Safe communication

Really, it’s bloody simple. If you want people to talk, giving them the technology to do so is necessary but not sufficient. You also have to ensure that talking is a safe activity for them. That means controlling it as little as possible. That means tolerating -- dare I say, heeding and understanding? -- well-expressed dissent. That means accepting that sometimes we all say the wrong thing to the wrong people at the wrong time. That means a firm injunction against messenger-slaughter. The identical instant some wanker makes talking unsafe, workers will retreat back into mute Worker personae. [Caveat Lector]

Got this one from Jon. I think that creating a safe environment for communication is critical for web communities. Sure the platform (technology) is important. However, if you've got the greatest site, but people don't feel safe to open up, you've got a beautiful, empty site.

8:51:17 AM     

categories: Virtual Communities