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Facebook introduces A**book site, for 'anti-social networking'
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While the popular social networking website Facebook's popularity has exploded in recent months, it is missing a key element that could triple its popularity. So an offshoot project intended to rectify this will be introduced this week.
The new product, called A**book, has the same format as its predecessor, but with one notable exception: It encourages posts that are nasty, negative and insulting, rather than adhering to the patina of courtesy that polishes the average Facebook page.
"People who post to Facebook are usually positive and complimentary," said company spokesperson Donna Rickles. "We have found that people who need to say something negative usually take it 'off page' and use the private e-mail channel, We are encouraging people to bring their emotions out in the open, which will be a lot healthier in the long run."
A**book applications are also a bit different. The most basic difference is the elimination of the word "Friend" to define a contact. Instead, they are to be referred to as "a**ses." There are also some handy editing tools for media, like a capacity to edit words from a video to change its meaning and a photo editor that can erase people that you no longer like from your visual history.
The site's launch was scheduled for April 1 but was delayed after one stockholder argued for the ability to post anonymously. This idea was voted down by the board of directors by a close margin.
"There is the idea that Facebook is so cordial because people have to attribute all their posts," Rickles said. "And that people have a hard time being honest when they need to use their own name. You see these on the newspaper comment boards all the time, where the really toxic stuff is anonymous.
"But we think that people will get used to this kind of honesty once they try it," she continued. "They might be reluctant to write something snarky at first, but once they have let insults fly and taken responsibility for them they will find that the experience is exhilarating."
To join the A**book beta program click here,
