I think the pseudo-elitist dislike against the more mainstream following of a Justin Bieber, Lady Gage or Kim Kardashian will only hurt Twitter alternatives like App.net (ADN). That’s actually why I didn’t really participate on ADN myself until a somewhat more mainstream mass had started using it: I don’t like intellectual bubbles.

Silicon Valley/SF has long become exactly the kind of pseudo-intellectual bubble that over-prides itself in things and fails to have the self-awareness needed to communicate effectively and add value to the real world out there. ADN should not become the online equivalent, so IMO, bring on the Biebers! And also: let's stop looking down on their followers. It helps no one, ever.

I'm in total agreement with you Faruk. If they want to be on a new platform, bring it.

In fact, I'd much rather have the Gaga's and the Bieber's than the make money online scam artists and multi-level marketing people if I'm being honest.

When we look at the problems with Twitter, the biggest issues to me have largely been around spam (which is more controllable if you don't have VCs pushing signups and user numbers), user discovery and feed management.

The Beliebers don't bother me because I don't follow them.

The basic issue was Internet "A-listers" reverted to their real life "C-list" status when the celebs showed up. I kid. The value of Twitter is it matters not who else is on or not. I can choose to follow and engage as I see fit as can others. Despite my tendency toward east coast elitist the reality is Twitter is a perfectly democratic platform that has worked. Despite all my whining it's a key part of my day. I'd prefer to see a biz model that preserves the value of the service to users like us but that's not my call.

I should point out that I was not and am not accusing Glenn or any of the participants in this or the originating Branch discussion of this pseudo-elitism. It’s an observation I’ve noticed from people discussing App.net in the media.

Michael touched upon what I care about here: power users (like myself) being listened and catered to by the service itself, rather than sacrificed in favor of the audiences of celebrities. One should not need to come at the expense of the other, and I feel like a lot of power users in Tech behave dismissively towards the celebrity-followers precisely because they’re upset about not getting the same respect—but elitism won’t help their cause at all, in fact I believe it hurts it.