coachdb18
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2012
- Posts
- 9,366
Literotica is not the first social networking site, nor will it be the last. But there is a clear pattern to the evolution of social media. I've seen it many times...
1) A group gets started with an idea, in this case it's been erotic stories. This is a birth and slow early growth phase. The idea becomes popular, and word of mouth spreads to build an early small but loyal following. This is the birth phase.
2) The attraction for others who wish to share blossoms with the continued growth of the process, leading to a significant increase in the number and variety of interests and abilities of new members. The diversity of the group increases dramatically with the increase in participation. This is the transitional phase.
3) There is a distinct period in which there is a lot of segmenting of the membership, during which (typically) the values wars between members begins to surface, often erupting into verbal conflicts. Allegiances form, and there are battle lines drawn. There is an attempt to shout louder, more often, and increasingly more stridently. Again typically, those with the loudest voices, drum circles and least civility manage to discourage valid exchanges of both agreement and disagreement, leading to a decrease in participation of the more shouted down group. The least tolerant group becomes more the majority, as those frustrated by the behavior end their participation, and either lurk from the wings, or leave entirely. This is the senescent phase.
4) During the final (death) phase, the orignal intent for which the group was formed becomes lost, as those remaining members backslap and mutually congratulate each other for their mutual agreement on most of their positions, there being little to no discussion or tolerance or intersent in differing opinions. There are often predictions of where this mutual admiration society will lead, especially when there is an overwhelming tide of politics at the core of the changes. Not hearing (or caring) about conflicting opinions, there is nearly always a deer-in-the-headlights moment, when some event (ie an election with an 'unexpected' outcome that does not conform with blogger preconceptions and push exit polls), that makes the remaining content a predictable post mortem of angst and handwringing, what went wrong, and who's to blame commentary comprising the majority of what's left for discourse. By this time, all useful discussion has long since ended.
In what phase do you think Literotica currently exists? Is it possible to rescue it from the historical fate before it?
1) A group gets started with an idea, in this case it's been erotic stories. This is a birth and slow early growth phase. The idea becomes popular, and word of mouth spreads to build an early small but loyal following. This is the birth phase.
2) The attraction for others who wish to share blossoms with the continued growth of the process, leading to a significant increase in the number and variety of interests and abilities of new members. The diversity of the group increases dramatically with the increase in participation. This is the transitional phase.
3) There is a distinct period in which there is a lot of segmenting of the membership, during which (typically) the values wars between members begins to surface, often erupting into verbal conflicts. Allegiances form, and there are battle lines drawn. There is an attempt to shout louder, more often, and increasingly more stridently. Again typically, those with the loudest voices, drum circles and least civility manage to discourage valid exchanges of both agreement and disagreement, leading to a decrease in participation of the more shouted down group. The least tolerant group becomes more the majority, as those frustrated by the behavior end their participation, and either lurk from the wings, or leave entirely. This is the senescent phase.
4) During the final (death) phase, the orignal intent for which the group was formed becomes lost, as those remaining members backslap and mutually congratulate each other for their mutual agreement on most of their positions, there being little to no discussion or tolerance or intersent in differing opinions. There are often predictions of where this mutual admiration society will lead, especially when there is an overwhelming tide of politics at the core of the changes. Not hearing (or caring) about conflicting opinions, there is nearly always a deer-in-the-headlights moment, when some event (ie an election with an 'unexpected' outcome that does not conform with blogger preconceptions and push exit polls), that makes the remaining content a predictable post mortem of angst and handwringing, what went wrong, and who's to blame commentary comprising the majority of what's left for discourse. By this time, all useful discussion has long since ended.
In what phase do you think Literotica currently exists? Is it possible to rescue it from the historical fate before it?
