Age: 26

Occupation:  Cook

Why I like TheBarAfterWork:

Maybe I just needed a way to escape all the noise around the house, but once I got lost in TheBarAfterWork, boy did I become relaxed! At first, like may people, I was a social-network-hater. But I realized that I couldn’t go on forever criticizing TheBarAfterWork without ever having tried it, so I reluctantly gave it a try. That's when strange things started happening. I became unexpectedly mesmerized by the rhythms and patterns I began to discern in the lives of the people I met at TheBarAfterWork. And I realized that my wife wasn't so bad after all!

Response from the staff at TheBarAfterWork: Hey, Joe, nice sentiment! But we noticed that you're just echoing a familiar riff about Twitter--that it can save your marriage. Listen, dude, it ain't gonna happen. Neither Twitter nor TheBarAfterWork is going to save your marriage. Only you can save your marriage. And if that's what actually happened, then congratulations to you!

Age: 39

Occupation: Analyst

Why I like TheBarAfterWork:

So I heard about some guy from Italy who claimed TheBarAfterWork is "the dumbest thing ever." What do Italians know about social networking? Personally, I've found TheBarAfterWork to be a handy way to blast out quick messages to the people sitting next to me. It's led me to some new acquaintances who I think are less crazy than me. I don't know that guy from Italy personally, but I'll extend him the courtesy of assuming he is a decent guy who knows a lot about lots of stuff, but he's obviously led a sheltered life.

Response from the staff at TheBarAfterWork: Hey, Hank, we like your style! Anyone who'll defend us against baseless attacks is all right with us. But we noticed that this whole "dumbest thing ever" is just a rehashing of something someone else --yes, an Italian guy-- already said about Twitter. Maybe the Italians have it right after all. Ask yourself this question: Who's really sheltered, the guy tweeting away late into the night on Twitter, or the guy ordering up another vodka on the rocks at TheBarAfterWork?

Age: 19

Occupation: Everybody's best friend/exotic entertainer

Why I like TheBarAfterWork:

Although I was nervous about it at first, having my baby live at TheBarAfterWork made it very easy for everyone at TheBarAfterWork to have up-to-the-second updates on the progress of my birth, from the first contractions to the birth of my adorable son.

Response from the staff at TheBarAfterWork: Well, Nancy, as we all know, they're doing it on Twitter. So why not at TheBarAfterWork? What do you think that back room is for?

Age: [Withheld]

Occupation: Accounting

Why I like TheBarAfterWork:

TheBarAfterWork is a more focussed and "grown-up" approach to what seems to be termed, "Social networking," as compared with MySpace which allows you to create a personalized promotional webpage. I have yet to establish why ambitious professionals might benefit from establishing themselves on MySpace, while at TheBarAfterWork, the benefits are just so obvious.

Response from the staff at TheBarAfterWork: Sorry, Doug, we like what you have to say but your thoughts apparently aren't original. They seem to be copied word-for-word from what another guy said already about Facebook here. But that's okay. Lots of social networks are alike (athough we think ours is better than others). Just remember: everyone is welcome at TheBarAfterWork!

Age: 42

Occupation: Lawyer

Why I like TheBarAfterWork:

I primarily use TheBarAfterWork as a business communication channel. It is a powerful medium to use for communicating with friends, colleagues, communities with shared interests, clients, potential clients, referral sources and potential referral sources. I try to interact at TheBarAfterWork nearly every day.

Response from the staff of TheBarAfterWork: Welcome to the network, Mary! From what we've heard, many other professionals agree with you that TheBarAfterWork is a powerful communication medium. However, it seems you have cribbed your comments almost verbatim from this blog post about Twitter. Not to worry, though: many things that can be said about Twitter can also be said about TheBarAfterWork!

Age: 27

Occupation: Salesman

Why I like TheBarAfterWork:

I used to be unemployed, but now I'm working again thanks to someone I met at TheBarAfterWork.

Whether or not you get an interview or land that next job via TheBarAfterWork depends on a variety of factors including how much time you invest in it, who you connect with, what you have to say, and more. What worked for me is a multi-faceted networking and job search strategy that included all types of networking, especially those in three dimensions.

Response from the staff at TheBarAfterWork: Thanks for the comment, John. And glad you like it! Although we noticed your TheBarAfterWork-job-search strategy sounds exactly like what someone else said about Twitter here, you still get points for enthusiasm!

Age: 35

Occupation: Professional

Why I like TheBarAfterWork:

I think what I really love about TheBarAfterWork is its a great democratic equalizer. We’re all just people, and we’re there to make connections that allow us to give and receive value. TheBarAfterWork makes it easy to find people who are into what you’re into, and want to have great conversations and debates and grow and learn. If you use it right, your life can be affected in any number of ways.

Response from the staff of TheBarAfterWork: Thanks, Ginger. It sounds exactly like what someone once said about Twitter here. But that's not surprising: TheBarAfterWork is the ORIGINAL social network.