“Online communities are just like cheap pubs, aren’t they?”
Have you ever heard those words? It’s true that online communities offer a casual feel, like a “cheap pub,” where you can easily gather and enjoy exchanging information and socializing as much as you like, whenever you like. However, that’s just one side of the coin. The emergence of new-generation platforms, especially Discord, has greatly expanded the potential of online communities. This article uses Discord as an example to deeply explore the diverse values of modern online communities and their appeal.
Diverse Values of Online Communities Seen on Discord
Values Beyond “Cheap Pubs”: Spaces That Meet Diverse Needs
- Meetings with Friends Connected by Hobbies and Interests: On Discord, communities exist in all genres, including games, anime, music, and sports. For example, in popular game title communities, strategy information is exchanged, multi-player games are organized, and tournaments are held. Fan communities for specific anime or artists actively share the latest information, analyze the content, and post fan art.
- Places for Skill Development and Information Gathering: Numerous communities also exist for skill development, such as programming, language learning, and investing. Information can be exchanged according to levels, such as beginner question channels and expert technical sharing channels. An environment is also in place where members can work together to develop their skills, such as through study sessions, workshops, and sharing online teaching materials.
- Consultation and Emotional Support: Some communities allow people to share concerns that they can’t discuss with anyone else, such as mental health issues and interpersonal problems. A place where people can consult anonymously and meet others with the same concerns can alleviate feelings of loneliness and provide emotional support. Some communities also have professional consultation points and activities like self-help groups.
- Organizing Events and Projects: On Discord, it is possible to plan and manage online events and collaborative projects. For example, game tournaments, quiz competitions, music live events, and fan events are held. Members can also experience achievement and unity by cooperating with each other towards a goal, such as through translation projects, open-source software development, and creating fanzines.
Not Just “Regulars”: Diverse Forms of Participation
- Core Members: Members who actively participate in the operation of the community and are actively engaged. They play a role in enlivening the community, such as through event planning and information dissemination. They become the “face” of the community and lead other members.
- General Members: Members who participate in the community and enjoy exchanging information and interacting with each other. They participate at their own pace and obtain necessary information when needed. They are the “masses” of the community and bring in diverse values and opinions.
- ROM (Read Only Member): Members who only view information in the community and do not speak or interact. They participate for the purpose of collecting information or to get a feel for the atmosphere of the community. They act as “silent observers” watching the trends in the community.
- Temporary Participants: Members who temporarily participate in the community to participate in specific events or projects. They bring new perspectives to the community and play a role in revitalizing it.
Discord recognizes these diverse forms of participation. A richer community is formed when each member finds their own role and contributes to the community.
Not Just “Staff”: Flat Relationships
- Administrators (Owners/Managers): The highest authorities of the community. They are responsible for creating, setting up, and managing the server, as well as managing members. They are the “helmsmen” of the community, showing the direction and maintaining order.
- Moderators: They are responsible for enforcing community rules and maintaining order. They handle inappropriate statements and actions and resolve problems. They are the “guardians” of the community, protecting a safe and comfortable environment.
- General Members: Members who participate in the community and enjoy exchanging information and interacting with each other. They are the “main players” of the community, bringing in diverse values and opinions.
On Discord, even administrators and moderators are respected as members of the community. It is important to create the community together through dialogue and exchange of opinions with members.
Community Theory of the New Generation as Seen Through Discord
From Providing a “Place” to Sharing “Experiences”
Traditional online communities focused on providing a “place” for exchanging information and socializing. However, on new-generation platforms like Discord, value is placed on members engaging in activities together and sharing “experiences.” For example, playing games together, listening to music together, and co-creating works can foster deeper bonds and empathy.
From “Participants” to “Co-creators”
In traditional online communities, administrators and some members took the central role, sending out information and planning events. However, on Discord, all members can take on the role of “co-creators” of the community. They can utilize their own ideas and skills to improve the community, such as by creating bots, suggesting channels, and planning events.
Diversification of “Connections”
Discord provides diverse communication methods, such as text chat, voice chat, and video calls. These make the connections between members deeper and more diverse. For example, people can easily exchange information in text chat, communicate in real time while playing games in voice chat, and deepen relationships by seeing each other’s faces in video calls.
Summary
Modern online communities, represented by Discord, offer not only the casualness of a “cheap pub,” but also diverse values and charms. These include meetings with friends connected by hobbies and interests, a place for skill development and information gathering, consultation and emotional support, and the organization of events and projects.
To maximize these values, it is important not only for administrators and moderators, but also for each member to be aware of their role as a “co-creator” of the community and to actively participate in activities.
New-generation platforms like Discord show us new forms of community. It is not just about providing a “place,” but about sharing “experiences,” and taking on the role of “co-creators” instead of “participants,” creating a deeper and more diverse world of “connections.”