I love Google+, but I’m sure you know that already.  However it does have its issues, just like any other social network.  In trying to find people to communicate with the issue of sharing circles has really bothered me.  The only other idea like sharing circles that I can think of is #FollowFriday and Retweeting or Share.  But if you want to find a group of people, Google created a share circle feature.  The technical implementation is very good, but the problem is the human element.

So in trying to be more friendly, I’ve accepted circles on topics I am interested in, such as Android people, Nexus people, and fitness people but each time I am disappointed.

It seems like people are just aggregating people to put in their list.  Does that 500 person circle really have 500 people who are passionate about Android?

Here are the people I see:
30 – 50 active people who I’m thankful for finding.
30 – 50 people who don’t post EVER in my language
20 – 30 Pages (not people)
250 people who have posted once.
100 people who posted once about said topic, and then have never posted about said topic ever again.

What I end up doing is putting them in a “test folder” then moving them away into proper circles.  Generally, I look at someone’s profile after they have circled me back, and make my decision.  Unpopular as it is, but I want people with my interests.  I also want people who have spent the time to follow me back.

Since I’ve accepted circles, most of them I have just deleted because they are filled with too much dead weight.  I want the people who comment, engage, and are a positive asset to the community.  I sure hope that I am setting the engagement example.

All I ask is that if you post a circle, please curate it so all of us get the best people to follow.

</rant>