First-
Ok… Apple, you win.
iDon’t simply mean the Samsung v. Apple court case in California, the 70% (iPad) tablet market share and arguably the best OS in the world. I mean – I can’t sit back without sinking my teeth into Apple, Inc. any longer.
After three and a half years – I’m bringing Thunk Different back. (maybe)
Yep.
More on that later…
For now… some ABC’s on why (exasperated!) “Diaspora*” failed. Frankly, It was never going to do well even though we all wanted it to.
I’m sure it was an exhilarating ride, one with an explosive beginning and a tragic ending. So, hat tip for trying, the timing was right when the team of NYU students announced it. Eager students, lots of press, a precursor to silicon alley site, but alas… diaspora is now history. Here is a summation of evidence.
EXHIBIT A: The name
You would think that a new company willing to unseat another relatively new company (facebook) would be more bold, more stealth, or more path-like in its meaning. The very word, “Diaspora” according to Dictionary.com means:
Yikes!
Look it up there yourself. It would not be my first choice. It’s a term citing an event from an epoch long ago. So not only was the name centuries past its prime, it’s a four syllable word, hard to spell for kids, (unlike say, face book) and pretty much means a “scattering, dispersion… a running for the hills. Yes – that’s what it means.
So yeah, poor choice in a name for a social network designed to be new and bring people together*.
EXHIBIT B: The domain name.
JoinDiaspora.com. 99% of a good domain is a good domain. Sure you can add a .me or a .in or an ingenious impossible to fail, del.icio.us type sub-tld hybrid, if you can’t get the .dom/net/org. But to me this seemed like the name of a place holder, not the domain. Perhaps there was a road map to change it (outside of the “too long to tweet” cousin site, diasporafoundation.org), if there was we’ll never likely know.
EXHIBIT C: Zuck’s Buck.
On May 28th, 2010 Mashable.com wrote the headline, Mark Zuckerberg Donated to Facebook Alternative, Diaspora.” Ouch is what I thought when I read that headline that day. I’m sure the Disapora team had good intentions and one could cite that, “a rising tide carries all ships.” Yet, good grief… they signed their death warrant before they could launch. Could you imagine what the thought process was? I’m sure any potential VC, angel or investor would scratch their head at that. Pretty sophomore move. But let’s given them a break, they were students and they tried.
So, I was not surprised to hear the news reported today and receive co founder Dan Grippi’s email tonight. As an owner of a successfully failed startup, I get it. It feels like the world is upside down, but hear me, it is not. Sleep on it, in a few hours the sun with come up and everything will be right side up again.
Best of luck to the bright minds and brave hearts remaining of the Diaspora Project.
-Joined Diaspora. (Every little thing is going to be alright.)
Posted by Ryan Thompson 
iRecently read a post from a current co-worker who was changing roles after 7 years of faithful service. He is a great guy and iWish him luck. IVE only been here 3 years with THUNK Different and I’ll tip my hat to that co-worker by naming this post after his goodbye post.
