Just turning this around in my head as i have fleetingly done several times. I was thinking about the different dynamics in all the tiny chat rooms we have had and the relative success of those. Also the forum, other forums, the real world meet ups and etc.
What is it that creates the attraction for people to join a group, is it information gathering/sharing? A specific person or several specific people that an individual wants to know better? An organised and controlled facade? A sense of belonging? Comfort? I'm sure it is all of those things to varying degree's. But what draws you personally to a group and what kind of dynamics do you think are needed for the group to thrive. Can we take tips from nature, a Hyena's cackle, a Lions pride or meercats or even seahorses... ?
Does everyone have their place within a group? I for one have mostly felt like an outsider even in those times I was part of a group, many people say this... do the outcasts belong into a separate group all of their own or it is the human condition to crave connection but to always feel it's slightly out of reach to belong...making everyone a veritable nomadic alien.
I have often thought about the mainstream of society. How there is no one mainstream. How there are just branches of mainstream in ever increasing fragments. Imagine mainstream to be a torrential river sweeping everyone along in it's ferocity, everyone shouting over the cacophony of crashing water thinking how we are all caught up in this same river, swimming against the tide trying to keep heads above water. But then imagine all the people who are marginalised within society, pushed to the side channels.... we can then see groups that are less mainstream i.e people with mental health issues, they are marginalised... one in 2-4 people suffer with mental health issues at some point. How about single mothers, they too are marginalised..and the unemployed, the ethnic minorities and etc. So now we have so many marginalised people that we no longer have a raging river... we just have puddles.
(Disclaimer: Was just flexing some ideas here, not making bold statements of facts, this is more about ideas)
Discuss