Leigh, I don't read that wiki because of it's unethical treatment of the public.
2. Review this course as a blogging network to date. Does it connect out to a wider network, or is it insular? Does this blogging network have a facilitator or should it need one? Consider your role in helping to develop this blogging network. Finally, comment on the strengths and weaknesses as you see them, of a blogging network for online community development.
On this second point I feel much better. I like a blogging network because it doesn't allow any one person to "moderate". So-called "moderators" cannot invade my privacy with IP checking.
I think a blog network is ideal for random, open circuit posting as a means of finding qualified prospects for an elected membership. A small group of 5 to 7 people could gather around some ideas and principles and form a larger group, and random posting is fine conversation form for small groups of 3 to 5 people, but then I think that as they grow, they would need training in true discussion form and also the need to meet periodically using a centralized communication system. Maybe a meeting every two or four weeks?
Does it need a facilitator? Facilitation is going to be needed to put together the kind of community that I envision. I don't think that small groups of three or four people need a facilitator but as the group grows, the membership should focus upon learning basic skills of communication and leadership such as Finding a Buddy, Arranging Appointments, Choosing a Platform, Alternate Posting and Circle Forms; in preparation for a larger group of ten. By the time the group is getting larger than seven, the membership needs to be fully grounded in traditional form so as to be able to proceed through rational discussion, deliberation and decision processes. Of course, when the small group is equipped with these kinds of communication and leadership tools, they can then elect new members and officials such as a president.
My role in helping to build this blogosphere is to focus attention upon human solutions to human problems rather than push-button solutions. I also want to establish some facts about the unethical practices now in currency. The facts are going to force us to reconsider many administrative habits. I want to promote a scientific approach to building community based upon these facts. I also want to find people to practice traditional solutions for web communications.
The strengths and weaknesses of a blogging network? I think that it's weaknesses could be turned into strengths. For example, the fact that finding stuff is difficult forces me to trim down my blog network to a manageable few blogs. I don't think that any discussion requires more than ten people. The Supreme Court is nine people!
If I can find just a few people who want to discuss in form, I believe we can organize a growing and dynamic community such as those that spread across many countries in the 20th century. Really powerful communities like Rotary, JayCees and Lions Clubs didn't mess around. They got things done.
Hi Artie,
ReplyDeleteI have to ask, why is Wikipedia an unethical treatment of people? I'm genuinely interested in this idea...
Hi Artie,
ReplyDelete"I don't think that any discussion requires more than ten people. The Supreme Court is nine people!"
Good example Artie :-). I believe people in small group maybe will be more active in discussion than in one large group too. Actually we are grouping oursevles with several other people in this couse and I felt more comfortable discuss and 'talk' in the small group we formed now :-)
Cheers,
Joy
Leigh - The public has the right of way on all open circuits. Postmasters is an example setup of a forum that is designed to respect the equality and the privacy of every poster. Try it. Read the several operator's manuals for each forum and try the settings. The permissions are set wide open for the public.
ReplyDeleteThe election of the membership is not based upon "being nice" but upon whether a guest can adhere to temporal/ordinal forms. Why? Because these forms can be objectively evaluated, making it extremely simple to select a membership without disrupting the public.
I suggest a thorough reading of the principles I have set forth in the articles of this blog and reading the rules that I have made, 1st, for adms, 2nd, for mods, 3rd, for members, and 0th for guests.
Hello Joy -
ReplyDeleteThe small group should be selected from out of the public. PHP forums are capable of being set up with guest access. Member accounts should go to those who are most interest, when the group is small. As groups grow, the membership should select new members based upon their willingness and ability to use ordinal form.
The conversational form of random, asynchronous posting is only suitable for about 10 people on an open circuit. With ordinal form, the members may administer a truly coherent and democratic group that is able to duplicate itself into a large community.
:)