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The goal of a community shouldn't be SEO, getting acquired, branding or any of the author's points, really. "Back in the day", communities existed to bring lik

by na85 9y ago

The goal of a community shouldn't be SEO, getting acquired, branding or any of the author's points, really. "Back in the day", communities existed to bring like-minded people together around a shared interest, full stop. The author is describing how to build a community that you can sell, not how to build a community whose netizens enjoy being part of.

k__ 9y ago
I found indie hackers kinda cool back in the days. Some stories about devs who made a living by building their idea or people who learned to code to do their thing. An alternative to the whole VC backed big selling start-ups. Now it seems to be filled with some kind of strange side-hustle people who want to make a quick "passive" buck :/
- wallace_f 9y ago
  Is there something true about the idea that nerdy things get ruined by becoming cool and profitable? AFAIK I always see the same story in the world with communities that make the leap from harshly criticized -> fringe-cool (for lack of a better word); the next step is -> mainstream cool + vultures sweep in to make money. Computer games: nerdy/uncool -> cool/dominated by passionate developers -> corporate money-making conveyor-belt development & profits > quality Gay communities: pariahs -> cool place to live/college students -> money-making developments, gentrification & profits > communal destruction SV, Portland and Seattle have also been described this way. Online communities as well.
  - yathern 9y ago
    Reminds me of something I read a while ago - describing just what you mean: https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths
  - tdb7893 9y ago
    People looking to make money often essentially strip mine the uniqueness of a place and the influx of people fundamentally changes the culture. I don't think it always makes it worse but if you like a place as it is it would seem reasonable to generally dislike change
  - wtflmaohnisdumb 9y ago
    No, there isn't. There are only people who are growing older and thinking about the "good ol' days".

by na85 9y ago

k__ 9y ago

I found indie hackers kinda cool back in the days. Some stories about devs who made a living by building their idea or people who learned to code to do their thing. An alternative to the whole VC backed big selling start-ups. Now it seems to be filled with some kind of strange side-hustle people who want to make a quick "passive" buck :/

wallace_f 9y ago
Is there something true about the idea that nerdy things get ruined by becoming cool and profitable? AFAIK I always see the same story in the world with communities that make the leap from harshly criticized -> fringe-cool (for lack of a better word); the next step is -> mainstream cool + vultures sweep in to make money. Computer games: nerdy/uncool -> cool/dominated by passionate developers -> corporate money-making conveyor-belt development & profits > quality Gay communities: pariahs -> cool place to live/college students -> money-making developments, gentrification & profits > communal destruction SV, Portland and Seattle have also been described this way. Online communities as well.
- yathern 9y ago
  Reminds me of something I read a while ago - describing just what you mean: https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths
- tdb7893 9y ago
  People looking to make money often essentially strip mine the uniqueness of a place and the influx of people fundamentally changes the culture. I don't think it always makes it worse but if you like a place as it is it would seem reasonable to generally dislike change
- wtflmaohnisdumb 9y ago
  No, there isn't. There are only people who are growing older and thinking about the "good ol' days".