Building Communities – One Electron at a Time

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  1. Who we are – our selves and our communities
  2. Types of on-line communities (Format)
    1. E-mail lists
    2. Message Boards
    3. Role Playing Games
  3. Types of on-line communities (Groups)
    1. Parents
    2. Educators
    3. Kids
    4. Mixed Groups
  4. Needs being served
    1. Community
    2. Support
    3. Information
  5. Issues in on-line communities
    1. Security/Privacy
      1. How to keep folks you want out while letting the folks who need in
      2. How do you make the information accessible to members but not to others
      3. Meeting the Law (in the US)
    2. Building Trust (how are decisions made, what is allowed or not allowed for discussion, flaming, etc.)
    3. Continuity (effects of new members coming, old members leaving, size impacts longevity)
    4. Maintenance (interest of founder(s), people who are good at starting are seldom good at maintaining)
    5. Costs (server size, download maximums, etc.)
    6. Staffing
      1. size ratio
      2. duties
      3. coverage
      4. training
    7. Access
      1. who can reach it
      2. how often can they reach it
  6. Responses to on-line communities
    1. Participants’
    2. Families’
    3. Friends’
    4. Professionals’
  7. Isolation
    1. Internet as a relief (I’m not alone, somebody understands me)
    2. Internet as a factor (jealousy as folks meet IRL, *hugs* vs. physical hugs, lack of understanding of what is found on-line on these communities)
  8. Where do we go from here?
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