I was just thinking this in the middle of the night when I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep over this whole thing. Isn't that nuts? I lost sleep over a flipping website... only it wasn't over a website. It was over people like Paul, who I follow and people like Ladybug Heather who has a post right beneath this one in my feed right now, and lots and lots of others. Anyway, well said. - Vicarbott

can I like it more then once?!! - abdellah

Jim, I don't think that's nuts. This web site has great tech for finding interesting people, and that's where this community came from. - Bruce Lewis from fftogo

Bruce, give me a little credit -- I'm pretty sure I haven't been brainwashed. For what it's worth, I spent the majority of the time talking, including quite a bit of time talking about the fact that Facebook has a poor reputation among many people. Also, I believe your claim that they are using your picture in ads is incorrect -- see http://cbs5.com/local... - Paul Buchheit

Paul, plain and simple: why did you sell FF? (you told me you wouldn't, in our chat) - Luca Sofri

The same reason anyone sells their labour. Go read Wealth Of Nations by Adam Smith, 18th century economist. Profit :) - Mark

Ok, it would be an answer. But I didn't hear from Paul. Here is what he told me about selling to Google: http://friendfeed.com/lucasof... - Luca Sofri

I like you, and I'm more than willing to give you a little credit. It's just that "Trust me, Facebook is OK" is a big pill to swallow. And I'm not going to try hard to defend what I wrote; the goal was more to spill the worst inside thoughts/impressions than to present a solid argument. Maybe it's unreasonable to suggest you were brainwashed, but reassure me anyway! - Bruce Lewis

Bruce, the answer is very simple: Paul is fully aware of any outright manipulation and/or attempts to dupe him that may or may not have taken place before this deal was concluded. Let's give him at least that much credit. But the Paul you "know" is only part of the Paul that Paul knows, and that other Paul knows what's best for Paul, April and Thomas, their offspring and future chance of feeling proud on account of him being "their son the doctor!" ;-)) - ianf ⌘

Maybe to became the Bungie Jason Jones ten years after the Microsoft's Bungie acquisition? :) - Federico Bolsoman

ianf, I don't know whether your answer is right or wrong, but even if it's right, it doesn't help me know the future of friendfeed.com. I look forward to Paul's blog post. - Bruce Lewis

Luca, what I said was true -- we weren't looking for anyone to buy FriendFeed. However, after talking with a lot of people at Facebook, we realized that this is the best way forward for both the product and the team. - Paul Buchheit

ok, still curious about what made you think that, but you deserve our trust and patience. Let us know. - Luca Sofri

Bruce, I've only been here for 4 months (of rather intensive participation - 3500+ comments, or approximately 6 times my previous yearly total), but it's been clear to me from the start that FF has to evolve or die. It could not stand still, even in ever better functional shape, without going under. Let's face it, compared to FB's 300M global users, Twitters [whatever—I don't know the number, but it's bound to be large]; Google Readers' equal unimaginary hordes of users, the Friendfeed with its 250K users, of which just a handful is active, was a shade of a pimple on Internet's ass. Not a good recipe for survival. With luck, Paul and others here will contribute something to make FB a better place for its users, and, after a while, return as builders of Better Mousetrap Social Media in a new guise. Or something. Nothing lasts for ever except for eternity, and even that is overhyped [I just made that up, but it sure sounds impressive!] - ianf ⌘

Bruce, which part of my answer don't you know about? Also, are you going to correct your ads assertion? - Paul Buchheit

@paul: just to clarify my bungie reference: http://bolso.tumblr.com/post... - Federico Bolsoman

Paul, I added an editorial note next to the part about ads. What I don't know about is why this is the best way forward for the product. A brief comment probably won't fully answer that question; I eagerly await a blog post. - Bruce Lewis

I had dreams about discussing this on real-time posts. Not kidding. - Kamilah Reed (K. Gill)

I would also really like to see FriendFeed's view on this acquisition. It'd be really cool to see what the FF guys were thinking when they made this move as I know a good portion of the users are confused by it (I understand this is unprecedented and highly uncommon with deals like this). I would also really like to see exactly whether Paul and the team have official word that FriendFeed will continue on as a separate product and whether development will continue. - Brandon Titus

I understand it's asking a lot to get this kind of communication from any company when it is fully within your write to make your own deal in whichever way you wish for whatever reasons you wish. I believe you guys are different though and will be more than able to communicate with the users. :-) - Brandon Titus

This is a mute point, the deal has been made and we must now either support it or move to another environment more suited to your needs. I'm not shocked that FriendFeed decided to sell, I'm surprised but not shocked. Most software / technology companies start up with the hopes that someone would pay big bux for the smarts and technology produced. I have to respect the decision regardless of whether I think it's right or wrong...they own it and can do as they please. Having said that, I may not agree on the surface but there must be good reasons other than money. I hope there is anyway. - Owen Greaves

Moot. Points are moot, not mute. #oohgirl - Josh Haley from iPhone

Owen: I'm not saying I'm shocked and I certainly respect their decision. I am just saying that if Paul and co. want to keep the majority of the community who is up in arms, they should have open communication about the reasons for the deal and the future of FriendFeed (in simple but thorough and official terms that say more than Paul's personal promise since he, unfortunately, no longer has full control over the product anymore). - Brandon Titus

Brandon: I get it, but they don't have to do anything, they don't have to confer with the community...sure we want them to but when the rubber meets the road they don't have to do anything. It still sucks and I don't like it either but it is what it is. Sorry if I sound cold on the topic but it's done, let's try to move on. - Owen Greaves

Josh: I'm Canadian, that's the Canuck way to say it :) J/K - Owen Greaves

Owen, I don't buy it. It's not correct Canuck unless it ends with ", eh?". ;-) - Bruce Lewis

Ok, it's a mute point eh! Sorry, it should be a moot point eh! - Owen Greaves

When it comes to FF, both "moot" and "mute" may be apropos. - Kathy Fitch

Owen, the decision to stay or leave is not a clear choice because we don't know if what will is being offered if we stay. We have no idea if or when Facebook will become as good as Friendfeed is today. - Vezquex