Tim Bursch

Congrats on the job, Tim.

On the "why" of communities - Bob hit alot of the topics well. Here are my thoughtrs: because we don't like to be or feel alone. At least not all the time.
We are pack-oriented. And we want to feel significant.
We want to know we have something in common with someone else.
Because if we don't talk/express our thoughts in some way to someone, our brains get jammed up and once we put some of those thoughts outside of ourselves there's room for more thought to be created. That sense of creation feels great, and we like to feel great.

Carla,
Thanks for your comments. I think your right. We need others and need to feel significant. It seems like online community makes it easier for people to connect with others that really "get" us.

Yes, and...via online community we have the pleasure of only experiencing the portion of a person that we a common interest with. That's not true in face to face interaction. For instance, if I love a particular restaurant's food and I know the hostess but she's a close talker who gives out too much personal detail; I don't go there too often for fear I'll have to deal with the close talker. Online there's none of that. The chef and I can share thoughts on topics we both enjoy, and then go on our way. If he brings up something that's a hot button for me, I can chose to ignore it or engage in a vibrant exchange, with an easy exit at any time. On line is just a bit less complicated.

Congratulations on the new gig, Tim! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on community and more. I think your question is a huge one. Especially when you consider that communities have been around for as long as we have and yet they've shifted in their composition so much since the dawn of the social era.

Thanks Josh. It's fun to think about how online community models our offline ways of connecting for thousands of years. It's also interesting to consider that our ways of interacting online might affect how we do real-life community.

I'm gonna take a shot at your question for your next post...

I have done a ton of research and read countless books on this topic! Online or offline, it is human nature to form communities. It is why we build neighborhoods with houses next to each other. It is the reason we have organizations devoted to certain causes. It is the reason we have support groups like AA. We naturally look for protection, support, sense of belonging, and acceptance. No matter what, it is at the core of what we are made of. Actually, it is nature in general. I mean, think about it... why do most animals roam in packs? Why to certain trees or plants grow together in certain areas? It is for all the reasons I stated above.

Online communities have taken our "neighborhoods" to a global level, so now we can experience what we need as humans with more and more people. When in the past it may have been incredibly hard to find others in your area who liked basket weaving, now the web brings THOUSANDS of those people together. Communities can now develop and thrive more effectively.

The healthcare field is a great example. Dealing with diseases like Cancer or Diabetes can be very difficult. Many years ago, when the web was taking offer, individuals with these issues formed online communities so they could meet and talk with others. This support system was a huge break-through. There is some research that shows online communities like those actually HELP in the healing process!

Reasons like those are why we "naturally" form communities - online and off.

Bob,
Thank you for the well thought out response. I agree. Community is in our DNA. I would say we need it. Glad to be learning with people like you!