As I was reading the article by Amy Bruckman, I was reminded of the discussion we had in our first class regarding community. After splitting the class into groups, we each came up with a different definition, yet we all focused on the same concepts; communities are structured, have similar wants and needs, and work together to benefit as a whole. The Bruckman article suggests an alternate outlook on the idea of community. Instead of our in class definition, Bruckman defines community as being a "prototype-based category." What this means is that there are set examples of community members that make up the basis of said community. In the article, Bruckman uses the example of a robin being an ideal prototype of the bird community as opposed to a less clear example such as a penguin. This example definitely intrigued me. I never thought of a community as being prototype-based, but it makes sense. There is a reason people sometimes get the notion of not "fitting in." I believe this is because we do not fit the mold of an outside community when we are abruptly placed into it.
When referring to online communities, the article mentions that people tend to replace real life communities with virtual ones. People are taking the general idea of community but taking out many of the key aspects such as being geographically close and being connected face to face. While some say these aspects do not matter, I personally think they do. A strong community that actually achieves their goals is going to be much more successful when gathering in person instead of gathering virtually. This statement certainly only reflects my opinion and personal experiences, but I feel as though many of you will agree.
I do agree completely with these statements. The feeling of needing to fit in has always been a part of our history. It takes time to fit into a group after being placed in it. There is usually not a different way around this.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a prototype-based community intrigues me as well. I agree with her example, and I feel that she is a genius for being able to point out the less obvious. Penguins have long exhibited the idea of community because of their specific needs in remote habitats. Penguins will hunt, sleep, and care for their young as a whole population. Robins on the other hand are less likely to form large groups and perform these activities together. Therefore Ms. Bruckman is correct in stating that robins would be the perfect prototype community.
People are transferring from a face-to-face style of community to a more virtual one. As technology becomes more developed, we must try to keep up. Therefore, there is not a way around this social tragedy. The only question is; Will this transition be a smooth one for all people??