You have to consider the risk associated with the margin of error. It isn't like catastrophe is going to strike if you're off a little on what people consider communities.

For that matter, would it really matter if it was 1961, 1991 or 2007? Do you see a danger here?

Actually SP I kind of wish you'd phrased the original post in this manner. That's actually pretty interesting and lacks the combative terms you used in the post (village idiots comes to mind). It also seemed as though you had already passed judgement with statements such as It's as though in their mind, we are all a part of something that has a shape, mass, and even a direction. It's never a "bad" direction either... and I'm certain this mythical community has a structure. and even Humans typically attribute their own ideals to total strangers.

The format set a negative tone for the discussion I believe and may have been partially responsible for it veering wildly off course so quickly. Only partially though I admit. We do have a bad habit of taking off on tangents I know but this one was hijacked even more than usual and I think that's a part of the reason. I apologize for my role in the hijacking and do think the discussion topic as stated above has merit and could be quite interesting.

GG,

I see your comment in my "alerts" thingy but I don't see it here. Forgive me if this winds up out of place and contributes to the confusion.

Point taken. I've been guilty of what you describe on many occasions. I get a burr in my butt over something and start writing about it without thinking first. If I were to actually contemplate the opinions I express for 24 hours, heck - even a count of 10, I'd express everything differently. :)

If I thought about it first, most of my posts wouldn't ever make it here! Maybe that would be a good thing. You can't imagine (or maybe you can) the number of things I've started to say then decided against it.

I was sneering. Thats what it was. Now that I've had a chance to think about it I realize that. Lack of self awareness isn't a quality limited to other folks. :)

If I'd thought about it, I'd have realized that my comment about people seeing themselves in others applied. Why would it bother me that people see TBD as their community, and see themsleves as policemen?

The truth is, community constructs are real, even if they're virtual, and people will behave accordingly.

I think the way these constructs have materialized, and the importance that people attach to them is fascinating.

What do we do with this construct?

Here are some thoughts I have:

What is really needed is to get people to work together in joint action to accomplish something. How can we do that?

Group administrators

If you have a group, try to think of ways that your members can work together to achieve something.

Once, a while back, akabukowski made up a line for a country song, and asked all the others in the writing group to add their own verses. We wound up with several funny versions.

Other groups could do this. Obviously we're limited to what we can think and type on a computer, but a little creativity can go a long way.

At least one very popular group revolves around sexual questions. (I'm not a member of that one, figure I knew everything I needed to know by the time I was 20-something). How about collaborating on a Kama Sutra, or a primer on bedroom etiquette?

Basically, let the people in the group participate in accomplishing something together. There are groups of people who are "liberals" (I think) or "Consevatives", couldn't they define what that means to them? I'm just writing as I think about this (that gets me into trouble sometimes) but it seems to me that if people want a community, then they need to work like a community in some way, whether it betters the world or not is irrelevant.

What matters is that they enjoy the process, and get to know one another, learning something about themselves and others at the same time. Oh yeah, and have fun doing it. :)

I didn't realize it, but I think maybe people come here looking to "hook up" or something. There sure is a lot of dating type ads on my main page. I can't think of a better way to get to know someone than to work with them on something, can you? Online that is.

Just some thoughts . . .

Ahhh the missing post bug LOL. Well you showed up in the right place I see.

LMAO you're forgiven. We all get a 'burr in our butts' occasionally, as evidenced by the remarks here quite nicely.

I completely agree that it would be useful to utilize the community to achieve some worthwhile results if possible. Kenny has a bit of that happening now in his 'Spiritual Oil' thread where we're organizing around some ideas for alternatives to at least start writing a few letters. It might not help but voicing an opinion to people in power never hurts. It ended up in the wrong group but maybe if it takes off and people are interested we can move it to a more appropriate location.

http://www.tbd.com/group/23/discussion/80181/view

We're having fun doing it too of course ;)

I certainly hope these new changes don't turn TBD into a meat market. I rather like it the way it is. If people want to 'hook up' they can but I really don't want it turned into a dating site. As it is now I can be a shameless flirt without getting too many absolutely gross PMs but that would change if the site devolves into a dating/hook-up site.

And I like most of your ideas and posts, even when you are exhibiting the ol' burr in the butt syndrome. LOL They may prompt me to bring up shoes on occasion but I still enjoy 'em.

I thought there was an overreaction to your post. Eventually it did get us talking though.

I am on the spiritual oil thread with GG, I hope we can actually write some letters, and get them sent out to so far the US, and Canadian (I'm Canadian)

I belong to another two groups (well one's a little dead now, I was doing most of the prayer posting), but it may make a comeback as soon as I get more time. Both threads are like minded people who believe in the power of prayer; and we pray for each other and our families.

Some people raced in cancer walks, inspired by people here. I'm sure there are lots of things people with common goals could work on here.

I too hope it doesn't turn into mainly a dating site. I want to meet new friends like GatorGal, who I got to meet in real life, to chit chat & have fun, but also to have serious discussions, and reach out to the rest of the world.

What your doing with the spiritual oil thread creates something tangible in the real world. It's one thing to talk about what should be done, but I don't think it really accomplishes much, at least not inproportion to the bandwidth expended in some of these discussions.

There are many groups that would be hard pressed to produce something tangible in the real world, it's just not in the nature of the group. That shouldn't limit them from working together in a joint-action online, even if it's something silly or trivial.

When people participate in something, and contribute something of value to an effort, it makes them better members of a community. I'm not sure what Mardi-Gras societies contribute, other than bringing tourism dollars into a city. Yet, ask the membership whether they feel like they're a part of the community and I'd venture a guess the answer would be something like "We are the community!"