Most of the online communities either big or small or if its in the form of a group in any social networking site or an independent message board or bulletin board, generally all communities are based on sharing a common interest between the members and they would like to talk or discuss on that particular subject. Sometimes, I must say most of the times the discussions turned into a hot and profound debate which apparently gives a very tough time keeping ones head chill. The best thing one can do to avoid a headache is to get into a thread of games inside the forum.
Although in many message boards most of the members get into the game threads just to increase their post counts however many forum administrators don’t allow such short cut to increase the post count. But here the focus is on orkut communities and games played inside it. The question is “Is excessive games can make your community a dead community?”
Why the above question came in my mind? As most of you know how active I am in orkut and in different orkut communities, I saw many communities whose names are completely different from the content and posts the members are sharing with each other. One such community I came across is about Sachin Tendulkar’s fans (Sachin is a great cricketer of India) the community is having more than 10k strong members but hardly anyone is posting about their favorite hero Sachin but the entire community is having good time playing games like “rate the above person”, “attendance” , “ hot or not” and many other games. I am sure this was really not the purpose of the community owner who started this community but still the owner can’t help it stopping those word gamers because he must be thinking that’s the only way to make community lively but is that community will be known lively? I don’t think so.
I don’t really object on games played in the community because it’s a need, like we watch many TV programs which are not giving any logical or educational message but still it’s entertaining and entertainment today is a key to relaxation for everyone after a hectic day in office or field work. But it really doesn’t mean that we neglect the actual purpose or task community owners are abiding to do.
Well, communities on orkut is like a backbone to the complete networking which really reflects the nature of the user ( person), communities helps in growing a more closer and stronger networking for business and personal benefits and many more reasons. But most of the orkut communities today are under attack of something called “game virus” which could harm the purpose of the community slowly and at the end it will turn into a dead community.
I know and accept this fact that most of the community owners don’t really care about what and where their communities are going or what I am writing but not everyone is like that; I share a very great time with some serious community owners who really care about whatever they do online and to fight against “game virus”. They came with some really interesting and helpful ideas, one of a very successful community owner took a strict step against the community gamers and games, he turned the game thread into general knowledge quiz which help in entertaining and also increasing knowledge. That will keep the spirit alive and the focus is on the subject too. Though got some trouble while implementing this rule and making the members agree but eventually members accepted the fact that they are not there for games.
Like this there are many more examples and ideas which can change the whole community and clean those games which is now become PITA (better ask Frank what is this PITA) I suppose every human being is little creative and that’s the only need to make your community alive. Not only an online community but creativity can change the way of life as well.
By ending this article I didn’t really got the answer for my question but I leave it to you to judge it. Forum games for some is a way to engage so many people while for many its nothing but a spam which is covering most of the orkut communities in a tremendous speed.
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