tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833882.post3052887526656582584..comments2008-11-04T09:05:56.719-05:00HeleneBnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833882.post-26318761825592672322008-11-04T09:05:00.000-05:002008-11-04T09:05:00.000-05:00It seems to me that the way things have been working over the past 5-8 years is that the communities are growing organically out of a wide variety of containers. The trick is that there's no predicting which container is going to sprout a community. For example, about 5 years ago my stepdaughter started using Xanga, as that was the container of choice among her community. Eventually that was replaced by MySpace, and then currently by Facebook. <BR/><BR/>The point is that unless we create new containers, we have no idea what's going to work. We have to be prepared to invest a fair amount of time and energy into new containers on the off chance that they might sprout a community. Fortunately, this far along we have some indicators of what might work from the various successes. Containers that are more open, less restrictive, allow personalization, promote connections, have fun benefits, etc., are more likely to succeed. But at the end of the day the perfect container might not work because there's no community ready to use it.<BR/><BR/>Which brings me to a final point of contention. Is there really a difference between containers and conduits? Really, all these containers are just conduits for people to connect. Maybe rather than containers, they're nexuses or eddies in the conduits that connect individuals.Cycho Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652617400961695172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833882.post-49368992443541894142008-11-04T01:00:00.000-05:002008-11-04T01:00:00.000-05:00Great questions, thoughts and pondering, for this concept consumes much of my interest and thinking as well. I know that in my recent studies, which are somewhat outside of the realm of libraries, I'm coming to ask how community happens, truly happens, outside of real relationship. Because I don't think that it can. If it does or can it isn't the kind of community that most of us have in mind or wish to facilitate/create for our various interests (libraries, churches, schools, etc.). <BR/><BR/>For me the conduit is through mutual respect as we enter into the expectation of community. Within community what typically forms that holds individuals together is some form or shape that resembles relationship building. So, I guess my two cents would be relationship, for in relationship with others or another we are co-creators together of that which builds between us.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827844479386431801noreply@blogger.com