Social networking is not about meaningless gestures into some stranger's gesture bank.

But I do believe a component of it does involve making meaningful gestures in other people's gesture bank, to use such annoying jargon. In other words, it's about using the web to make real relationships that can end up being mutually beneficial.

This post is about me droppin' a little somethin' somethin' in people's gesture bank. The people referenced are folks whom I think will benefit from the open source social network, which I'm working on leveraging and customizing. These fine folks are, of course, extended a warm welcome to KidMercuryBlog.com, the community specifically designed to give Internet entrepreneurs the truth that sets them free.

1. Dave Winer. Gotta give props to father of RSS, if for no other reason than good luck. Open social networks will be splicing and dicing RSS feeds to make great new things, for sure.
2. Fred Wilson. While I do consider Twitter and the ridiculous amount of hype surrounding it to be one of the tech web's foremost annoyances, I do think your portfolio is awesome. I sent my business plan to USV, but even if you are not interested, I think there is a great opportunity for the open social network I am working on to be of value for some firms in your portfolio (namely your ad network plays, which can be plugged into the open source social network and can be used to finance its distribution). So we should definitely talk more about that, at some point.
3. Steven Johnson. Outside.in is going to be successful, so I'm contacting you to find ways to ride your success. I'll be investing in your ecosystem ( i.e. helping placebloggers and spreading your widgets). So here is my deposit in your gesture bank. Be sure to show it to all your friends!
4. Marc Andreessen. I think our businesses could be complementary; Ning could be the infrastructure for the online worlds, although I do think there is an emerging opportunity in making worlds (i.e. remixing crap to create new stuff). So, our paths could intersect in mutually beneficial ways. Oh, and don't think I don't see that link to "Ask Rosie" on your blog, Marc. Can you say dudes-who-start-billion-dollar-internet-companies-like-it-aint-no-thang-for-911-truth.ning.com? I think you can, Marc, I think you can.
5. Seth Levine. One of things I was thinking about regarding the future of web finance is that firms will setup open source production communities, and will create funds like tech stars to jump start a development community. We should develop that idea at some point. Google is, as always, ahead of the game and sort of pursuing this angle already via Google Gadgets Ventures. But we can position the box I'm working on to let anyone play this game.
6. Brad Feld. See above. And don't think I didn't see that post on open source and LDAP authentication. Looks like someone knows the truth about open source....
7. Brian Clark. Social networks will be how great bloggers build and extend their brand and take their revenue earnings to the next level. That's you dawg. I mean we start with the copyblogger social network, but then the copyblogger journal, copyblogger pens, copyblogger mouse pads, copyblogger water bottles, copyblogger t-shirts...it could go on forever!
8. Rand Fishkin. I do believe there is a market for a content management system for SEOs. "The bait taker." I think there's also an opportunity in spreading this content management system, and then allowing data to be shared. It's how SEOs can work together to take down the man!
9. Umair Haque. You know I'm all about the reconstruction game, the hyperlocal game. YOUR GAME.
11. Andy Hagans. Serving the guerrilla SEO is what I'm all about. That's definitely where the future of the web is going; it's the guerrilla game from here on out.
12. Black Knight. I'm looking to be all buddy-buddy with the top dawgs of search. If search marketers can market data boxes that gathers user data, it sets the stage for all of this data being remixed to create new stuff (like better search engines that will benefit everyone). So, helping and connecting quality SEOs is what I'm all about.
13. Jason Calacanis. JDawg, you've invested a lot in new classes of work that the Internet is creating. How about the new discipline of world making? Or perhaps better referred to as social network manufacturing? I think niche social networks that can be aggregated might be something you and Mahalo might find interesting, either now or at some point in the future. After all, the end game is about gathering user information.

Of course, in order for us to do business, I have to be able to trust you, which means I have to know that you're telling the truth. But don't worry: I'll give you another chance to tell the truth very shortly.

14. RC Jordan. I know you're all in with the underground of SEO, where the secret empires are being built, where the covert takeover of the web is being planned. I'm looking to be all buddy-buddy with SEOs, and find a way for them to gather data and then share it to create the big thing that benefits everyone. Plus, any organization I'm a part of needs to keep it real, like down South real. I know you know what I'm talkin' about.
15. Zoints. You guys have the technology for the takeover that really exploits the interoperability that open source allows. We should be friends to pursue that to the max.
16. vBulletin. You guys know you are like Facebook, but only a million times better, right? Anytime you need help just let me know. I look to benefit everyone in the vBulletin ecosystem.
17. vbAdvanced. Lovin' Dynamics and vBAdvanced, fellas. I'm essentially in the business of remixing the contributions of the vBulletin community, and your contributions are among the best. So, as a symbol of thanks, please take this gesture and put it in your gesture bank.
18. Dick Costolo. FeedBurner was so awesome, man. Strategically, the best business idea since Google. So here's a gesture just for the awesomeness of FeedBurner.
19. Adam Green. I'm a beliver in Grazr. I'll be using your stuff and spreading your stuff.
20. John Battelle. Federated Media is a widget, and like all widgets, it needs to be plugged in. Why not plug it into the open social network I'm working on? We can make worlds for your bloggers.
21. PayPerPost. You guys are in the business of having professional content developers create ads. That's a great business to be in, and a perfect complement to a company of world makers.
22. Alex Jones. Gotta give props to the truth. I emailed you about this before, but if you ever want a custom built social network, just let me know. This is how you can leverage your influence to the max. Social networks were made for influencers like you. If you ever need help on any web stuff, don't hesitate to contact me. And don't worry, victory is almost assured (astrologically we're about to hit the turning point....I think we are at a point analogous to where Hitler was at in terms of when the astrological picture started to turn sour for him....he didn't listen to his astrologers, and he caused a lot more damage, and I think the New World Order will self-destruct in the same manner. It will be painful for all of us, but the good news is that the self-destruction is about to begin and escalate [Loose Change's release on September 11, the day of a solar eclipse, is a very opportune time to spread the truth and affect the collective consciousness]).
23. John Hagel. My business strategy can pretty much be described as "reading John Hagel's books and then doing what he says." So, thanks for that. Here's a gesture you can put in your gesture bank.
24. Nick Wilson. All I'm doing is finding ways to create niche versions of Threadwatch that can be profitable in and of themselves, and can be rebundled to create something much bigger and more profitable. So, as a symbol of my gratitude for your gift of Threadwatch, here's a gesture for your gesture bank.

I welcome you folks, and any Internet folks interested in conquering their corner of the web (or even the whole thing), to join KidMercuryBlog.com: the community that delivers quality information while helping you build real relationships.