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What happened to Community Networks

Sun, 12/04/2005 - 7:46pm — emmettoconnell

Back in the 90s there was a movement to create civic networks, online "3rd places" where citizens could come equaly and dialogue, etc... This seems to be what we're doing here at Olyblog, but we don't call it a civic network.

Anyway, I've been thinking a bit about this the last few days, and am interested in what you guys think. Read my much longer post at Olympia Time, and let me know. Thanks.

Comments

Sun, 12/04/2005 - 8:59pm — The Fire Inside

I'm part of a couple online f

I'm part of a couple online forums. They're still around, you just have to look for them.
Sun, 12/04/2005 - 11:15pm — Sarah

I wonder if there are natural

I wonder if there are natural cycles to web use. As more of us join in, more of us experience these cycles.

Many of us when we first plunge in are most interested in connections, and global connections are most exciting. Examples: I can discuss migraines with a woman in Spain! My two year old is driving me crazy, and someone out there understands, cross the country, round the world. A tsunami happens and that blogger in Penang is one of the first giving on the ground info. We can game and chat and interact with people all over. We are all one big family.

Eventually we wonder again what is happening right around us. Why is it that we always see flyers for events we would want to attend, after the event? Something local inspires us, angers us, piques our curiousity.

So we are back on the web, looking for local sites on peace. Birding. City politics. Bartering. Etc.

A local blog brings it all home. All our local and global interests are in play. With local the focus, we continually recycle and compost and harvest. (I got lost in the planting metaphors, include sowing too.)

More people online and the tools available are more user friendly. I think the earlier visions of community networks now are in their next stage.