Day after day there is talk of new communities. Not even new per se, but more so splintered versions of the same community. If you know me, you know that I am against all things that divide people (race, borders, denominations etc.).
I have noticed the progress toward division more so lately, since I have been more active in more discord servers. As a co-founder of Global Homestead Collective, I have a vested interest in the activity of individuals. We have created GHSC as an umbrella community that will function as a central hub to niche communities. Not to discourage individuals from participating in one place or another, but to bring them together. All platforms, all niches.
Instead of creating a clone of every other community on discord we are trying new things. Creating channels upon community request. At the same time, not filling the server up with many unused channels. Hopefully, that would make it easier to sift through what is actively going on.
Now, here is the trick. Not gaining members, but retaining members. Is it possible to create a place that people would want to invest in long term.
Modern society has shown that the average person has a limited attention span compared to past generations. Once the shorter time window is coupled with a feeling of being able to create better...there is a community schism.
Much like any major world religion, there are many moving pieces. This often causes special interests to form sub cultures or specialized communities.
Over time all of the various communities end up resembling each other, and are often filled with the same people. You may even be chatting with the same person, but in different channels.
The self reliant community is the one that I thrive in. My life is homesteading, farming, gardening, animals, nature, camping, bush crafting, sewing, and cooking to name a few.
The many parts of my personality and life are spread all over social media. How am I able to find all of these different interests in one place?! I am sure that I am not the only one thinking this.
Each smaller community has a special focus and the sub topics branch off of that. Every individual has something they are passionate about and would like to see happen.
The question I keep asking myself is.....how do we grow together, without fractioning into countless little communities.....
The answer I have come up with is personality and opportunity. Most communities are started and ran by those that have a confident outlook, feel like they can lead others, and feel they have something to offer. They are then filled with others that enjoy being a part of something bigger than themselves.
So how do you get the leaders to come together to form a solid community without making anyone feel left out?
I think the answer may be a little radical, especially for online digital societies in 2018....we simply love them all.
If we can show love to others, it will all sort itself out. To grow beyond a name on a screen and learn to care about each other.
There may not be a one sized fits all solution to the idea of communities. If we spread our skills and abilities all over the blockchain....how can we actually ever help anyone.
I hope you all will join me and help hold communities together. No matter which platform you are on, this is always an issue. Don't be afraid to be radical. Be well. The Yeti
