@vega I think you have identified something important here. There is some overlap because it is possible to become invested in individuals on Twitter, but the design of Twitter leans it more to topics and less on "direct connections with particular people." This explanation has been eluding me for some time. There has been some reason I haven't felt engaged with MB for several months.

MB is a place online, where one can find decent and civilized human contact about generalities. Coffee shop conversation. But as @khurtwilliams points out, specific topics are ephemeral and finding them difficult on MB.

This lack of deeper topical engagement and discovery thereof, on MB is a double edged sword: it prevents Twitter pile-ons, but it leaves many of us, not quite satisfied. This could be a problem for long term retention. I'd like to see if MB can increase the topical aspect a bit without losing the direct connections aspect which I also value.

cc. @Manton