If you work in community management, there are two words that probably make you twitch: “free speech.” Because every time you’ve had to remove content for some reason, someone somewhere used those words in an angry response.īut here’s the thing: “free speech” is guaranteed by governments. Mark and Jack could use a little humility, and part of that is remembering that you’re not a sovereign ruler, you’re just another temporary caretaker of a precious commons. They become callous to member complaints and arrogant enough to think they can mistreat their communities without repercussions.īut these sites come and go (just ask Tom from Myspace). When the leaders of these sites fall into the trap of thinking of themselves as governments, they forget their people can simply up and leave if they get angry. (Every day I get a little closer.) No matter how important these sites become, they’re still optional. I can decide to delete my Twitter account. I did not have a choice in the matter.īut I can choose whether I’m a member of Facebook or not. I became that by simply being born here (unlike my dad, but that’s another story). And, worse, thinking that way is damaging to the community, disastrous for the company, and may just be ruining the world. Power, even tiny power, can be addictive.īut it’s not true. You can do things your members can’t, including punishing those members. Running a company, like managing a community, is literally a power trip. And again, squinting, it can kind of feel that way. It makes the CEO the president (or dictator). If their site is a country, that makes them the ruling class. The government-thinking has a secondary appeal to executive teams.
![feels bad man jpg feels bad man jpg](https://i.redd.it/zdl8hzqo1q461.jpg)
If you squint, the whole thing can take on the shape of a rudimentary justice system.
![feels bad man jpg feels bad man jpg](https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/street-fighter-v_201805311600311.jpg)
Sometimes there are even appeals processes. There are rules for what members can do and procedures for when those rules are broken. Community systems create a kind of governance. In my community consulting work, I’ve often had to remind clients that their products, while important, are not governments.