04th Feb 2006
BeFriended
I’m pretty happy to say that I have started a gig with Friendster. It’ll be great to delve into a well-known web site and be able to make a contribution.
I’d been picky about where I was going to go. I didn’t want to help some advertising agency send out spam more efficiently, or work on something that would never get seen. It had occurred to me to move back to NYC, because that seems to be where a lot of cool gigs are located. Friendster is moving to SF/SOMA pretty soon, which will give me the option of bus or ferry commute (podcast catch-up time). I also believe in what they do, and what they will be doing. I like the people, and it’ll be a fun challenge!
Until we move, the office is in Mountain View. I’ll be going there 1-2 days a week. Driving down on 280 brings back a flood of AOL-era memories: the route, the traffic, and the “programmers at every other table at the lunchtime chinese restaurant” vibe. Although a Silicon Valley Office Park has its own sort of industry charm, it’ll be much better to be in the City, and to see the positive effects of the move. On the surface, it’s a bit comparable to the AOL/Moviefone folks in White Plains, versus the AOL people in Rockefeller Center in Midtown. Give me the City buzz! (alternating with the quiet of country/home)
I don’t know how much Friendster has changed in the last year and a half, but if you’re working there now, you might want to consider shutting down your blog. You don’t want to end up like Joyce Park.
I don’t know how happy I’d be working for a company that fired an employee for blogging about the company. I understand all companies have a need to exercise some control over what their employees do: that’s understandable. Talk to the employee and resolve the matter professionally if possible. But, firing them?
Good luck, Daniel. Hope Friendster’s changed for the better.
I’ll be fine. I am not worried about that. I can’t speak as to what they were like a year or so ago - wasn’t there. All I know is that I like everyone there, that they are very welcoming, and I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting some cool stuff done!