For the past couple of days, I’ve been pondering about communities and what brings people together. Both in terms of how we create it, but also what elements need to be present in order for people to be drawn to, and stay in communities.
The single most important thing that I’ve found in this is that people need to meet. Physically.
It’s become more and more clear to me that we want to meet. That we want to meet in flesh, that the digital space isn’t quite enough. The question then is, what type of role does the digital space play in creating and sustaining communities?
The internet, as Per Johansson described it to me during a podcast conversation today, can act as a messenger. He explained how his podcast engagement has given him a plattform to have meaningful conversations in real life, that have led to actual change.
The internet isn’t to be used as the community. It’s a way to get to community.