I found it

http://www.midwestgarrison.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9417

I found a very interesting and revealing section of the forums while I was cruising around the site today. A thread got started where people introduce themselves and tell a little about who they are. The information gets pretty personal and they even include pictures of their family members. I must say that these members do not seem to be holding anything back. Their openness is almost contagious. I commented on a thread about whether an Xbox 360 or PS3 was better and I feel myself being gradually sucked into their world. I feel that although I may not know these people, they are putting themselves out there to a point where I feel like I do. 

Picture of community members at book signing

Whoever made that R2D2, I'm impressed.

My Question

A recent guest lecturer spoke the other day about how the Internet promotes limited liability because we can leave without people noticing. This provides a harmful environment for fostering a community because communities need sustained involvement for them to remain communities. After all, our high school community would have been much different if students only remained together for a week.

This lecture made me think, "What holds a community together and keeps people involved?" My first thought was that people need to feel welcomed, and think that their participation in the community will have an impact. Everyone goes into college hoping to change the world so why would an online community be any different? Additionally, people want to remain individuals while also being part of a larger group, a thought process that is extremely American. 

But what makes group members feel welcome and encourages them to participate?

My thought: Trust.

Trust is what binds people together and allows people to open up about themselves and share intimate details. These personal relation foster deeper relationships and hold community members together in a way that an anonymous group can't. 

My question: How is trust established in the community and what is its importance.

Here are some of my initial thoughts about why people trust each other in the 501st. 

1. Reveal Indentity because you will meet them in real life

2. Advice on costumes

3. Private forums

4. Charity events (no money involved)

5. Have to give up personal information because they attened area-specific events

6. United around common goal

7. Not political or controversial or religion based

8. You give and you get (info and praise)

9. Recognized for your awards so you want people to know who you are = donations you make

10. Run for office, needs transparency

11. Not embarrassing or private information or advertising

More later...