What is the difference between a crowd and a community, and why is this question so important to us as a society?

Both are motivated to action by a common cause but they each have a unique dynamic.

Crowds are triggered in reaction to a common issue or interest that calls them to action. But due to the haphazard collusion of crowds each constituent of the crowd may have different motivation or aspirations. This often results in a conflicted and misguided front that can lead to violence when fueled by politics or trolling when it comes to the discussion and formulation of ideas and opinions. Too often crowds become mobs motivated by self interest rather than the betterment of the entire group which leaves the initiatives short lived, misguided and often cause harm without bringing a solution to the issue at hand.

Communities are brought together by both common cause, vision and goal. The focused agenda, commitment to the common goals of community and ownership taken on by leaders, all play a part in developing a channel that is proactive rather than nearsighted in their approach of issues and more open to collaboration due to the common motivation for success.

It is common knowledge that communities are more effective and influential in our society than crowds or mobs and few would argue that.

You only have to look at some of the world’s most politically repressed countries’ battle against communities to notice the value and threat that organised communities can present.
Countries such as Cuba, Zimbabwe and China have attempted to retain, protect and control their populous by creating an environment that stifles the development of united communities that attempt to challenge their power.

These oppressive governments realise that by cutting off, restricting and silencing communications between the people, crowds will not evolve into communities and motivated leaders will become drowned out and isolated – negating their efforts.

For decades crowds of dissidents have been diffused and oppressed by regulations on public meetings, separation and segregation, controlling of public media and strict prosecution of leaders. This deliberate breakdown of those channels has stifled the development of communities that threaten change.

It is easy to look at those vilified countries and say that our environment is far more open and free but why then do we struggle with the development of motivated communities in so many corners of our society?

We are doing many great things through our city in opening up government information which was once inaccessible inspired by initiatives such as Change Camp, the free dispersion of news and journalism through online newspapers and blogs and access to opportunities such as summer placements for students and others through the city’s online programs. This is great in empowering members of the technology community to create tools that better serve us all and give us more access to information but my greatest concern is that those of us that take technology and connectivity for granted don’t realise that we have a widening digital divide in our own cities.

As more rich open yet online exclusive information is shared online, newspapers become more dependant on the online medium and opportunities are presented to those with the ability to access them – is the digital divide leaving the marginalised segments of our society further behind?

Do the marginalised peoples of Toronto, who might not have the same access to technology and the web, face the same roadblocks in developing communities as the oppressed in Cuba, Zimbabwe or China?

In many of the tough neighbourhoods in cities across North America we find that civic engagement is low, the town hall is dead and many promising minds are isolated and swallowed up by the circumstance of societal pressure and stereotypes.

What can we do to encourage those promising minds to find each other, come together and create communities that can benefit their neighbourhoods?

What if instead of perpetrating attitudes of hopelessness, disdain for government and dire opportunity we could facilitate development of communities that encourage commerce, entrepreneurship, education, civic duty, personal branding and innovation.

The roadblocks to transforming reactionary crowds in these neighbourhoods into proactive communities are isolated leaders, uniting motivated by a common cause, facilitating effective communications, access and education to utilize appropriate media – what can we do to eliminate those roadblocks?

Can technology facilitate the connections needed to unite people behind a common cause?

If communities not crowds, are the only way to instigate change, how can we facilitate the creation of those communities?

How can we support leaders of communities to bring people together, unite, convene and collaborate on issues and causes within the community such as entrepreneurship, education, civic duty, personal branding and innovation to create a better environment for all stakeholders?

What can we do to foster leadership, encourage personal branding, entrepreneurship and most importantly offline meetups and events in the community with a common goal?

What role could could technology in this?

Photo credit, Carf,Sokwanele – Zimbabwe