Boston.com / An e-neighborhood
Here comes the neighborhood. You've heard me say before that online communities are "community" first and "online" second- meaning that it's all about the real world communities that work together in an online "place."
This article is a good example of how real location-based communities are using message boards, etc. to conduct neighborly business.
"We're often not at home, or if we're at home, we're inside our houses," said Deborah Bier, moderator of a Concord online message board that has seen nearly 20,000 postings in the past six years. "We often have garden services. We don't mow our lawns. We don't have that familiarity with our neighbors. This is our over-the-fence."
If you haven't read "Bowling Alone" by Robert Putnam- read it. It describes in great detail how and why neighbors and have dis-engaged in the last 40 years. I believe the kinds of online communities described in this article are one way we can reverse this trend.
Like the Dean campaign, these groups are using the Internet to organize off line events:
In Arlington, the message board recently helped organize residents who were angry over the firing of a town employee. After dozens of messages on the topic popped up each day, residents packed a selectmen's meeting where the topic was discussed.
Does your neighborhood have an online "place" to meet? Do you think it should?
Thanks to Tim for the link!