Anotated links from a Cleveland area obsessive coffee drinker, avid quotation collector, voracious internet content consumer, amatuer social network analyzer, and armchair economic developer. Recently referred to as a "web activist".
Being agog (full of interest and excitement) only describes half of the BFD mission. The other half has to do with interest in seeing everyone get off the ass of their words to add sustainable value to the community by helping it build and renew its capacity. It may look like BFD is about sounding smart, but, truth, it's about action. It's BREWED fresh daily, not stewed fresh daily.
Meetings can be great places to meet new people. They are opportunities for more and different connections. It's connecting for the sake of connecting. I think random connections being more frequently made and unmade is the best opportunity to create a new, flatter, more inclusive structure that can accomplish better things in Northeast Ohio.
Networks don't always develop towards the strongest nodes. That tendency occurs in nascent networks, but in mature networks, the strongest nodes are the least likely node for a new node to connect. Why? There are already so many connections to the node, that the node won't support new connections. An attempt to connect will be unsuccessful. At the same time, a weak node can be easily connected to, but once a connection is made, there is no reason to connect stay connected. It's nodes that are neither strong, nor weak, where the opportunity to connect is. It's more likely that a connection to a well connected node is made through another intermediary node.
Regarding the 11/20 event, I'm not as interested about the content that was presented as I am about the process that I see happening at REI. Notice the distinction between the event and Case and REI. REI has a new executive director and a staff that is seeking weave a mesh network, not become a hub-and-spoke network where they control access. There are other events and groups in Northeast Ohio that are doing similar community building, and I choose to shine the spotlight on them in my own schizophrenic way.
One last thing, I think it's irresponsible to go blasting off comments anonymously. All of my friends who read each other blogs and leave comments use their real names, leave their URLs and their email addresses. My telephone number and email are publish on BFD and anyone that wants to contact me can do so. I think the people that participate in these conversations deserve that trust and respect. Anyone who considers posting comments should abide by that principle. If you don't agree, start your own blog.
