22 March 2005
Community Analysis
Although I live in The Gap, and this is my immediate local community, I don't feel any alliegance to this group. It's a nice place to live with many trees and bushwalks into the reserved bushlands. The local skate bowl is regularly updated with new graffiti pieces, which I take photos of from time to time. Yet I don't know any-one else who lives at The Gap apart from my housemates and I feel no real bond to the strangers that I might pass in the shops.
So if I then chose to bond with people that share similar interests to me, I ought to join a community group to participate in. The problem is that I am too self infactuated with my own business - my own artwork - my own DJing. I feel no real need to reach out and touch others. Perhaps this is a lie because I have been a member of RSVP.com.au (dating site) for about 6 years and do tend to check out any potential admirers who might send me a kiss. This ego stroking excercise does grow tiresome when I repeatedly discover that most lonely hearts are very boring - or at least they present so in text. And if your ID photo is not taken under optimal lighting condidtions then forget it. This meat market is not really a community to me either.
I did use the flatmates.com site for a month or so when I was seeking a new home. But again this is a transient connection that holds no appeal when I am happily sheltered in a house of friends.
www.soulseek.com is a great site that I frequent regularly. It's main aim is to fileshare - mostly music. It does have chatrooms that get used, and you can message directly to the person you are downloading off. This is great when you are trying to share their programs and you need some technical info on why it might be nonfunctional. I like this simple little community with its purposeful intent. But then ... there are more comprehensive sites like www.inthemix.com.au that cater for wider user input and information exchange.
Joining ITM gave me a sense of membership and allowed me access into parts that I could not get to as a mere viewer. My competitive nature drove me to want to get my name up in the highest scores of the games section. After membership I was allowed in, and began my assault on the scoreboard. Also by joining up I could put in a photo and a comment and have a say in the forums. As a new contender, I have not contributed in the forums yet, but I will have something to say once I smash that "Lubes" of number one possition in Alien Clones!!!!!!!!!
So if I then chose to bond with people that share similar interests to me, I ought to join a community group to participate in. The problem is that I am too self infactuated with my own business - my own artwork - my own DJing. I feel no real need to reach out and touch others. Perhaps this is a lie because I have been a member of RSVP.com.au (dating site) for about 6 years and do tend to check out any potential admirers who might send me a kiss. This ego stroking excercise does grow tiresome when I repeatedly discover that most lonely hearts are very boring - or at least they present so in text. And if your ID photo is not taken under optimal lighting condidtions then forget it. This meat market is not really a community to me either.
I did use the flatmates.com site for a month or so when I was seeking a new home. But again this is a transient connection that holds no appeal when I am happily sheltered in a house of friends.
www.soulseek.com is a great site that I frequent regularly. It's main aim is to fileshare - mostly music. It does have chatrooms that get used, and you can message directly to the person you are downloading off. This is great when you are trying to share their programs and you need some technical info on why it might be nonfunctional. I like this simple little community with its purposeful intent. But then ... there are more comprehensive sites like www.inthemix.com.au that cater for wider user input and information exchange.
Joining ITM gave me a sense of membership and allowed me access into parts that I could not get to as a mere viewer. My competitive nature drove me to want to get my name up in the highest scores of the games section. After membership I was allowed in, and began my assault on the scoreboard. Also by joining up I could put in a photo and a comment and have a say in the forums. As a new contender, I have not contributed in the forums yet, but I will have something to say once I smash that "Lubes" of number one possition in Alien Clones!!!!!!!!!
