ARE WE REALLY BUILDING COMMUNITIES? Does it matter? Does community have to be a two way dialogue? [link to post]

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Do… [link to post]

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Does Self-Promotion Really Equal Community-Building? – [link to post] #fb

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No, Dave, it doesn’t; just as one wall doesn’t make a house.

In building a community (or anything else of any permanence!) we need to do the job properly. “Two-way dialogue” – effective communications – is a good start but not enough; “dialogueS” says it better but at least four dynamics of them are necessary. (1) self-perceived leader to follower/member A, (2) member A back to leader, (3) member A to member B, and (4) vice versa … across an increasing pool of people.

Clearly effective communications are VITAL to creating anything of real lasting value.

Wikipedia’s “true listening” is really the recipient understanding, duplicating, in his own universe (all or some of) what was communicated by the originator across all the preceptors, including body language and ESP. When the message is ethical and its recipient has a willing and open mind, “deep respect” and mutual benefits can ensue.

Self promotion? That is building one wall and hoping that it’ll stay up while the other 3 and a roof get built! Surely such is merely one-way data dropping on the principle that “if you throw enough $!*# at the wall some of it will stick.” (Tip: Don’t let anyone call this the Information Age and expect you to nod your head. The word information pre-supposes attention, interest, understanding, applicability, maybe deep pockets … a host of assumptions. The more appropriate tag is Data Age … we’re deluged with ever-more data from all directions every waking moment; maybe it even gives us nightmares too! Data only becomes information when it is effectively communicated so that we understand it, and its (possible) importance to us: big difference between data and information!)

Dave, your name dropping was below my horizon but let’s look at Barack Obama. He sure built, and caused to be built, a very effective (that word again!) national community, and is moving out internationally. Michael Jackson created an effective world community with the magic of his music, dance and performances – magic that overcame personal negatives.

Will the character Bruno that the movies have invested millions to present and self-promote become an endearing and persisting cult (an effective community, in truth, but not for me!) or is he merely a freaky one-day wonder? Communities of influence will decide!

Respectfully submitted by Peter Holleley, Toronto.

Sorry for the delay in my reply. Was soaking up some vacation time.

Scaling one-to-many isn’t easy. But to me, the secret to *real* community isn’t just about connecting me, the community “sherpa”, to the masses. It’s about connecting the community members *to one another*.

I suppose on my blog and the way I approach the community on Twitter, I look at myself as a node rather than the tip of a mountain. I’m a bridge and a connector, but I’m not the show. The point is for the community – if it’s got merit – to survive beyond me and even without me. I’m a catalyst, but I’m not the glue holding things together.

That’s a bit different on my personal blog I suppose since I’m the one generating the content. But many of the best discussions take place in the comments among the readers, without my intervention. It’s about starting conversations, not just finishing them.

It’s not an easy balance all the time. I try super hard to engage and connect with as many people as I can while making time for my closest friends in a personal way.

Community building isn’t easy. But then again, nothing worth having and keeping ever is.

Posted comment (awaits moderation) [link to post] about @davefleet’s awesome post on self-promotion vs communities http://bit.ly/qezQ2

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Thanks for advancing such a thought provoking discussion. IMHO, the line between self-promotion and community building is blurring primarily because value of contribution finds itself in a strange predicament. Where does the idea originate? Is it being repackaged or is the idea a first unique offering to the community? How loud is the volume of that message? Is it an audible bright light bulb that goes on, or a noisy neon ballast that annoys and distracts us? Personally, if I see the same group of folks cranking-up the volume of the same circle of contributors messages, it starts to appear more of a “promotional” shill machine than a message that has been crowd-sourced by a “community.” Lastly is the notion of sponsoring voices, and based on the mixed views on the topic, I think this will have a much greater impact on the subject at hand, and the overall impression Web audiences will form towards A-listers – more so than any issues that have arisen from scaling for listening or engagement and, I dare say, even the mired ghost tweeting.

Joseph
@RepuTrack

@davefleet – great post & ensuing discussion on community bldg vs self promo [link to post]. Wise & insightful comment by @saulcolt

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