Does anyone have any information about best practices & strategies for online community support and community development? [more inside]
posted by mere on May 8, 2009 - 6 answers

Are new online communities still forming, or is that "window of opportunity" closed, now that a) so many online communities already exist ; b) it's easy for people to start their own blog/site, so they don't have the time or need for a new online community? If they are still forming, what are the critical ingredients for a new online community now? [more inside]
posted by peter_meta_kbd on Apr 15, 2009 - 8 answers

How can I best set up a question regarding furniture rearrangement (in terms of spatially rearranging things, with measurements) on the Internet, and is Ask Mefi the best source or are there other communities that would be better? Are there Flash tools that let you post furniture floorplans and let others come and rearrange things? Alternatively, for advice simply on arrangement of furniture, how much might a professional's advice be, and would an interior decorator be the profession to turn to? (Do they still call themselves interior decorators? It seems a '70s term.) [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Jun 11, 2008 - 12 answers

I am interested in finding a good, interesting online academic community—discussion boards, chat rooms, and the like. I am primarily interested in Literature and Philosophy. Do these places exist, or are internet fora pure lulz?
posted by sonic meat machine on Mar 23, 2008 - 10 answers

Where to find encouragement and support for a young composer? [more inside]
posted by grahamwell on Aug 11, 2007 - 2 answers

What is it that motivates you to "participate" in online communities? Why do you share your thoughts, feelings, ideas and creativity with faceless others online? [more inside]
posted by ericb on Jan 4, 2005 - 47 answers

Evaluating a "closed" online community: I really like the magazine Cook's Illustrated. Their website is private and requires an annual membership, above and beyond the magazine subscription. So, anyone know what the website is like? Is it worth the fee? And, as a more general question, are there any good sites that offer reviews/information/evaluations of sites that are locked away behind membership fees? [more inside]
posted by bcwinters on Oct 6, 2004 - 5 answers

I am interested in the social structure/stratification of virtual communities. Any good reads on this topic? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by Quartermass on Sep 15, 2004 - 15 answers

This comment got me thinking: is there a standard etiquette for displaying inline images from third-party servers on either private blogs or community sites like MeFi? Is it always appropriate, never appropriate, or only appropriate depending on the source and the server from which the image originates?
posted by PrinceValium on Jan 1, 2004 - 21 answers

I'm toying with opening a site based upon the MeFi model for LGBT issues and community building. What software programs do MeFi and other online communities use to administer the system? I've really only installed MT and other simple programs before, so I'm looking for ease of install as well as ease of use... Thanks in advance!
posted by moonbird on Dec 19, 2003 - 9 answers