David RD Gratton

A-List bloggers need to get out more

February 7, 2007

Sometimes I have to laugh at A-List bloggers in the tech industry chasing their own tail. They sometimes seem to be oblivious to anything or anyone else that is outside of their own circle jerk.

Two years ago I and others were posting that beyond communities of interest communities do not exist.

Virtual communities [online Social Networks] do not exist as communities unto themselves. It's true that I know individuals only online. It's true that I participate on project with groups of people on-line that I have never met before. But these communities have a common interest without exception. Virtual Communities unto themselves are not communities but modifiers to communities of interest.

And low and behold Silicon Valley pundits have now concluded that Social Networks are now a feature "for other online activities." And what are those other on-line activities? The interest/topic/purpose for the community.

So forgive me if I don't see this revelation as visionary. Dozens of us have been saying this for years.