Epilogue

Community,

Just after I went to bed I started thinking about the word "Community". Bad idea because the thoughts took away at least half an hour of sleep.

What is Community? How to define that?

It's people. In an area? No, there are communities that not area related, but I'm sure that a common area helps. Yet there are plenty of people in common areas that are not communities.

It's a group of people that are connected one way or another.
How large a group? Two people is a bit low, three?
Connected in what way? There comes area back. But being together in the same area doesn't make a community. Connected must have something to do with communication.

But why does the group connect? There must be some common interest. There comes area back. The will to maintain and uphold an area. But that is one interest, there are other interests possible that make a community.

There are groups of people maintaining open source products. That's a community with a common interest.

Does that common interest mean that all people think the same? Absolutely not. One might want to go left, the other right and then there are the oddballs that want to go under and through. They are individuals.

Perhaps that is an element that makes a community. Individuals discussing a common direction.

There are weak and strong communities.
Strong communities agree on a common direction?
Or are strong communities people with more then one common interest?
Or both?

Can communities be forged? I think that is possible.
A group of people that undergoes the same experience, shared if possible, will create cross ties. They discover they do not share one but several common interests.

Communities have to be friends? I'm sure it helps but it's not a prerequisite. Total enemies can share interests and work together.

So a community is a group of individuals with common interests that communicate about those interests. If one element is missing, it's not a community.
They can discuss a common direction. Shared experiences can make communities stronger. More common interests makes communities stronger.

Now let's see what Merriam-Webster thinks.

• "Unified body of individuals"
• "Social state or condition"
• "Society at large"

My definition is better, but has cost me half an hour of sleep, and then writing this.
Offered to you for free. Handle with care. Knowledge is power.

I want to thank Dakota, TJ, Qie and Deadline Marianne for their work. Without them this newspaper would not be on your doorstep.
Thank you Roc for hosting the Bay City Post offices, and please don't share * those* pictures.

Editor Vick Forcella

191104

The Toxic Taco has a new offering of extra spicy tacos. Bob went to the Toxic Taco and tried the new menu. Now Bob looks like this.

Bob

Don't be like Bob.