Should online communities be more open to all or specific to narrow interests?

There seems to be a plethora of specific interest online communities. Answers is one of the few that can be of interest to all but does this then invite more people in or actually put some people off using it? My question is, I think, related to tribes and whether we as human beings mix in a different way online than we do in our real time lives?

Should online communities be more open to all or specific to narrow interests?
The great thing about YAHOO ANSWERS is that you can't tell a persons race, appearance,or there financial circumstances unless they tell you in some way, you get an idea of there intelligence by the questions and answers, but its mainly anonymous.


If only we could be so open mined when meeting face to face.
Reply:Both kinds exist. You have chosen, by asking this question, to be part of one of the most expansive and open groups. Sometimes that feels too big to get a sense of community. Thus the proliferation of the smaller, interest based groups. Each serves a purpose for different people at different times.
Reply:Wow, what a question! I think Answers is "separated" but at the same time a community.


If I am a cook I can go to "Food."


If I am gay I can go to "Gay."


If I am a sports nut I can go to "Sports." etc. etc. etc.





I drifted off into the wrong category the other day and all I had to do was leave and choose another more suitable.





As yet, Answers doesn't have a "Perverts and Deviates" category, consequently they are all over the place, and we just have to ignore them.





Yes, I believe we are tribal by our interests, but no different than we are in real life.
Reply:do you think segregation is the answer. You have already one of those in your country..
Reply:The fact that Answers has a large variety of Categories is, I believe, very positive and attracts more participants.


I think you are too concerned about the people that are put off by immature questions. It is almost as though you want to turn Answers into some Private Club that screens Membership Applications before letting anyone in. I prefer it the way it is and if some individuals are put off, so be it.
Reply:Think carefully and stop asking stupid questions!


In "real-time lives" [where did THAT stupid mouthful come from?] ask yourself whether we have a choice of association. The answer is we do not. [Hint: think about work, neighbours, friends of friends, the person sitting next to you on the bus!!].


Specific interest "communities" however are an entirely different ball game (on-line or real-time). That is why they are so popular.


If you looked carefully at Yahoo answers you would see that it is actually an umbrella site made up of various specific interest question sites! The places where the more general questions get asked are EXACTLY the places where the inflammatory questions/statements get asked/made. These places have no "community."


Read Wittgenstein.


Better still look first then ask the question! Its called empiricism. It works.