I'd recommend getting a Google+, but I'm biased. I resisted these things for a long time, too, but eventually got into it and I'm finding it's a FAR better experience than the forums for follow your family, friends and acquaintances as well as your interests (varied, not just Maemo like here). Google+ is ESPECIALLY nice because it focuses HIGHLY on privacy and management of your friends into circles and Google has made overtures of not surprising everyone with automatically opting you into privacy-damaging new features or functions like Facebook as been notorious for doing repeatedly. That's my take, anyway. Hope to see you there! Let me know if you want an invite (PM me your gmail email address), I'll throw one your way.