Is this is community?

A challenge...

Published on November 14, 2004 By dynamaso In Blogging

I joined JU to be part of a community of individuals who enjoy exchanging ideas, advice, wisdom, humour and life anecdotes. I was looking for something to help affirm an idea I had that regardless of country of birth, politics, religion or social position, there are plenty of people around the world thinking as I do. I was looking for an interchange of information. Instead, I feel a little bit frustrated.

It seems to me that there is a 'circle within a circle' or a group of users only responding to each other. Before anyone says anything, I'm not a points whore. I could really care less. I would still be saying this even if there wasn't a points system. I want exchange, dialogue, conversation. I want people to challenge my statements, support my ideas or call my bluffs. Come on folks, get with the program. How can you learn anything or grow intellectually by only allowing yourselves to be challenged time and again by the same group of peers? Let me tell you, you can't, okay. Step outside your comforts zones, be daring, be brave and maybe learn something along the way. Come on, I dare you...

Comments (Page 2)

TasT

on Nov 14, 2004

I have to get warmed up to people

Geez it's getting stuffy in here

I agree, I comment regularly even though I only have time to write an article a week or so and eveyone treats me pretty good........

dynamaso

on Nov 15, 2004

To everyone generally, thanks for your responses and for answering my questions regarding the most basic of JU functions (how did I miss the obvious? By concentrating on the obscure. D'oh and d'oh again).

Tex, again, thanks for your response. As for your apology, you don't need to make one but I will gratefully yours in the spirit it was offered. As for your 'Rule of 69', I laughed out loud and take the point.

Cheers

Mark

island_gurl12

on Nov 15, 2004

it's the 1st time i see one of your articles dynamaso. I havent been here for long and i dont write or comment heaps but i feel like i am part of the JU community. Why? Maybe cuz i got to know the other users. Good luck for your blogging

Floozie

on Nov 15, 2004

I'm a little bit concerned with the idea that I have to be 'known' in order to receive responses

You don't need to be 'known' but you seem to be asking for something that you're not prepared to give back. If you want a free flow of ideas you should be interested in comenting on other's ideas, not just people commenting on yours. It's a two way street. Every now and again a blogger like yourself comes out and says how unfair it is while they themselves are guilty of the very behaviour they detest.

I didn't know this was a popularity contest.

No you're just being immature.

Look - Good on you for getting your point out there. And point duly noted, but don't use the 'It's so unfair' card. We were all new at some point and all took some time to get our voices heard. As everyone else has said, you'll get back what you put in.

dynamaso

on Nov 15, 2004

Floozie, for someone who came into this discussion late, you certainly know how to make an impact. I didn't think I was 'being immature' at all. Is it immature to question something if one requires some sort of answer or guidance? I don't think so, but obviously you do. My comment was in response to some else's comments, which was in response to my article. From the responses I've had, I've already learnt a whole lot more than I would have had I not posted my article.

As I said earlier, sometime the only way to test the strength of a community is to challenge it. And I've since found that JU is a very strong community indeed.

Thanks for your comments. I think this horse is now well and truly flogged...

Cheers

Floozie

on Nov 15, 2004

Ooops. That was supposed to say 'Now' not 'No'. I didn't mean to imply that you as an entire person are immature but that the comment was. Sorry!

*backing away from equine carcass*

Floozie

on Nov 15, 2004

You get an insightful for that LW. Very well said.

Phoenixboi

on Nov 15, 2004

Hey there..I too havent seen any of your blogs or your comments but Ill make a note to come visit your site.. Just keep blogging and youll get noticed.

BlueDev

on Nov 15, 2004

Since chiprj already answered the question about finding out how many articles and replies you have made I will not address that.

However I fail to see where I ever said a word about a popularity contest. I simply made an observation: You appeared to be criticizing a community you very obviously had not made much effort to be a part of. Think about it this way, if you are with a group of people and all you ever do is talk, without listening to the rest of the group (or letting them know you are listening by acknowledging them), do you think it would then be fair to criticize the group for not entering into open and interesting discourse with you?

Of course it isn't a contest, but if people don't know who you are they can't exchange ideas with you. I apologize if my first reply was read as having any malice or ill will. It didn't, but I still stand behind my comments 100%. If you want this to be a community, be part of it.

*keeps flogging, wondering why the horse isn't moving*

dharmagrl

on Nov 15, 2004

Ju is a community. But, you have to integrate yourself into the community. You can't just stand there and expect the comminity to form around you.

The best way to get yourself n0ticed and accepted (isn't to write articles like this_ is to go comments on other people's blogs. Add people to your blog roll (favorites list), and link your articles to other peoples.

Welcome to JU, btw.....better late than never!

Floozie

on Nov 15, 2004

You know what's funny? I have commented on one of your articles before! How very strange. I'll say it again - nice Cure reference.

dynamaso

on Nov 15, 2004

Thanks again to everyone for the responses. I think all I've proved is that the JU community (yes, it IS indeed a community) is very protective of itself, as any good community would be.

I was speaking to a friend last night who suggested that part of the problem might be the time difference because I am awake while a lot of you are asleep so by the time you get to looking at my articles, they have been up for some time already. I don't know whether this is true but it certainly makes some sense to me.

To those of you who say you haven't seen my articles or responses, well I say check you own articles as I have responded to a number of you in the past. My only explination for you not seeing them is as I stated above. And there is not much any of us can do about this.

Thanks again to everyone. I've certainly learnt a lot in the last 24 hours, which is what life is all about. Lets give this horse a decent burial.

Cheers

InBloom

on Nov 15, 2004

*Places some lovely roses on the "horse's" final resting place* lol:)

BlueDev

on Nov 15, 2004

dynamaso--I hope there are no hard feelings and I will certainly keep my eyes open for your articles.

*Drops a flower*

dynamaso

on Nov 15, 2004

BlueDev - none whatsoever. Thanks for challenging me and for having the courage to say what you think. If only more people did we might all be living in a healthier world.

*wanders off whistling 'Horse With No Name'*

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