Comments on: Facebook Is Not A Community (No, Nor is MySpace) http://chris2x.com/2008/04/21/facebook-is-not-a-community-no-nor-is-myspace/ One man's view of life in Silicon Valley from Chris Christensen - a podcaster, blogger, social media consultant Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:50:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: chris2x http://chris2x.com/2008/04/21/facebook-is-not-a-community-no-nor-is-myspace/comment-page-1/#comment-683 chris2x Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:22:57 +0000 http://chris2x.com/?p=1398#comment-683 Granted, and another definition is "Society as a whole; the public." Which is to say that everyone is in community. But, what I encourage people to realize (and having listened to your show I have the impression we agree on this) is to move towards more meaningful relationships. That might be in one's personal life or it might be between a PR professional and boggers. Generally when we talk about building community, building real relationships we need to think past the features and technology to the people involved. That's all I was trying to say. Granted, and another definition is “Society as a whole; the public.” Which is to say that everyone is in community.

But, what I encourage people to realize (and having listened to your show I have the impression we agree on this) is to move towards more meaningful relationships. That might be in one’s personal life or it might be between a PR professional and boggers.

Generally when we talk about building community, building real relationships we need to think past the features and technology to the people involved. That’s all I was trying to say.

]]> By: Shel Holtz http://chris2x.com/2008/04/21/facebook-is-not-a-community-no-nor-is-myspace/comment-page-1/#comment-684 Shel Holtz Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:58:33 +0000 http://chris2x.com/?p=1398#comment-684 I don't feel picked on, Chris. However, I guess this depends on the definition of "community." Watch the news and you're likely to hear about the African-American Community, the gay community, the Jewish community (I'm a member), and so forth. Checking definitions of "community" in Google, I found this one: "The aggregate of persons with common characteristics such as geographic, professional, cultural, racial, religious, or socio-economic similarities; communities can be defined by location, race, ethnicity, age, occupation, interest in particular problems or outcomes, or other common bonds..." Thus, you could argue that all members of Facebook share a common characteristic: They're all members of Facebook. Surely the environmentalist community is at least as large. I do agree with you; this doesn't fit MY view of a community. But since the definition is out there -- and the common usage is pretty common -- it's easy to see how someone can apply it to Facebook. I don’t feel picked on, Chris. However, I guess this depends on the definition of “community.” Watch the news and you’re likely to hear about the African-American Community, the gay community, the Jewish community (I’m a member), and so forth.

Checking definitions of “community” in Google, I found this one: “The aggregate of persons with common characteristics such as geographic, professional, cultural, racial, religious, or socio-economic similarities; communities can be defined by location, race, ethnicity, age, occupation, interest in particular problems or outcomes, or other common bonds…”

Thus, you could argue that all members of Facebook share a common characteristic: They’re all members of Facebook. Surely the environmentalist community is at least as large.

I do agree with you; this doesn’t fit MY view of a community. But since the definition is out there — and the common usage is pretty common — it’s easy to see how someone can apply it to Facebook.

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