I just have a comment on the "current state" online communities.
I have been a member of many online communities, for more than 18 years dating back to early bullentin board system days. Many of the currently active online communites have a common problem - they do not promote a free exchange of ideas without feeling of an outcast.
With recent events such as the iPhone price drop, iPhone credit from Apple Inc to early adopters, Handsprings dropping their loyal customer rewards program ( a few years back), etc...
Online communities are limiting the amount of threads on similar topics and are asking people to limit their comments to specific threads, within the by-laws of the site, etc.
Online communites should promote differing opinions and numerous threads (even is is about one topic)? Isn't that what RSS Feeds and the like are for... to help keep us up to date no matter how many threads are craeted?
It has really pressed me to ask myself the question, "What am I doing here?"
... A lot of posters complain when people have a different opinion.
... Online communities admins not wanting to "have numerous threads" on the same topic.
What are forums like these for if cannot be open enough to let us openly communicate about what we are passionate about?
Anyone else have any thoughts on the current state of online communites?
I have been a member of many online communities, for more than 18 years dating back to early bullentin board system days. Many of the currently active online communites have a common problem - they do not promote a free exchange of ideas without feeling of an outcast.
With recent events such as the iPhone price drop, iPhone credit from Apple Inc to early adopters, Handsprings dropping their loyal customer rewards program ( a few years back), etc...
Online communities are limiting the amount of threads on similar topics and are asking people to limit their comments to specific threads, within the by-laws of the site, etc.
Online communites should promote differing opinions and numerous threads (even is is about one topic)? Isn't that what RSS Feeds and the like are for... to help keep us up to date no matter how many threads are craeted?
It has really pressed me to ask myself the question, "What am I doing here?"
... A lot of posters complain when people have a different opinion.
... Online communities admins not wanting to "have numerous threads" on the same topic.
What are forums like these for if cannot be open enough to let us openly communicate about what we are passionate about?
Anyone else have any thoughts on the current state of online communites?