Comments on: What Makes a Community? http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/ Unconventional Strategies for Life, Work, and Travel Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:03:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gary http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-51245 Gary Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:13:59 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-51245 You mention the need for an enemy. I have seen its importance. In the 80s, I lived in Inman Park, a close Atlanta neighborhood. It had been a slum when young professionals began moving into its elegant but cheap and neglected houses, restoring them. That alone was a challenge. But we became far more cohesive due to two enemies: The State of Georgia wanted to divide our neighborhood with an expressway. Very powerful interests backed the plan. We resisted. The daily paper portrayed us as both privileged elite and as luddite hippies in their cartoons. It took 15 years to resolve, including some civil disobedience arrests and highly creative actions, forcing us much closer to one another. Also a fleet of dump-trucks tried to buy every vacant lot or derelict house for a parking lot and base of operations. Their action was stealthy and many incursions were discovered only at the last minute. The many emergency meetings we held to forestall this threat exceeded any number of feel-good activities in making our neighborhood a tight and highly effective one. You mention the need for an enemy. I have seen its importance. In the 80s, I lived in Inman Park, a close Atlanta neighborhood. It had been a slum when young professionals began moving into its elegant but cheap and neglected houses, restoring them. That alone was a challenge. But we became far more cohesive due to two enemies:

The State of Georgia wanted to divide our neighborhood with an expressway. Very powerful interests backed the plan. We resisted. The daily paper portrayed us as both privileged elite and as luddite hippies in their cartoons. It took 15 years to resolve, including some civil disobedience arrests and highly creative actions, forcing us much closer to one another.

Also a fleet of dump-trucks tried to buy every vacant lot or derelict house for a parking lot and base of operations. Their action was stealthy and many incursions were discovered only at the last minute. The many emergency meetings we held to forestall this threat exceeded any number of feel-good activities in making our neighborhood a tight and highly effective one.

]]> By: Jordan Bowman http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-39963 Jordan Bowman Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:08:40 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-39963 Enjoyed this post, particularly the last part about focusing on the silent majority, which I had never thought of before. Some things I think it is important for a leader to understand are (1) he/she needs to be passionate about and totally committed to the community and it's beliefs, (2) it's not really all about you, it's about the group of people and their idea, even though you play a very big part, and (3) it's good to take some time out for yourself every once in a while to take a deep breath and think. Thanks again, Chris! Enjoyed this post, particularly the last part about focusing on the silent majority, which I had never thought of before.

Some things I think it is important for a leader to understand are (1) he/she needs to be passionate about and totally committed to the community and it’s beliefs, (2) it’s not really all about you, it’s about the group of people and their idea, even though you play a very big part, and (3) it’s good to take some time out for yourself every once in a while to take a deep breath and think.

Thanks again, Chris!

]]> By: Chase http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-10124 Chase Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:59:48 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-10124 Thank you, Chris. I'm new here (but I'm sticking around... consider me a new recruit). However, in my little corner of the world wide web, Community is something I talk about often. I've never seen a description of Community so lucidly laid out. This page is bookmarked. This site is RSS'd. This guy is returning soon. To World Domination, -Chase Thank you, Chris.

I’m new here (but I’m sticking around… consider me a new recruit). However, in my little corner of the world wide web, Community is something I talk about often.

I’ve never seen a description of Community so lucidly laid out.

This page is bookmarked.
This site is RSS’d.
This guy is returning soon.

To World Domination,
-Chase

]]> By: Jared http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-9941 Jared Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:13:58 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-9941 I find it extremely interesting that since I've started a blog... started becoming part of a community... I see the same individuals posting comments on places I end up as well. That's pretty cool. "Evangelism is hard; recruitment is easy." Amen. I find it extremely interesting that since I’ve started a blog… started becoming part of a community… I see the same individuals posting comments on places I end up as well. That’s pretty cool.

“Evangelism is hard; recruitment is easy.”

Amen.

]]> By: Lee Garverick http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-9890 Lee Garverick Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:23:57 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-9890 Hi Chris, Another great post. I am one of the people you have inspired to create a community or at least an info source, around an activity I think is cool, which is walkathons. I'd love to see an online community with forums where we could support each other. I would consider setting one up but I think you'd need to be able to watch it a bit to see what we're talking about there. You could potentially charge for membership. Think about whether that makes sense... Lee walkathonguide Hi Chris,
Another great post. I am one of the people you have inspired to create a community or at least an info source, around an activity I think is cool, which is walkathons. I’d love to see an online community with forums where we could support each other. I would consider setting one up but I think you’d need to be able to watch it a bit to see what we’re talking about there. You could potentially charge for membership. Think about whether that makes sense…

Lee
walkathonguide

]]> By: Andreas Kopp http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-9861 Andreas Kopp Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:34:14 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-9861 Hey Chris, i am also part of the silent community but i am also a true fan of your blog. I read every piece of your work and you are keeping up the good quality in all of your posts. Thank you. I also founded a community here in my home town which is bringing together social interested internet ethusiasts with ngo and new social start-ups. Let´s see where this community is heading. We are definetly a pro community! Hey Chris,

i am also part of the silent community but i am also a true fan of your blog. I read every piece of your work and you are keeping up the good quality in all of your posts. Thank you. I also founded a community here in my home town which is bringing together social interested internet ethusiasts with ngo and new social start-ups. Let´s see where this community is heading. We are definetly a pro community!

]]> By: Trackback from Man Vs. Debt http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-9854 Trackback from Man Vs. Debt Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:56:35 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-9854 [...] Guillebeau, of The Art of Non-Conformity, cited Man Vs. Debt as a great new example of an awesome online community!  Rather then link to a certain post or discuss my writing, he was most impressed by all of YOU! [...] [...] Guillebeau, of The Art of Non-Conformity, cited Man Vs. Debt as a great new example of an awesome online community!  Rather then link to a certain post or discuss my writing, he was most impressed by all of YOU! [...]

]]> By: Rich Dixon http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-9820 Rich Dixon Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:10:56 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-9820 As always, your stuff makes me think. I don't like acknowledging that enemies are a necessary part of a community, but I think you're probably right. We need to make sure that we don't mis-define our enemies or allow them to define us. As always, your stuff makes me think. I don’t like acknowledging that enemies are a necessary part of a community, but I think you’re probably right.

We need to make sure that we don’t mis-define our enemies or allow them to define us.

]]> By: Kang http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-9795 Kang Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:09:25 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-9795 Hi Chris, I found your site through Global patriot, and just want to say that this is very very cool, the whole concept is pretty inspiring. Subscribed to your feed and looking forward to conforming to non conformity. Hi Chris, I found your site through Global patriot, and just want to say that this is very very cool, the whole concept is pretty inspiring. Subscribed to your feed and looking forward to conforming to non conformity.

]]> By: Lori Johnson http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-makes-a-community/comment-page-1/#comment-9794 Lori Johnson Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:43:13 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3341#comment-9794 Interesting! I guess u could consider me part of the silent community at this time. I would like to hear updates on these comments. Interesting! I guess u could consider me part of the silent community at this time. I would like to hear updates on these comments.

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