Comments on: Emerging organically

By: Debra Askanase

Debra Askanase — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:15:05 +0000

Hi Tara,
I think you’re spot on! I thought a lot about this, and in fact along the same lines as you. I completely agree with how you characterize this – that these online relationships do move along (what Allison Fine calls) a Ladder of Engagement. I call it moving from the Front Yard into Back Yard conversations. I wrote a blog post that visually describes how I see the strength progression of social media ties move: http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/12/09/front-yard-and-back-yard-conversations/. Curious what you think of the diagram, too?

One last note: I believe it’s a lot harder to move into the “back yard” of an online-only friend. I think you described it well when you talk about how it’s hard to pay attention to new folks because you’re preoccupied with current conversation circles. True – and Dunbar’s number certainly plays a really big role in this concept as well.

Thanks for a great piece!
@askdebra

By: Alexander Brown

Alexander Brown — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:06:44 +0000

One the interesting things I have noticed in my online relationships, is that how similar they are can be to offline relationships. So similar that it feels comfortable to share personal intimate details with someone you have never met in person.

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:10:21 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. Meeting new people is wonderful. An aspect I am really fond of is how we are able to reconnect with past friends like high school, college are peers we worked with which is made available now.

By: Jorge

Jorge — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:56:52 +0000

I don’t how did I miss this post.

I can’t wait to meet you in person,too. It’s awesome how the Internet allows me (from far away) interact with lot’s of amazing people and to want to meet them offline. Of the people I’ve met offline after meeting them online I’ve found it so much easier to talk to them from minute 0. In fact not long ago I met a twitter friend from Texas that happened to be in Peru and we went for lunch talked and started a business together. And we just knew each other for 4 hours IRL time, but for a long time online.

By: Aaron Hockley

Aaron Hockley — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:33:57 +0000

Your post rings true for me… it’s all part of the bigger picture of online and offline identities and lives merging into one. The people that are finding the most benefit in building relationships and networking online are those that are being authentic and transparent. I am me… and I am the same me whether you find me via my blog, my Twitter stream, in person at a local event, or with my family at the zoo.

I’ve met people at WordCamps and Blogworld that I’ve only known via their online presence, and the face-to-face meetings haven’t seemed like first times, but rather extensions of online relationships.

By: Kathy Sierra

Kathy Sierra — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:18:06 +0000

So true… except (for me) this part: “I’ve met people in person… that I’ve ‘known’ for years online. And there is no awkwardness about it.”

The very online/offline overlap you describe has created, for me, the awkwardness of bumping into someone I’m so familiar with online that I honestly can’t be certain whether I’ve ever met them in real life before. The closer their avatar matches how they look when I meet them offline, the more challenging this is.

But then it’s also quite fun to “meet” for the first time in person those previously online-only folks whose avatars are, say, cartoons or some other image that gives no hint to their actual appearance or, in some cases, their gender. Those are always very delightful surprises!

By: Neven Jones

Neven Jones — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:12:13 +0000

It’s so true, I’ve met so many great people on Twitter. People who are not on Twitter just don’t get it, most of my IRL friends think it’s a waste of time. I love talking to people who I normally wouldn’t have the chance to meet. It’s fun meeting new people this way.

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:48:36 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by gandalfar: Emerging organically http://bit.ly/8wQu9S by @missrogue…

By: Alfonso Govela

Alfonso Govela — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:07:56 +0000

You are absolutely right!…. let’s have a 2010 with plenty of sprouts at our world wide coffee shop.