Kun-eck-shuns

[Image: Visualization of my Facebook network through TouchGraph.]

Earlier this week, someone who has been a longtime follower reached out on Facebook (and then Twitter and Flickr) because he thought that it might be nice to connect beyond our longstanding at least halfway anonymous blogger/reader relationship.

And then I happened upon an interesting post by Francois Gossieaux about the increased importance of networking on social media sites and the connections they foster during an economic downturn (essentially, some people may need your support right now, and if you find yourself in need it's great to have a solid community to turn to.)

As social media serendipity often does, these two things got me thinking.  I write this blog and (to state the obvious) you read it.  Maybe you comment now and then, but odds are you don't.  If you're a blogger, I may read your posts as well -- but unless you've raised your hand in one way or another, I may not even know that we have a reciprocol relationship.  For that matter, I probably don't know if we are connected through other social sites or even if we've met in real life.

I think it would be interesting to get to know one another a little better.

• Are we Facebook friends?
• Are we LinkedIn connections?
• Do we follow each other on Twitter?
• Have our avatars met in Second Life?
• Have you browsed my Flickr photos?
• Do you view or download my presentations on Slideshare?
• Have we ever chatted on ooVoo, gTalk or AIM?
• Have we ever met in person?

Do you wanna?  Then please feel free to connect with me in any (or all) of these other ways.