Workshop: Virtual communities

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WorkshopVirtual communities

• JohnW_at_QuakerNet.org.uk
• Paul.Kingston_at_dsl.pipex.com
• Both of Reading Meeting
• Extending Connexions Conference, York, April 2003

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Introductions, expectations, experience
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Outline for the workshop

• Quaker virtual communities?
• Led by Paul
• What can Friends do, and how?
• Led by John
• What next?

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Part 1 - Virtual community?Paul Kingston
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Virtual
community

• A group with formal or informal membership
• People more or less know each other
• People have shared aims and objectives
• What is shared matters to members

Arent many like that?

• Often separated by barriers of distance or
  opportunity
• Connection supported by distance-working tools
• Often coordinated via the richest of these, the
  web

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Quaker Voluntary Action committee meeting
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Meeting for Sufferings
For some, some Saturdays For others,
Friday/Saturday Agenda etc by post?
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Quaker Theology Group
Two or three weekends a year Plus limited
posting of papers
For now, lets focus on web-supported
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Why web support?
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Ideal BYM Quaker?

• Regular participant in PM and MM
• Loves Nominations fills jobs with enthusiasm
• Participates in national groups and committees
• Leaves the world a better place
• Has a life

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Real Quaker

• Enthusiastic
• Lots of interests, many not met in local meeting
• Full diary, often busy or away
• Available at odd hours
• Would like to participate more, but

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Web-based discussion

• Slower than f2f, faster more inclusive than
  voicemail
• Leaves a record, available to all members when
  they join (and searchable)
• Fits easily into a busy schedule
• Non-native speakers better able to cope than f2f
• Works best if those involved know and trust each
  other
• Good for exchange, not so good for building
  conclusions and agreement
• Easy to supplement with eg shared documents,
  calendar, notices
• Good as a base for coordinating group activities

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Busy people may find the web congenial for
discussion and co-ordination
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Web discussion in a closed group is congenial to
Quakers?

• Most busy people can fit in contribution to a
  web group
• The techniques and values of web hosting /
  facilitation are west-coast liberal
• Everyones voice has an equal chance to be heard
• Everyone has time to listen and time to
  consider their own contribution
• Some find closed web discussion promotes
  building exchanges (rather like creative
  listening)
• The web empowers activists

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To start with, a PM might use web for

• Support teenage link
• Gallery for children
• Directory of interests
• Whos who
• Skills/resources register
• Link to people away/ at home
• Correspondent platform
• Library list / discussion
• Soap box
• Favourite good cause
• Small ads
• Event preparation
• Event follow-up

• Rotas
• MM PM agendas mins
• ? Notes from prevented
• Interviews by teenage group
• Links to online resources
• Web twinning
• Specific Q resources- eg list of funds
• Library addition proposals
• Sharing with smaller meetings
• Officeholders- list, mailboxes, responsibilities
• (Some) reports to PM/MM

And should be even better for X-BYM groups
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So, lets do it
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Space for community
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A web space was made for us, a defined group. 51
people registered. 13 of these posted ( 5
others). 5 of these contributed 78 of the 110
postings
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Level of activity
Web space Registered Posted in 2 months Contributing 80 of these
Connexions 51 13 people 110 posts 5 people
The Penn 70 15 people 112 posts 7 people
Brainstorms c.1000 c.60/hour (c.50 conferences, each c. 200 topics) 100s
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An annoying space Yahoo Groups
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A free password-protected multi-purpose space
Smartgroups
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Good management facilities
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Easy to add events ( notifications)
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Iraq war take-off focus on a shared aim. But
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For a fast-moving group

• No broadcast
• Members split across various types of use
• Worked well for enthusiasts who found out how
• Side email conversations developed. Uncomfortable
  in front of sleeping members?

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For a creative listening group

• You and the screen, alone declaring
  vulnerability?
• Uncomfortable when dont know how contributions
  will be received
• Uncomfortable in front of local lurkers
• Is there a cultural barrier (for now) in the UK?

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Remember those who dont have access to the web

• 57 of the UK population have personal access to
  the the web (Sep 2002)- i.e. 43 havent.
• Access is available in libraries internet
  cafes- but to those who know what to do.
• Many are worried about cost of connection time
• So for now, web must be a supplementary
  communication method, mandatory for nothing
• This will change- figure has doubled in 2 years,
  and cost is a lower lower barrier
• But remember many who have access arent yet
  comfortable to move from viewing to acting

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A good specialist discussion space with many
rooms Caucus
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I choose my interest areas, and can see whats
new new to me
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Good simple layout. Easy to see what you are
replying to
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Easy to see who you are interacting with, and
to know them also by their history in the
group
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Want to do more than talk? A good space for
limited-time conferences
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Spend time in discussion with a speaker, at your
own pace
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Be aware that we may be changed
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How would the Society be if George Fox had had
access to a web log
A strong temptation to despair came over me
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Virtual Community - Part 2

• See separate file Virtual_Community_Part_2.ppt
• John Wragg
• JohnW_at_QuakerNet.org.uk
• Paul.Kingston_at_dsl.pipex.com
• Reading Meeting
• Extending Connexions Conference,
• York, April 2003