Google unveiled it’s latest innovation yesterday. I watched the webcast and was amused at how some attendees were quick to say, “Um, this looks like Facebook. How is it really innovative?”

Then a bunch of nerds got up this morning and started twitching (Twitter bitching (or acute muscle spasms)) that Google Buzz was stupid and they weren’t convinced it was going to be anything special.

Some even said it was doomed for failure.

How could they possibly know that? It has been out less than a day and only available to a small number of users and they’ve already solidified the fate of Buzz? Give me a break!

So why do some people already HATE Google Buzz?

The simple answer is that they are already firmly rooted in their social network happy places and don’t want to see anything or anyone crap on their Utopia.

Many self-proclaimed social media gurus often ask unnecessary questions like, “What’s the next Twitter or Facebook?”  Or, “What does the future of social networking look like?” They try to stay ahead of what hasn’t even happened yet (yeah, wtf? I know!) because they get some sort of validation from it. However, when something comes along that could really set the stage for the future of social networking they immediately balk at it.

Actually, let’s broaden that statement and tell it like it is: When ANYTHING NEW comes along they immediately take a dump on it.

Has anyone else noticed this trend? Or am I just a wild optimist and think everything new is grand? Apparently, in order to be Web 2.0 savvy or a social media rock star, you have to annihilate any and every new idea with a negative tweet or blog post. I’m not saying let’s commit to love at first sight (or site, as the case may be), but I’d love to know why everything has to be seen as a negative straight out of the gate.

Here are a few examples of  tweets from the Twitosphere (it literally pains me to type that) regarding Google Buzz:

• Much a buzz about nothing – Why Google Buzz will fail. http://ow.ly/15V2R (via @grahamjones)
• Feeling curmudgeonly because I just want email to be email, I don’t want it to “buzz”. (via @jspad)
• Yo Google Buzz, I’m really happy for you and I’mma let you finish, but Twitter is one of best social networks of all time. (via @nickellis)
• Beginning to think that Google Buzz is just more noise added to the mix. (via @shindz)

Now that was just a quick sampling, but it represents the majority of what all of these die hard twits are saying about Buzz.

Look, I’m on Twitter (@willsloan) and I like it for what it is. It has a specific purpose and use; just as Facebook, Four Square, YouTube and others do. They are all individual tools with individual purposes in the realm of social networking. You don’t hammer a screw in. You find the right tool for the job and use it for what it was designed for. This is why I get all pissy when people try to compare Twitter to Facebook. Apples to oranges. Cake to ice cream.  Stop. Comparing. Them.

Here is why Google Buzz is significant and, yes, innovative. They have taken their own version of these individual tools and placed them all in the same toolbox. Whoa! Before you stop reading this and go directly to the comment box to strike up an argument — I am keenly aware that you can connect Facebook with Twitter with YouTube with FriendFeed with Tumbr with living tissue (well, not yet but soon), etc. and so on. BUT (intentionally big but) you are still using individual accounts on individual sites. Not to mention what a pain in the nads it is to set some of these connections up. Let’s also not forget maintaining them. Barf.

I log in with my one and only (and very much loved) Google account and I have access to all of these features in one place with minimal setup and minimal maintenance. By the way, want to follow me on buzz? Click here! Not to mention the impressive array of Google apps that already exist and could soon be integrated into Buzz. My mind is wild with the possibilities here.

Graham Jones (Internet Psychologist, Internet Consultant, Author, Speaker, Broadcaster, Internet Blowhard) blogged, “[Google Buzz] is no more than an ‘integrator’.” Wait a sec. You think this is a negative aspect, Graham? Really? Can someone explain to my why integration is bad? Integration is attractive, my friends. I like having all of my eggs in one basket. So do you, you big nay-saying liar! Your Twitter account is connected to all of your other social networking sites for the purpose of convenience, brought to you by… integration. Graham, you’re an Internet Psychologist (?) not an Internet Psychic. Stop gazing into your crystal balls.

Graham also puked up this gem, “Don’t judge the likely success of Google Buzz on the technophiles,” claiming that the only people who use Gmail currently “are online geeks who just love using the technology.” What an asshole. You can reach him at graham.jones@gmail.com – okay, not really… or maybe.

Is Google Buzz the Twitter/Facebook/Four Square killer? Who knows? But let’s freaking give it a chance to contend properly with the big boys before we go writing it off!

I think there is some serious promise in what Google is offering. I’m admittedly a Google Fanboy. I love what they do and how they do it and I will give Buzz the chance it deserves before blasting its suckage on Facebook and Twitter.

Let’s also keep in mind, as they stated at the press conference yesterday, that Buzz is still in it’s infancy and is going to continue being developed based on user feedback. Do you really think Facebook was built in a day? So let’s take some of that negative static and turn it into constructive criticism for the developers. Why don’t you help them out instead of looking like giant elitist asses? Hmmm? I’ve already noted quite a few things that would improve it, but that doesn’t mean I hate it.

UPDATE: My friend and fellow blogger, Brett Milner, wrote up a great article for any of you Google Apps users. A whole different problem. Same outcome.

Now it’s your turn. Go ahead. Let me have it. I won’t censor you.

Let’s talk about it!

• What are your thoughts on Buzz?
• How do you think this will impact the social network scene?
• Could it threaten the social network Goliaths?

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