building community

I have been giving it some thought to a phrase that is used a lot in the internet world which is ‘building online community.’  Is this possible?  How does one go about building an online community?

community can be defined as:

• a group of people living in a particular local area
• a group that is organized around common values and social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household. (wikipedia)

Since the introduction of the internet, this definition for community has obviously changed.  Here is a quote from Wikipedia on community:

“the concept of community no longer has geographical limitations, as people can now virtually gather in an online community and share common interests regardless of physical location.”

Listen to what Liz Strauss has to say about social community:

social community

“From families to friendships, we share experiences and interactions with groups. Our attachments to those groups strong or weak weave the fabric of association and community. A community is a social structure that shares personal values, cultural values, business goals, attitudes, or a world view. What binds it is a community culture of social rules and group dynamics that identify members.

An online community isn’t built or befriended, it’s connected by offering and accepting. Community is affinity, identity, and kinship that make room for ideas, thoughts, and solutions. Wherever a community gathers, we aspire and inspire each other intentionally . . . And our words shine with authenticity. Many social networking sites also offer platforms for discussion of topics that a community or network finds mutually interesting or beneficial.

In the most concise terms, an online social community is a group of like-minded individuals connected by interactions.”

I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas regarding building community.