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Portland's Fire is starved for fuel

I've happily followed Portland On Fire since its inception at the first of this year. I think it's a great idea, and I was really sad when it stopped updating at the end of March…

I talked to Raven Zachary at Bar Camp last weekend, and confirmed the sad truth: He's run out of submissions. I feel especially guilty with this since I have never quite finished mine. (I'll do it when I'm done with this blog post.)

If you live in Portland, and feel moved, I'd strongly encourage you to catch Fire. (The pun-inducing name is awesome.)

Fire away, people. I want to meet you. Friend of Bart

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First Look

The site is vaguely unsettling to me. Not extremely unsettling, but vaguely.

First, there's no focus. It's not model-train builders or knitters or anything. It's just folks, any old folks at all. I know I can narrow my views down with keywords, but it's still just a hugely incomplete database of all people living in Portland.

Second are the privacy concerns. You put your real name and real photo and real personality description online for general access. You implicitly state the city where you live.

Third is the motivation. Why would I want to be listed? What's in it for me? Am I so lonely that I'm hoping to make an online friend? Am I looking for people with similar interests, but unskilled with more specific search methods? Am I just an egomaniac who shouts "Get to know me!" in "Jon Lovitz" fashion?

The site reminded me of the dozens of online dating services. I know that's not the focus of Portland on Fire, but it looks just the same. Add the discomfort of the issues listed above, and take away the appeal of romantic attraction.

I'm not surprised it hasn't attracted more listings.

  • By Neal at 2008-05-15 12:19
  • reply

I've enjoyed reading POF, and will post my bio soon

The folks who have posted so far are all well known in the Portland new-tech creative community, or at least wish to be. This hopefully explains why your focus, privacy and motivation concerns aren't really too applicable.

I've met at least half of these people at the various Portland-area events I've attended over the last year or so. I enjoy getting to know a little more about them, and meeting some of the ones I missed.

  • By Bart at 2008-05-16 01:20
  • reply

New Tech Creative?

The third guy I clicked on was a marketing guy trying to sell his marketing method. So I don't agree with your description of the users.

  • By Neal at 2008-05-17 22:10
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