Wednesday January 8, 2025; 10:22 AM EST
- In early days, dozens of writers whose topic was food gathered in the blogosphere, formed an identity as food bloggers, replied to each other, and held occasional events in which topic-linked blog posts were published on the same day. Inside the greater social network, they formed their own. #
- In early days, dozens of college writing teachers gathered on a handful of email lists, became colleagues, replied to each other, asked for and got advice from elders, and planned events at conferences. Using tools available to them, they formed working communities and held valuable conversations. #
- In early days, dozens of librarians gathered in the blogosphere, forming a shared identity as librarian bloggers by talking to each other about challenges and innovations in their field. Some librarians became widely known as colleagues and partners who regularly provided valuable information. #
- Plainly, people are hungry not just for typing in a little box and clicking on the Post button beside it. They seek meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences, replies that show generosity of spirit, a focus that community can create and provide. #
- Many people are not interested in the knee-jerk replies of spammers but we don't always see how to deter those poisonous folks. Many people try posting but don't always see how to gather enough shared interest to form an online community with real focus. Many post without finding that, and quit. #
- The tools can be made to work in that valuable, better way, but there's still a lot of luck involved. Persistence, happy accidents of readership, skill too. Building new and stronger focused affiliation with others is not the first goal, not the first virtue, of most of our online tools. #
- But without affiliation, there is no political hope. #