A few weeks ago, I created a profile on BarackObama.com so that I could see how grassroots groups were forming around common interests. There is a section on the website called "Action" where you can join or create a group in your local area, an action group. I joined two groups, one called "Marin County for Obama" and the other called "Greens for Obama."The functionality and concept was great; I could search groups in my area by entering my zip code. Immediately, I had access to hundreds of people with common ideas and interests.Once I had signed up for these two groups, I started receiving lots of email. Tons, actually, twenty or thirty a day from each group. I started reading the email and people were having conversations and trying to organize things but a lot of it seemed to be arguing! Certain people were using it for negative comments about other users and getting defensive and all sorts of crap. My initial excitement on the possibilities were a bit deflated. I wondered why people were using it for such negativity.
I realize that everyone wants to express themselves. Some people use these groups as a venue to get heard and they may be very passionate about the issues, but they are also very strange. I don't see how such a positive thing, can bring out negativity in this way. And it was very unproductive. I think great things are happening with this grassroots events and group formation on the whole, but after this experience, I didn't feel like being involved. Maybe the groups need more moderation? Just a random experience of mine involving my interest in social networks with politics...
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