People are seriously bashing the new “photo-sharing app” Path that launched the other day. Check all the hate in the comments on TechCrunch. The reason all these dudes just comment on blog posts rather than start companies is because they don’t get it. Path will be much more.

Morin didn’t assemble the 1927 Yankees equivalent of investors for a photo-shairng app. He hooked them in because he pitched the concept of creating meaningful networks of close friends – the people who you would actual share baby photos, traval pics and tips, invite to dinner, buy xmas presents, miss when you don’t see for a while, get advice from, take shopping, and general have in your life. “Path allows you to capture your life’s most personal moments and share them with the 50 close friends and family in your life who matter most.”

Facebook is not that right now. I am testament to this. I logged in two days ago and ripped through my ‘friend’ list. It was easy for me to un-friend over 100 people because frankly I didn’t even know who they were. Add to that, a lot of my friends and family aren’t on Facebook, and I get a social network that is more like a place to broadcast data to acquantances while I continue to email my actual friends and family the things that are meanignful…like pics of my young son.

So is there room to take a different tack? There is, but it won’t be won in a “size matters” contest. Facebook is on its way to 1 billion and there’s no stopping that train.

The answer: start small and keep the circles small and real…