Protectionist Vs Networking - What Type of Community Do You Want to Call Home?

As some of you may know, I wear a myriad of hats, both here at 2old2play and in my "real life", where I serve as the Outreach Specialist for a major outdoor retailer, run a vintage gaming store and participate in a wide range of outdoor activities such as kayaking and snowboarding. As a result of my varied interests, I find myself straddling two worlds that often seem diametrically opposed to one another, the Online Video Game Community and the Outdoor Industry. When relaying stories of one realm to members of the other, I am frequently met with blank stares or inquiries regarding why I would want to participate in an environment that seems so at odds with interests of the person I happen to be addressing at the time. Despite these differences, I have noticed one common thread between the two cultures; the ever-expanding discussion on what it means to be a Community and a concentrated focus on what it takes to build a collection of individuals into a cohesive and productive unit. As I have watched this discussion on community development build from both sides of the fence, it has become apparent to me that there are two major schools of thought with regard to this subject, those who strive to build connections across communities and those who strive to build their own community while isolating themselves from other social organizations in an apparent effort to limit outside influences and possible emigration. For the purposes of this blog, I will call the former group "Networkers" and the latter group "Protectionists"

The Protectionists

At first glance, this term may hold negative connotations for some, bringing to mind visions of Cold War antagonists peering over closed borders with fearful and suspecting glances. And in some contemporary cases, this impression may not be far off the mark. However, it is important to understand why certain communities take this approach to building their ranks and maintaining a certain status quo. Many communities get their humble beginnings from a gathering of like-minded and often ostracized individuals who pull together to find strength in numbers and the pursuit of common goals. Anyone who grew up a geek in the 80’s (and this includes me), knows what it was like to be among those who found Dungeons & Dragons, comic books and video games more enticing than organized sports, cheerleading or the prom. We took comfort in knowing that there were others like us and we tended to remain amongst our own kind, both for comfort and in some cases for social protection.

Fast-forward to the modern era, where digital media and online communication allow us to link up, not with a few, but hundreds and even thousands of others who have our specific interests and dislikes in common. From this evolution was born the modern online community, where a particular activity, hobby or individual IP can and often does become the focal point of a given group of people. At first there is a certain euphoria that accompanies such a meeting of the minds. Then as the group grows and becomes more identifiable by an agreed upon set of common traits, walls begin to be erected to keep out those who might dilute the original purpose of the gathering. As this community ages and matures, newcomers are increasingly scrutinized to assure that they share the ideals and goals of the group. New membership eventually becomes a process of indoctrination and often requires the sponsorship of an existing individual in good standing of the group. On a small scale, this process resembles your average gaming clan or club. On a larger scale, these traits can represent a community that treats “outsiders” with contempt or at least suspicion, often as an unconscious byproduct of the process.

A Protectionist Community can and will grow through its process of internal referrals, but it will be limited by the narrow experience and focus of its members. In many cases, these types of communities may die a slow death as the focal property of the group, be it a particular game or cultural phenomenon, proceeds through its natural cycle of emergence, growth, peaking and eventual decline. Unless the community makes a major and often traumatic shift to a new focus, it is in essence doomed by its very nature.

There are many examples of such communities existing today in various stages of the insular cycle that I have outlined above, some of which are no longer with us. As a matter of example, the very community that got me involved in online gaming, Raven-Games, is no longer with us. As the process of social networking continues to speed up the rate of communication between groups and individuals, the speed by which these cycles run their course will only increase, necessitating a change in philosophy to prevent the rapid decay of Protectionist Communities.

The Networkers

The members of this type of community may have originally come together around a given focal idea or cultural phenomenon. As the group grows and identifies its characteristics, it will eventually begin to experience the same growth, peak & decline cycle that a Protectionist Community experiences. However, as is indicated by the name, individuals within a Networking community will anticipate this cycle and strive to diversify its focus, bringing in new influences as they are discovered and expanding the communal experience through the introduction of new ideas, new goals and new members. Once a Networking Community grows to a certain size, it begins to look outside of itself and interact with other communities with similar mindset and perhaps closely related interests. By doing so, the community gains exposure to new trends that allow it’s members to avoid stagnation and eventual boredom and collapse. The key here is that such a community must hold a balance between maintaining its identity as a unique gathering while reaching across virtual boundaries to enrich the experience for it members.

I see 2old2play as a perfect example of a Networking Community that grew from a single focus, Halo 2, into something much greater. As many of you may know, Doodi, DSmooth, TaxiSquad and the other founders of this community gathered around a single desire, to play Halo 2 with a group of mature gamers while avoiding what we affectionately now call “The Curse of the Timmie”. Had the founders of 2old2play.com decided that Halo 2 would be the be all and end all of this community, it would not be what it is today – a diverse group of over 18,000 members and growing with certain commonalities (primarily age and a ingrained love of video games), but a widely and ever-expanding range of interests.

As this community continues to grow, we are now looking outside our own neighborhood toward the greater Gaming Community to partner with other online communities such as TGN, SFX_360, Penny Arcade, game developers and other industry entities in an effort to keep your experience here at home fresh, exciting and motivating. We want you, our members, not only to be proud of your participation within 2old2play, but to be active and engaged contributors to the industry as a whole. By doing so, we will ensure both the vitality of 2old2play.com and the collective longevity of the Greater Video Game Community as a whole.

So the next time you run into someone on Xbox Live or at the next PAX (coming to Boston in March, 2010 by the way) who is from another community, hold of on the smack talk and reach across the divide to make a connection based on your shared interests. Then once you have made a new contact, you can lay down the pwnage in your favorite game and relish the fact that 2old2play.com is still one of, if not THE BEST, online communities out there today.