Community

A republic requires citizens; entertainment requires only an audience.

– Megan Garber

I post this quote from Peter Block's book "Community" every year. It doesn't get much attention because it's not built for social media: it's thick.

But there really isn't a better explanation of the "why" behind the work I do, and its encouragement for communities to move away from blame, apathy, and entitlement and towards possibility,

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Kin-building is, at its heart, about finding ease and choosing to rest in others. When you have more people in your life, there is less on your individual shoulders to do and achieve. I do wish I had known sooner that it was about people just as much as it was about accomplishments.

A strong community turns casual users into devoted advocates. Create spaces where users can connect, share experiences, and help each other. This could be through online forums, local meetups, or virtual events.

Encourage user-generated content, celebrate community achievements, and facilitate peer-to-peer learning. The most successful communities

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Stop trying to make social networks succeed, stop dreaming of a universal network. Instead, invest in your own communities. Help them make long-term, custom and sustainable solutions. Try to achieve small and local successes instead of pursuing an imaginary universal one. It will make you happier.

It will make all of us happier.

The hard truth is that no one gets to be in community without effort.