Introducing - An Incomplete History of Online Communities

02/28/24 • 2 min

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Welcome to "An Incomplete History of Online Communities," the podcast where we dive deep into the digital rabbit holes that have connected us in ways we never imagined! I'm your host, David DeWald, with over a quarter-century of experience in the wild world of online communities, from the pixelated beginnings to the streaming present. Each episode, we'll spotlight a single technology, online community, or platform that has played a crucial, yet often overlooked, role in weaving the vast, intricate tapestry of the internet's social fabric. Whether you're a digital native or a curious explorer, join us on this journey to uncover the hidden gems and forgotten tales that have shaped our online lives. Get ready for stories of innovation, connection, and digital drama that you won't hear anywhere else!

Previous Episode

Bonus - Role Ambiguity: Navigating the Complex World of the Community Profession

Exploring the impact of role ambiguity on individuals in community management roles and strategies for navigating this complexity.

Key points:

Community professionals have a crucial role in fostering engagement and building relationships within communities.
The diverse responsibilities placed upon community professionals can lead to role ambiguity.
Role ambiguity arises from juggling various roles such as content creator, mediator, strategist, marketer, and customer support representative

https://cmgr.live/blog/role-ambiguity-navigating-the-complex-world-of-the-community-profession/

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Next Episode

PLATO - Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations

🎧 Discover the Hidden Origins of Online Communities! 🌐

Ever wondered how online communities started way before the Internet as we know it? In this episode, we journey back to the 1960s and 70s to explore PLATO, a groundbreaking educational system that unexpectedly became a pioneer in connecting people worldwide.

🔍 Key topics covered:

The surprising role of PLATO in early online community building

How massive mainframe computers facilitated forums, message boards, email, and chat rooms decades ago

Real stories of users forming connections through text-based interfaces

💡 Key takeaways:

PLATO Notes: Early forums where users could post messages and engage in discussions.
Talk-O-Matic: A precursor to modern-day chat rooms allowing real-time communication.
Term-Talk: An early version of instant messaging for private conversations.

Tune in now to uncover the fascinating history behind today’s digital social networks. Don't miss out on this deep dive into tech history—hit play and join us for an enlightening ride! 🚀