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Like you, I’d certainly like to see the histogram of their networks across size. I can’t imagine them offering that any more than we would have at netflix if you wanted to see data on how our service was used. i never felt it made us bad for not sharing that. my guess is that ning would feel the same way; although -like i said - i’d certainly be interested in that data.

I came across ning late in the game, i suppose. Just over a month ago. Somehow, in combination with what i had learned from netflix, ning hit a sweet spot. I quickly built a netfliixish community, then i tried my hand at (unannounced) petroglyph ceramic lounge+ning; a home video site (making movies with mike+ning), and even a tiny private site for me and my immediate family. As you can imagine, the netflix site has grown rapidly in 6 weeks to just about 1200 folks. I’m still playing with the others, and my family now use our private site for various odd family matters - across the nation and across a few generations. It’s kinda fun, although my mother isn’t sure yet. Anyway, i think it’s worth noting that the size of the group isn’t directly in proportion to its value proposition. The netflix site is pretty irrelevant to netflix right now (with only 1200 folks), and yet my family site is perfect for the 12 of us presently who use it.

I can’t speak for Ning, certainly. I’m only learning about their business now. I just think that your assertion that their failure to post the data you requested is somehow nefarious; or that quantity of large networks is the only sign of corporate health. I’m also surprised at your logical leap that by marketing whatever they think are their assets they are “pimping” for a sale. They’re a start up, i suppose. They seem to be growing rapidly. And eventually they will either go public or get sold, if the investors want to score. So there is no big leap there. But i don’t see the evil in this. I think their product is fun and accessible, but flawed, and they seem to be working on it diligently. I’ve enjoyed the results of my playing in their sandbox - home spun, simple social networks.

The vote is still out on whether ning will prevail in this space, but i find your observations and conclusions mostly hyperbole. I expect more from you. It almost strikes me that you have an agenda, and you’re not saying what it is. I’d like to hear that.

Yahoo Groups has north of 2 MILLION “social networks” - http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=a

While Google Groups has digested all of usenet in only 10,003 “social networks” - http://groups.google.com/groups/dir