What is a community?
When I tell people I am an Online Community Manager, I often get a blank or confused look. And, to be honest, I still haven’t worked up a good “elevator pitch” version of the explanation myself.
One of the biggest problems is that the most important word in the job title is so poorly defined. Academics have been arguing over the definition of “community” for decades and the advent of the Internet only made it more difficult.
So, I want to open it to you. How do you define “community”? Not just within the scope of my job title but more broadly. Think of how you see it out in the world. Think of how you see it online. Think of communities you are a part of now, or have been a part of in the past.
For you, what makes it a community instead of a group, collective, team or neighbourhood?
What is it that makes it uniquely community-like?
Leave your response in the comments and we’ll take a look at how everyone answers.
How do YOU define community?
Posted from Greg Lexiphanic | Comment »
