I find it somewhat amazing that the uproar over privacy in Gmail/Buzz (30million users or so?) generates as much, if not more, controversy than similar on Facebook with 10X the users. I'd have to suggest that means people are just using the opportunity to take swipes at the Google. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

I think a lot of it has to do with expectations. Lots of people signed up for Facebook so when Facebook makes changes to Facebook, people at least understand that's the deal. I think with Gmail, lots of folks signed up for a email account and then suddenly, without permission, it became a social media thing. Funny thing is, if they had simply asked users first (opt-in), this wouldn't even be an issue... but... that's the 'aggressive' line they took to compete. - Johnny

Even though I've turned Buzz off in my Gmail, I tend to agree with Google's decision there. The longer term view that they have basically seems that it required a move like this as a stepping stone to what they see as the future. Without something like Buzz in a familiar interface that everyone can understand (email) they're never going to understand how to use Wave in a public forum. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

And, I think they did ask users first. I recall that when I signed into Gmail that day, I was asked if I wanted Buzz in my Gmail. I tried it, it went berzerk filing Buzzes in with all my email...and I put off filters for another day. I turned it off. (I do use it though, and personally have exactly Zero privacy desires, concerns, or complaints - I presume, like Eric Schmidt suggests I should, that everything I post online is viewable by someone....which makes it inherently not private. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

And seriously - if you're concerned about the following/follower list showing people you don't want....Remove them from the lists!!! Not hard, and Google did give the chance. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

BUT - There is one article I ran across that explains some basic methods that one can use to circumvent some of the privacy controls that ARE necessary in a social network - like the blocking feature, which appears to be easily defeated by the blockee. That's no good. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)