Comments on: So, what is a community, anyway? http://smcmaster.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/so-what-is-a-community-anyway/ Contributing to the Forgr conversations. Sat, 17 May 2008 17:29:44 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Scott http://smcmaster.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/so-what-is-a-community-anyway/#comment-24 Scott Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:16:56 +0000 http://smcmaster.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-24 These are excellent points as always Shannon. I can say, from some practical experience, that perceptions are a lot different online. It's a real challenge to wrap your head around community behavior in an online sense. We act differently online than we do in the real world. Sure, we go to places to find things and we must establish a sense of propriety, but the 'world' is fuzzier online. Where I live has a certain value in locating services, etc. I don't think an online manifestation of a local community needs to maintain a parallel local identity. I get scared by these lists as well. It's hard not to see how efficiencies are gained. That's how we got into this whole computer thing to begin with. I hear cranky buzz about Google's pitch to use old TV spectrum to provide free wireless. Of course, Google is in the business of knowing what you want. Of course, it has a strong interest in being the arbiter of your online experience. So, local user profiling as a toll for wireless internet is a viable economic model for someone of Google's scale. For them it means millions of new data points. They would become an increasingly powerful economic indicator for the global economy. They would be able to predict our needs with some crazy accuracy. They would be able to forecast product viability. That shit is scary. Business wants this. What is a cranky idealist to do? Wait for Microsoft or Google or Yahoo to give us what we want in exchange for our privacy? Or begin the work of trying to imagine what a better alternative might be. It's hard to avoid the warts. These are excellent points as always Shannon. I can say, from some practical experience, that perceptions are a lot different online. It’s a real challenge to wrap your head around community behavior in an online sense. We act differently online than we do in the real world. Sure, we go to places to find things and we must establish a sense of propriety, but the ‘world’ is fuzzier online. Where I live has a certain value in locating services, etc.

I don’t think an online manifestation of a local community needs to maintain a parallel local identity. I get scared by these lists as well. It’s hard not to see how efficiencies are gained. That’s how we got into this whole computer thing to begin with.

I hear cranky buzz about Google’s pitch to use old TV spectrum to provide free wireless. Of course, Google is in the business of knowing what you want. Of course, it has a strong interest in being the arbiter of your online experience. So, local user profiling as a toll for wireless internet is a viable economic model for someone of Google’s scale. For them it means millions of new data points. They would become an increasingly powerful economic indicator for the global economy. They would be able to predict our needs with some crazy accuracy. They would be able to forecast product viability.

That shit is scary. Business wants this. What is a cranky idealist to do? Wait for Microsoft or Google or Yahoo to give us what we want in exchange for our privacy? Or begin the work of trying to imagine what a better alternative might be. It’s hard to avoid the warts.

]]> By: Marie-Claire http://smcmaster.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/so-what-is-a-community-anyway/#comment-18 Marie-Claire Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:22:53 +0000 http://smcmaster.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-18 Also check out the Grand Rapids wiki, Viget, http://viget.org/ Also check out the Grand Rapids wiki, Viget, http://viget.org/

]]> By: Marie-Claire http://smcmaster.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/so-what-is-a-community-anyway/#comment-17 Marie-Claire Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:19:47 +0000 http://smcmaster.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-17 I see your argument. But consider this one, there are people that are disconnected from their community, disconnected from their peers. There are so many opportunities for people to become connected physically and virtually, even if it's to pay their electric bill online. It does more good than harm. What if I live in a neighborhood, I live by myself, I'm lonely, and I love collecting stamps? http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/search/clt?query=stamps&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max Also, please read my mother-in-law comment here too, http://forgr.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/88/#comment-93 I see your argument. But consider this one, there are people that are disconnected from their community, disconnected from their peers. There are so many opportunities for people to become connected physically and virtually, even if it’s to pay their electric bill online.

It does more good than harm.

What if I live in a neighborhood, I live by myself, I’m lonely, and I love collecting stamps?
http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/search/clt?query=stamps&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max

Also, please read my mother-in-law comment here too, http://forgr.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/88/#comment-93

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