abundance of options is crippling and confusing. Invariably, everyone must join every site and we’re left chasing each other around. This has created an artificial sense of centralization in a decidedly decentralized environment.

No matter how many different tools are made available, I know I can always find my social network at the home base of each of its individuals. In most cases that’s the blog site of each individual.

Last week, 76 design launched two new WordPress plugins designed to put the power of social networking back where it belongs… in the hands of the community. I particularly like the idea of their FriendsRoll plugin (which I have installed on my site ***). It allows members of my network to connect with me on my own site, and I on theirs. And because the plugin goes with my own site, there are no concerns about privacy. I will not share or sell the information that my network provides to me. I will not post targetted advertisements on my website based on aggregate marketing information collected during the process of establishing the technological friendship. Indeed, the 76 design plugins don’t even allow the collection of this information.

Facebook may be convenient, but it’s far from respectful. To that end, expect a post from me tonight or tomorrow on yesterday’s Facing up to Facebook session at the University of Ottawa.