I wont be making the move to DK-4
I've had a look around the beta and it seems purpose built for cliques; or has some have called it the silo effect.
The one thing I like about the current fluid structure is the interactivity and immediacy, I can see this all but disappearing as many diarists and commentators align into like minded groups.
I think the ability to write unlimited diaries is a mistake, quite frankly [myself included] most people cant write one half decent diary a day.
If you dedicate yourself to diary writing then you probably wont have time to comment elsewhere.
The other effect will be the sheer repetition; gone will be the shout of 'already diaried' because there is only so much 'breaking news' available on any given day. The recent diary list will become tedious and hence encourage further isolation into groups.
Personally I just wont have time to do all the searching on multiple pages and then filter through the dross. I really don't want to be continually informed, I prefer the hit and miss of today.
The new site seems purpose built for quantity over quality; therefore most will limit what they see to the few diarists/groups they follow with interest; or the front page just to see what is going on. If you don't believe me have a look over on DK-4 click on any of the front pagers and see the list of who they follow, the lists are rather short.
I don't twitter or facebook, and certainly don't want my email box filled to overflowing just to keep me 'informed'.
Its been a lot of fun even the pie fights since they are highly reactive/interactive, some may welcome their disappearance but many of the meta diaries comments can be very informative in themselves.
If you want to know how I think there is a history of 450+ good, bad and indifferent diaries in my account that pretty much cover all subjects and my views on them. There is really not much to add.
As an expat; the US is psychologically more distant with each passing year with its politics and social trends becoming near incomprehensible to me. Keeping up with current events in the US have to be honest has lost a great deal of appeal.
Time to concentrate on Marie-Louise and our life together in a country that has many problems of its own at this time.
Thanks for the laughs, the thoughts and the OMFG moments; sorry about not falming out with a mega rant.