While looking at other groups I discovered that often there’s a more optimistic form or social networking that happens which almost gives the finger to everyone else, celebrating what connects them in often humorous ways. I think humor is so important as is creativity. We need ways to express ourselves in ways far more deeply than just ranting in forums.

Some communities I looked at included furrys, gay and hacking groups who often have much to keep private and yet still have a desire to socialize and share this side of who they are with each other.

Some examples of what I found.

Those communities doing things like running silly competitions such as short story writing, make an amusing video, write poetry, the silliest PowerPoint pitch advocating something within that community. What these things do is make people within that community laugh and cry and share experiences with each other in meaningful ways. Sometimes they’d team up on some challenge, sometimes they’d just create an IRC channel and discuss challenges. Sometimes they’d meet up to show off their creations.

Seeing teams, individuals and even families show off really funny but creative videos they’ve produced within their own edgy community and seeing others in their community laughing out loud and cheering is really heart-warming. That is something missing from our community.

We are so often so serious. Yes, there is much wrong out there that needs fixing but sometimes the best thing to do is to laugh about it, together. I’m not even in those other communities but I was laughing alongside them, I appreciated the humor and creativity just the same as those inside the community.

That could be the same for us. As long as we continue being so serious and negative about the world around us then people have no reason to connect with us. We want people in our community laughing and having fun together and for that to radiate out so others can laugh with us. That humanizes us.