Google Plus Review - Good or Bad?

Google Plus.  Facebook's biggest threat at the moment.  But why?  What does Google Plus have that Facebook doesn't?  There have been numerous reviews on Google Plus, obviously by Facebook Fanatics, because they didn't even give Google Plus an honest chance.  I'm not talking about all the reviews out there, I'm talking about the ones who logged in for a few hours, looked around, then turned tail and ran.  Not a very good impression is it?

I've been active on Google Plus for almost three months now.  This has given me a better look at the big picture.  I've had time to adjust and see what I don't like, and what I do like.  Quite frankly, there isn't really anything that I've found that I don't like.  Here are my thoughts.

My first thoughts of Google Plus were amazement, as thought this was something new.  I'm still in amazement at Google Plus.  It has a very clean and magnetic feel to it.  Once you start using it, it's easy to get drawn in.  This is indeed a threat to Facebook.  Why?  Because for one, Facebook is all cluttered and filled with ads galore.  Ever notice how many ads you're faced with each day on Facebook?  On top of that, Facebook's security features, just plain suck.  Most people will agree with that one.

What's with the circles?  One of the key features of Google Plus is the Circles.  These are groups that you can sort people into.  Put your family in one group, while your acquaintances are in another.  You can create other groups as well, such as Gamers or Minecrafters.  Part of an online Book Club?  Put those in their own circle.  Are you a blogger?  Put your fellow bloggers in a circle.  You can also add people to multiple circles.   This way, when you want to share something with just one circle, it'll only be shared with them.

What are Hangouts?  Hangouts are video chat groups that you can host, or join.  You can have up to eight people in one Hangout.  I've seen Hangouts ranging from various topics, such as: Falling Satellite, Writers, Lego Creations, etc.  There is a wide range of Hangouts, even just random hangouts that people start.  If you have a webcam, these Hangouts will be up your ally, especially if you use Skype, sense the Hangouts are powered by it.

Perhaps one thing I don't like about Google Plus yet, is one loop whole in the security of it.  If you make a post and share it with a group of people, those people can then share that post with another group(s).  That is my only complaint so far.  If Google Plus will fix that, they'll be Golden in my book.  I have yet to try out the Facebook's group sharing option.  I just find Facebook redundant all together.

In conclusion, Facebook is a mess of a mess and needs a lot of work.  While I think the new Timeline feature is fascinating and could be a game turner, I don't think a new profile look is really the answer to anything.  All profile changes do, is piss people off.  Don't believe me?  Look at MySpace.  Google Plus has a few things going for it, at least in my opinion.  It's clean, it's fun, and gives you more options.  I do enjoy having the Google Plus notifications at the top of my Google Home Page, Gmail, etc.  I'll most likely be sticking with Google Plus for a while, at least they have a way to send Feedback.  Facebook didn't start giving users what they wanted, until Google Plus came on the scene.  That should raise a red flag.

My Take On Thinking Outside The Box

We have that Age Old question.  How does one thing outside the box?  This question isn't always able to be answered.  I think, that for everyone, it's a different process that we have to discover.  I'll share with you my thoughts on the matter though.

Thinking outside the box, requires one thing and one thing only, Knowledge.  That's right, we have to constantly be learning to be able to think outside the box.  We have to be comfortable enough with ourselves that we can accept change.  What kind of change?  Change within.  This change within, is going to give us a brighter view on the Universe itself and how things work the way the do.

How do we go about this change?  Well, I think the absolute best way to go about this change, is to go out and experience the world.  If you can't travel the world, travel your own country at least.  It's always easier to travel within your own country than it is to travel the world.  So, what is there to gain by all this travel?

Knowledge and Experience.  These two things combine, will allow us to look at our inner selves and see things in a different way.  Think about how your first experience was with a foreigner.  Ok, got that experience?  Many people's first experience with a foreigner in America is often with Chinese people in a Chinese buffet.  If you're Chinese or Oriental for that matter, that's often a different story.

This knowledge and experience we gain over time, will shape who we become.  It will change the way we think, unless of course you're a stubborn fool that is set in your own ways.  I believe that the best way to grow, is to experience.  The experience of different cultures and the way they see things and do things for that matter, changes us all.  Whether we like it or not.  This perspective allows us to broaden our minds, thus giving us a brighter picture.

If you can't travel the world, you can get the same experience from traveling in your own country.  While not to the extent of traveling the world, it does have it's benefits.  The more people you interact with, the more you'll learn.  We have to make it a point, to learn and grow.  If we stop learning, then what are we?  You might have made straight A's in school, but unless you apply that knowledge and grow, you're a nobody.  Do we really want to be a nobody?  I know I sure don't.