Overnight instant community is an oxymoron endemic to frenzied Americans. I learnt this sheepishly from the Italians myself (where Slow Food movement was birthed, btw). They put me in my place (graciously) when I pitched them my USA-inspired social networking ideas in 2003. I like to recommend observing closely actual communities and neighborhoods with strong social ties/social capital in the real-world for hints to apply online.

It’s always a grassroots rippling from bottom up and out evolution; although I have a sense the growth can be quite accelerated like the organic Fibonacci sequence, yet never contrived or forced.

Let me tell you that this is the type of pressure that makes me feel very non-creative, and I’m certain that goes for everyone else in similar roles. I find, the best ideas come along when I’m in total flow, usually thinking about something else altogether or just experiencing something partially related.

Same goes for me. I find I’m usually at my best in a reactionary capacity. By that I mean there’s something there that I can build off of or revise. It helps me keep my flow or rhythm going.

With regards to the impatient world we live within, definitely check out “In The Bubble” by John Thackara, if you haven’t read it already. He helps explain why the more we try to save time, the more we actually lose it. He also talks a lot about innovation, design, and ecosystem concepts similar to permaculture (without calling it permaculture).

PS. I have a “dream” client who is very patient as well with my creativity (since it’s really the only way I can work). It’s great when you can find people like that.

I’m glad that I lost that business. It wasn’t worth it (they were also people who haggled over costs. Not good since I charge towards the lower end of the scale, because I usually work with people who don’t have tons of money, because of the area that I am in).

It’s funny that you mention R&D dpt squeezing, too, because I was just talking about this with friend who works for a laser technology company, who’ve squeezed their R&D dept down to just him!

Now, Richard Florida had to write “The Flight of The creative Class”, to cover his ass after writing all of those books about the “Rise Of The Creative Class”. Because, apparently the “Creative Class” are moving their creative asses to places where their more appreciated.

And, I wonder if this has something to do with the unrealistic attitudes that you talk about above?

I’ve started to see this as a clash of worldviews. The people who’ve mastered, or want to master the Industrial/Corporate money-focused worldview way of doing business that’s been around for the past 100+ years, can’t or won’t get what it takes to work in the emerging mediums. They’re impatient because this attitude is how they have always motivated people to “perform”, and people who act like trained seals are rewarded because the focus is money, money, money, money, and money. If you were just focused on money, it would actually be easy to give quick 30-60 minute advice, because all you’d really be doing is advising on “how can we make this thing make us as lots of money!?!” I bet a lot of people just assume that you have this same focus. Otherwise, “why would you be in business”, right? They may not always come right out and say it. But, I’ll bet if you dug in with them, this would be the core focus for a lot of people.

“Quick Community”=”Quick Money” How?

“Viral Marketing”, imagined surges of crowd participation. They want this, because after all of the hoops are jumped through in the hoped-for ways, there’s a pot ‘o gold at the end of the rainbow!

They are not trying to build communities at all. They are actually trying to build audiences that look like a community.

They are trying to figure out how to make a “community mind mold” that they can shove people into, and change the form of their minds to their benefit. They can’t figure out how to pour the people into the “mold” with out spilling it all over the place, so they are calling asking you.

But it tuns out that actual communities aren’t made by pouring molten people-minds into molds at all. Instead, they self-assemble based around actual interests. And they grow with time and real care.

but you are oh so right – even getting the community thinking going takes a while for “normal” companies…

If the community builders can’t hang out there and live it, then how will they ever know what will make others hang out there and live it?

I continue to think your blog and ideas are champion, thanks for another great post!