What's in a Dame

App for evaluating peeps apt to fall flat

There's people watching. And then there's Peeple watching.

People watching involves simply watching people.

Peeple watching involves watching people, judging them, scoring them, ruining their reputations and relationships and being sued for libel.

At least that's what we predict will happen with Peeple, a soon-to-be-released app that allows people to rate their friends, colleagues, family, etc., on a star system, the way one might an inanimate, unfeeling entity like a hotel, restaurant or spa.

Slogans for the app: "Learn about people. For the people. By the Peeple" and "Character is destiny."

Social media outrage suggests that few people actually want Peeple and that its lack of character makes the app, expected for release in November, destined to fail.

Consider it, as my friend calls it "the 'Hotel California' of apps." Once you've been entered in Peeple's system (by anyone who has your cell number -- your permission not required), there's no getting out. And negative reviews cannot be deleted -- at least not before you go through some kind of appeals process whereby you notify Peeple that the content is inaccurate. Anyone can say anything about you, and suddenly you're jerky until proven innocent.

Well, not anyone and not anything, Peeple's founders pointed out in a recent Washington Post article. To use Peeple, people must be 21, have established Facebook accounts and make reviews under real names. Yeah, because all people on Facebook are of age and using their true identities. And Facebook accounts are so secure and never get hacked. Riiiight.

The Post quoted app co-founder Julia Cordray in defense of her abominable enterprise that it's in beta testing and is valued at about $7.6 million: "People do so much research when they buy a car or make those kinds of decisions Why not do the same kind of research on other aspects of your life?"

Research or ranting? Anyone plugged in knows that social media is the sharpest, swiftest modern weapon of choice for anyone with a score to settle.

Still, Cordray insists that she and her business partner, Nicole McCullough, have a different motive in mind for the app. They see the reviews as feedback that can give people valuable personal and professional insight. And they stress that bullying won't be tolerated.

"As two empathetic, female entrepreneurs in the tech space, we want to spread love and positivity," Cordray told the Post. "We want to operate with thoughtfulness."

In fairness, I haven't used the app. But, in fairness, Cordray and McCullough don't know the people they'll allow to be judged either.

I nevertheless have a rating for Peeple. No stars! Deplorable. Reckless. Irresponsible. And on top of that, lousy at spelling!

Let me hear a peep out of you, email:

jchristman@arkansasonline.com

What's in a Dame is a weekly report from the woman 'hood.

Style on 10/06/2015

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