invite codes, business models, and community: a historical perspective

[isiscolo]

In my recent post about Dreamwidth, a couple of people have mentioned the invite-code system as something that makes them uneasy or unhappy. zvi_likes_tv pointed to the DW FAQ on the subject, which explains that the invite codes are being used to ensure that DW does not grow faster than they can support - and of course, the option of a paid account for $3 is

Comments

[treewishes]

I totally buy into all of this; however, I guess I understand DW was in beta until the site opened on April 30. Instead, the migration has begun, as at least half my flist is over there. So these 3 weeks are looking like eternity (you know, in internet time).

Yes, I know I'm whining that I'm not in the in crowd, and I know all will be resolved within a few weeks. While I'll be behind the curve, the world will continue to turn on its axis. 8]

[darththalia]

Let's start a not-invited-to-Dreamwidth club!

Yesss!

[karmenghia]

Can you send me an invite to the not-invited-to-Dreamwidth club?

I mean I guess if I'm one of the "number of illiterate hordes" who made an "effort" at "being involved" with DW and was rebuffed, I think I might qualify for NITDW club membership.

Who wants to be in with the In-Crowd anyway? The margins and avant-garde are where it's at.

Re: Yesss!

[treewishes]

Rumor has it that they actually ARE resolving bugs for the next few weeks and waiting will actually pay off.

Well, okay. :)

[forked]

I think the invite code at this point is a good idea, mostly to keep the userbase manageable and allow slow growth as it scales

[isiscolo]

Well, considering how much you post, I imagine an OpenID account is all you need, and you could do that now! :-)

Yeah, I realize that the community model that was involved in the shift from lists to LJ is probably not as valid, as we already have the community. But what I sort of mean is - we need critical mass to move "fandom" as a whole, and that will only happen through the sense of community, through people moving because their friends are moving, and then their friends move, etc.

*fond memories*

[shezan]

Tentacles of Love! If course now I applied straightaway!!!

Re: *fond memories*

[isiscolo]

It is really fun for me to look at those old posts and think, "oh, we got HER on LJ! And we got HER on LJ!"

[ladyjestyr]

That's a really cool story, actually; it warms the cockles of my heart to think of a fandom being actively, rather than passively, welcoming.

For myself, I find fandom... kinda scary, to be honest. I consume media and read fic voraciously, but I've never been able to more than skirt around the edges of the community; I'm not a very prolific writer (and I have a paralysing fear of failure, which doesn't help!) I've never quite known how to 'join in' the community, short of just writing and posting fic, which is really rather intimidating a lot of the time. :)

So I'm kind of looking forward to dreamwidth as a fresh start - not in the sense of wiping away prior history, but a chance for those of us who have been lurking or shy to speak up because everyone's making the same fresh start. Of course, the other half of it is that I need to let the impetus prod me to actually create and contribute, too. :)

[isiscolo]

I'm a strong believer in fandom as a community in which both the producers and consumers are valid participants. I think there is a tendency for non-writers to feel marginalized or dismissed, which is a sad thing. Obviously, one can lurk and never interact; but one can interact by commenting on stories (or emailing feedback), by posting recs, by helping to run ficathons or other events, and so on, and all of these are community-building activities.

[ainsley]

ITA about Fanlore! Do eet!

Also, ITA about your second graf.

[isiscolo]

Hee! It's certainly part of fandom history - at least, my little part of HP fandom history. (Also? I used to have a "Tentacles of Love" icon I made, and eventually quit using. And then about a year ago I saw someone using it!)