Undefined definition
So what’s an online community? The question has been spinning in my head for two weeks. Actually, that’s not the only question that has kept me musing. But what’s an online community is what I’m supposed to have answered by now.
I thought that would be very easy. Had I written this post two weeks ago I would have been able to provide a definition. Yes, that’s what happens when you start to learn. You doubt.
First of all, what is a community?
I’ve been reading lots of definitions stated (or doubted) by experts or non-experts and the limits of those definitions are always uncertain.
Maybe communities are defined by their members and their sense of belonging.
Maybe some cohesive elements hold members together in the shape of a community. These elements may be:
- identity
- shared goals
- shared interests
- rituals
- sense of belonging
- a meeting place
What if this meeting place is a virtual environment? There should be some differences.
The first and obvious one is the breaking of time/space limits.
Both in physical and virtual environment community members are linked to nodes outside the community. However, in an online community these links are more conspicuous. This might blur its boundaries.
Ok, I’m stuck here. I’ve decided to move on…
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