default timeline should be a preference...

Sean, you want trouble? You got it! =P

A. As Critter said, we will be making that a feature in a future release.

B. Re: "Who thought of this?"

Feel free to blame it on me. Critter may look tough, but I'm the one who can stand the heat.

Here's where that feature comes from: Not too long ago, we added the ability for people to add video comments to their blogs. When those videos started showing up in the Public timeline, members of the community who watch the public timeline complained. Even more recently we've done some cool mashups with some cool partners like the X-Files. When those videos (by members of the Seesmic community) started showing up in the Public timeline, members of the community who watch the public timeline complained. We initially responded by not sending certain content to the public timeline, but the public timeline should be exactly that, public.

Based on feedback from users, we are making it easier to determine the people you want to see, since the public timeline will become increasingly noisier and busier. However, as you are pointing out, you should be able to determine your default views. So, we will be adding that in a future release. I hope this helps clarify our thought process.

C. I love all your feedback, so keep it coming. But feel free to blame it on me, instead of our awesome, hardcore, brilliant, overworked developers. =)

Good explanations from the Sees crew! But yah, I am with you, buddy.

Before I took off for Europe, I had seconded Sean's point of view, if I recall (maybe dreamt of it) on some seesmic comments videos. I am not happy with being forced to have the following tab view as my default view, I keep turning it back to the public timeline.

The main reason why I don't like it is that there is a great "turnover" on the timeline; and this will probably happen still for a long time, until the communities settle down, and completely form their own networks. I have added people to my follow list at times, especially in the beginning when those were very active, and some left, so the following tab is useful for me, when I want to make sure I don't miss a hello they would post at a time I am not on the timeline, that is how I use that feature.

But when I go to seesmic, I want to be able to watch what the actual activity is, that is who is heating it, who is to be welcomed, who is launching new topics that I might be interested in. That's possible only when the public timeline is on (I use the sidebar to that effect, so I won't throw away Seesmic, don't worry).

Just wanted to add my feedback to give you some rationale, why I think the following tab as a default one for "big" followers is a mistake (imho). The following timeline looks horrible when you look at it after a big gap like it's happening to me today for instance.

Keep up the great work anyway, I love it still, don't worry!
Take care

To make it short I would like to be able to choose what I want to see...
So Yes Default time line as a preference

This topic is still in limbo and I haven't heard of any news regarding our request although it is marked as "the company is working on the idea".

Bringing it up then.