What is Online Community?

Community What Is It?

Well, this is a pretty good place to start. For the sake of conversation, let's turn to Webster's and see what they have to say:

Main Entry: comOmuOniOty
Pronunciation: k&-'my°-n&-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English comunete, from Middle French comunet/, from Latin communitat-, communitas, from communis
Date: 14th century

a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society

1 : a unified body of individuals: as a : STATE, COMMONWEALTH b : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself c : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location d : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society e : a group linked by a common policy f : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society

2 : society at large

3 a : joint ownership or participation b : common character : LIKENESS c : social activity : FELLOWSHIP d : a social state or condition

Now that's a mouthful, but I think that there is value in almost every single definition that they offer. For our purposes, let's focus in on one particular point.

g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society