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autographedcatI posted this this morning to a newsgroup that I read, but as I look over it, I realize that it's applicable to all online communities, really, and thought it might be something worth putting here too. I've been a member of (and a builder of) many online communities in the 15 years that I've been on the Net, and these are some things that came out of my observations from those experiences.
Newsgroups are more than just asyncronous message boards. They become, ultimately, communities. And like all communities, they develop cultures.
Social newsgroups especially do this, but newsgroups that are primarily for information swapping do it as well. comp.lang.perl has a very distinct culture, as an example.
The other thing that communities do is develop a shared history. People who have lived in and been active in the community share experiences with one another, and this builds bonds between them.
And sure, this *can* be intimidating to the New Kid In Town. Here's a group of people who have laughed together, cried together, shared each others pain, rejoiced in each others small daily triumphs. That creates a group of people who are, in many ways, fiercely loyal to one another. In the best of worlds, it becomes a kind of family. A noisy, sometimes disfunctional family that squabbles amongst itself as often as not. But a family, none the less.
You can't just come and take what you need from here. You can't demand to be a part of this. There's a contract, unspoken, yet as binding as any blood oath. There's a price for sharing this warmth.
That doesn't mean that you can't become a part of this community. Come, learn its ways, observe the paths we walk. See the simple love that grows between people just because they choose to share a piece of their life with others. You can be a part of this. It's a simple choice. A choice, right now, between fear and love.
Come and join it. Give a bit of yourself to the group, unselfishly, unafraid. What you give to the group will be returned to you, and more.
It's your choice.
Newsgroups are more than just asyncronous message boards. They become, ultimately, communities. And like all communities, they develop cultures.
Social newsgroups especially do this, but newsgroups that are primarily for information swapping do it as well. comp.lang.perl has a very distinct culture, as an example.
The other thing that communities do is develop a shared history. People who have lived in and been active in the community share experiences with one another, and this builds bonds between them.
And sure, this *can* be intimidating to the New Kid In Town. Here's a group of people who have laughed together, cried together, shared each others pain, rejoiced in each others small daily triumphs. That creates a group of people who are, in many ways, fiercely loyal to one another. In the best of worlds, it becomes a kind of family. A noisy, sometimes disfunctional family that squabbles amongst itself as often as not. But a family, none the less.
You can't just come and take what you need from here. You can't demand to be a part of this. There's a contract, unspoken, yet as binding as any blood oath. There's a price for sharing this warmth.
That doesn't mean that you can't become a part of this community. Come, learn its ways, observe the paths we walk. See the simple love that grows between people just because they choose to share a piece of their life with others. You can be a part of this. It's a simple choice. A choice, right now, between fear and love.
Come and join it. Give a bit of yourself to the group, unselfishly, unafraid. What you give to the group will be returned to you, and more.
It's your choice.
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Date: 2003-09-12 09:17 am (UTC)Hypothetical scenario: there's a long-running dinner/socialization party. Folks wander in and out, mingle, occasionally argue - and when they argue, sometimes they get loud, angry, and rude, sometimes with vigorous handwaving. Some new folks have come in, but aren't talking or socializing; they're hanging around the edges, watching. As one such argument is going on, somebody at one of the tables points to the people lingering on the walls, and says "Hey, we should keep it down, or we might scare some of them away."
The point is - the arguments and handwaving, and yes, even the rude potshots, are part of the social structure of the group. Changing the group to remove those elements would make it worthless for many people currently involved, including me.
I was new there once, too. While I usually leap into such situations feet first and hit the ground running, in this case, I actually lurked for a while - several days, at least - because I was somewhat intimidated by all these smart, sharp people. But ultimately, I wanted to interact with them more than I was afraid of them; and so I took a deep breath, and dove in. I made mistakes, and was gently corrected; and because I didn't try to convince everybody that they were wrong and I was right, I wasn't snarled at. Sometimes I felt left out, or excluded; but I noticed that other people felt that way too, sometimes, and more importantly, I built relationships with a few people there, which helped me to feel more a part of things.
Newcomers aren't "tested" - but they are expected not to come into the group and immediately take on the role of "Monkey in the punchbowl," or they will be treated as a monkey in the punchbowl. Most newbies are accepted right off, actually. But yes, it is something of an "elite" group - if by "elite" you mean that generally, folks who try to tell the group what they think, or come in declaring that they're right and everybody else is wrong, will usually be snarled at and eventually go away. There are several exceptions even to that guideline (*cough*Tal*cough*).
no subject
Date: 2003-09-12 09:30 am (UTC)Just sayin' ...
no subject
Date: 2003-09-12 01:06 pm (UTC)The newbies in my hypothetical example cannot be greeted until the folks at the tables know that they're there. On newsgroups, nobody knows you're lurking until you make yourself known. Once a person takes the initiative to take a step forward, then they are welcomed. Everybody is invited to take a seat. People who come away from the wall shyly for the firsts time are offered a seat, and usually several people will make an effort to keep zir included in the conversation. If that person gets up and walks out, without saying a word... well, there's not much the folks at the tables can do. If that person sits down and promptly starts insulting everybody at the table... well, yeah, they're going to get a hard time of it.