Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: What Creates Community

[Buzz Burrell (72253.2101]

What Creates Community?  -----

This has been a good thread, and helpfull to me.  After reading all the
responses, here is what I have learned (you probably learned something
different):

1. Don't dare question in a public forum the value of eating together.

2. Relationships, described in various ways, are by far the most common reason
mentioned.  From the serious things like "commitment", to the everyday things
like "watching Star Trek", this is the most common answer. 

3. Site design, while acknowledged as important, was actually never mentioned
directly.  One therefore could presume that "relationships" are the real goal,
and "design" is a factor in achieving that;  design can either allow for them to
form easily or inhibit them from forming.

4. Don't post long messages to this list;  people reply out of context to one's
meaning, probably because they were too bored to thoroughly read one's brilliant
essay.

5. Surprisingly, the "drug" issue hasn't gone away;  it's still a charged topic.

6. Many people (such as myself) have thoughts on this question, but are hazy
about specifically what  creates a sense of community for them.  Others are more
certain.

7. This question is important to a number of people.

8. It is very unclear how most people deal with others who don't share thier own
reasons for community.  It is also unclear if some people can even see that that
others may have different motivations and goals for creating community.

9. I'm going to pursue my own thought of "interdependence" being the underlying
creator of community, and see how I can further understand and grow from it, and
bring it into my community life.

10. Cohousing as resembling a "Yuppie bondage scene" was my favorite posting.

Buzz Burrell
Boulder