Comments on: Is there such a thing as “the” community? http://ifocos.org/2007/01/25/is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-community/ INSTITUTE FOR THE CONNECTED SOCIETY Sat, 19 May 2012 07:42:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Martin G. Smith http://ifocos.org/2007/01/25/is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-community/comment-page-1/#comment-713 Martin G. Smith Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:31:53 +0000 http://ifocos.org/2007/01/25/is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-community/#comment-713 Yes there is such a thing as community, Robin. All that you mentioned and even more than that. And for each community that thinks it is unique, has a form, culture, moral of its own, there is on just like it over the hill or just beyond the horizon. The reality is however, that no matter how different, how unique, how ‘exclusive’ we portray ourselves to be within our community, the fact is that we are community, each one of us, individual in our own right, yet part of the greater whole. What I suggest is primary to the development of the New Media, for that is what we are here to talk about, is that it should be about inclusiveness and access for all and not exclusiveness and access for few. We all are allowed to know, and whether those who believe they are still in control accept it or not, there is going to be very little they are going to be able to do to stop it. Yes there is such a thing as community, Robin. All that you mentioned and even more than that. And for each community that thinks it is unique, has a form, culture, moral of its own, there is on just like it over the hill or just beyond the horizon.
The reality is however, that no matter how different, how unique, how ‘exclusive’ we portray ourselves to be within our community, the fact is that we are community, each one of us, individual in our own right, yet part of the greater whole.
What I suggest is primary to the development of the New Media, for that is what we are here to talk about, is that it should be about inclusiveness and access for all and not exclusiveness and access for few. We all are allowed to know, and whether those who believe they are still in control accept it or not, there is going to be very little they are going to be able to do to stop it.

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