One key thing is that connection has to be, in some ways anyhow, two-way. It’s no longer enough to have one person in charge of sending out ‘communication’ to everyone else. We need ways in which citizens can connect with each other directly. Fortunately the tech revolution has made this much easier (in some ways). Facebook groups, Whatsapp groups, online forums, social media all have a part to play.
We suggest starting with a Facebook group or similar. Although not everyone is on Facebook and some have principled objections to it, the simple fact is that a Facebook group provides great functionality, free, with moderation features to ensure the discussion stays constructive and inclusive. Many people use the platform as part of their daily routine which means they see updates without having to go look for them (a factor which makes online forums less attractive, they require a special look to see what’s going on). Our Edinburgh West End group has grown from 20 to 2200 members over the past two years.
You can also limit participation to those who really do live (and perhaps work) locally. It’s a boon of the internet that people can in principle join from anywhere in the world, but for this type of micro-local group it pays to limit it to those who are on the spot. (This is an example of ‘gatekeeping’, a key activity for village builders, which we will discuss later when we come to Hosts.)
We have also found the value in having a behind the scenes organisers group for quick discussions about the suitability of posts etc – we use a Facebook Messenger group, Whatsapp groups are a good alternative. It’s important for the organisers/admins to be able to quickly sort out any problems and be able to support each other.
Another way to keep things useful and relevant in your online community is to have open rules of participation. We ask all members to sign up to these when they join. Our latest rules in the Edinburgh West End group are:
Membership
Membership is conditional on answering all membership questions when applying. Failure to answer all questions will result in your application being declined. Membership is open to anyone/business who lives or works in the West End council ward area (Water of Leith to Morrison St, Magdala Crescent to Queensferry St) and nearby streets. Visiting tradesmen are not eligible.
No unauthorised promotions or spam
Give more to this group than you take. Self-promotion, spam or irrelevant links aren’t allowed unless with prior Admin approval. When promoting a business include at the very top **Business Post**
Be kind and courteous
We’re all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let’s treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. Post positive recommendations avoid the negative
Respect everyone’s privacy
Being part of this group requires mutual trust. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups great, but may also be sensitive and private. What’s shared in the group should stay in the group.
No hate speech or bullying
Make sure that everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed, and degrading comments about things such as race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity will not be tolerated.
Consult group admins before creating Events in the group
As the group stands, any member can create an Event. In order to ensure that any Events are relevant and suitable, please consult with the group administrators and moderators before creating an event.
Political comments
Posts or comments of a political nature, political views, party affiliations and political promotion are prohibited. Elected representatives and organisations are welcome to be members.
Press and media
Members/Groups who have an association (directly or indirectly) with media or press outlets must not use any content (images or text) within the Group without the permission of the member concerned.
Transparency
The group, all posts & comments made by members are public. The admins moderate conversations and any which violate rules may be removed. Repeated violations will lead to the member being removed.
Complaints and concerns
Members who have any complaints or concerns regarding group content should message a member of the Admin team to raise their concerns.
These rules have developed and evolved over time. Some of the appeared in response to specific circumstances (for example, a local paper picked up on a post without asking the poster). Others are quite general. Evolve your rules over time! Facebook only allows 10 rules so you may have to be careful how you word it all.
These rules are very valuable, particularly in difficult situations where you can point to them before (or alongside) taking action. I tend to have a slightly generous ‘give them another chance’ stance. I have learned, however, from a fellow admin in our group who has the firmer position (in a Scots accent) “When in doot, boot them oot!”.
