The good the bad and the ugly is a perfect phrase for what I've seen of the Newsvine beta thus far ...

Let me summarize my personal opinions into these three categories. I'd like to get a decent poll going and lots of feedback for the benefit of all of us.

First the ugly

What is ugly for me is nothing new to Newsvine -  the complete failure of NV management to communicate with NV'ers as a whole ... 

that perhaps is the most disturbing element of what is happening as I read the confusion and comments of NV'ers - this seems to be amusing to some legacy NV'ers and by default you get the feeling that some NV staff are snickering at all of us as we churn ... 

Second the bad

Limiting memberships is equivalent to suppressing how we think ... a distinction must be made between owning a group aka nation and being a member in a group ...

In the latter case you have an interest in the former you have a responsibility.

NV has combined these and limited them as if one. 

They are not.

Limiting memberships specifically forces NV'ers into larger nations that are mostly manned by NV insiders or staffers and will eventually be 100% under the control of NV as citizen journalism is buried symbolically on a back page.

I read comments to the effect that the new NV is better ... but I've still to read any explanation as to how  - except for the obsession with moderation.

Moderation is not the problem  - it is a Trojan horse being used to shred the core NV community which has been increasing in power and relevance.

Third the good

It seems we will keep our friends  - and if we are not being mislead the ability to embed google ad-sense is a positive for those of us who like to measure our progress by both readership and earnings. 

HOPY CHANGEY STUFF:

I'd like to have an archive of my comments so I can trace back to my discussion threads .... I'm sure many understand what I mean ..

memberships must not be limited ... otherwise it severely impedes the ability of an author to reach an audience of significance.

Memberships are like thoughts ... and we humans are interested in much more than 15 subjects -  the beta is restricting "freedom of thought"

I don't think NBC NEWS wants to be labeled as being an overt advocate of thought suppression.

Again  ... nation ownership is entirely different and separate from memberships.

Now I invite you to share your opinions via several polls I've designed.