What defines a community?

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Something I have been pondering... to each of you respectively, what defines and constitutes a community? Not only inherently, but compared with mobs, throngs, masses, assemblages or loose associations - thank you.


M.

To me it's continuity over time. People who are together as a mob, throng, mass or assemblage are only together for the duration of a specific event- be it a riot or a speech. A loose association of people are together off and on over time but there isn't much continuity. They may go months with no communication and only see each other at certain events or in certain places.

A community is people who are together over a duratuion of time and without too much time passing between members communicating.

Is it only groups with shared goals, or can disparate individuals form a community within an atmosphere of dissent? Does a community have rules or organization? Is there a length of time that constitutes a minimum before a community is formed? What do you seek in selecting or choosing a community to try and join?


M.

I don't think all communities are intentional. Lots of communities are geographical and therefore are full of people with no shared goal (beyond making sure the community isn't destroyed) and plenty of dissent. These geographical communities don't have rules or organization. A neighborhood is a community and it has dissenting people and no rules or organization.

There is a minimum length of time before a community is formed but I suspect it's different for each community. There just comes a time when the people together feel "we are a community".

What do I seek?

In an intentional community: shared goals and general camaraderie (Wrong Planet). In a geographical community, a community "feel"- lots of visible neighbors being neighborly- my neighborhood.

A place like this, where people come to support and have fun, with one another.

I believe a community is a place where questions can be asked and answered,
free of threat or the potential for calamitous reprimand.

For instance : Why was makuranososhi banned?

I miss makuranososhi, he was one of the best members