The default was set to the first option, which (as much as I hate to say it), still gives his argument some grounds. Google should've set it as opt-in instead of opt-out.
But, man, talk about being over the top. It's Google's products that he's using for free. They don't owe anything to him. His rant does more damage to his character than to Google's profits, IMO.
EDIT: It goes without saying that I prefer Will Wheaton's post much more than Scoble's. And he's not 'freaking out' as Scoble claims.
They actually do owe him something, like being the evangelist for their platform. Scoble did do free marketing for G+ (on every place he is/was - I know this from Quora, for example).
At least Google could have asked the top users on G+ before releasing this. Is that hard to do? You suppose not to alienate your users, especially when something you are competing against (Facebook) is already established and you want those users.
I feel 'meh'. I just fixed mine, and that's it. People shouldn't rely on Facebook for making new connections anyway. And my friends who are there know how to contact me better than to rely on Facebook only.
I mean, do people seriously expect these things not to happen? We don't have absolute control over these things. These companies only give us the illusion of control so we can make them some cash, at the end of the day.
But, man, talk about being over the top. It's Google's products that he's using for free. They don't owe anything to him. His rant does more damage to his character than to Google's profits, IMO.
EDIT: It goes without saying that I prefer Will Wheaton's post much more than Scoble's. And he's not 'freaking out' as Scoble claims.