Communities and their peeps
I’ve become increasingly curious about the different types of people one finds in communities. and I wondered if there are others out there, equally curious, who are able to contribute to the list I’m about to create? Of course I may be misguided in this adventure, and perhaps you could set me on a more accurate and helpful path?
Having worked in various community based organisations, from Churches to Schools, from Community Committees to Anti – Child Abuse Forums, and now most recently attempting to be an active parent in our daughter’s school, I have observed that there are particular categories of people, who for varying reasons play out very different roles.
I’m interested in the why, how, where, what of all of this. I’m interested in who are the most useful, and who are the most destructive? Who makes a positive change, and who just makes noise? I’m interested in whether they’ve all got to be there to define a healthy community, or is it worth attempting to highlight this data for more people to join some groups and leave others? I’m also interested if these groupings play themselves out in business, or is it a community ‘thang’?
So here are some of my observations. For sure it’s not a definitive list, it’s just my list for today. To hopefully be added to, edited, and some even deleted tomorrow:
The Car Park Mom’s
This category is one I know has an official title. The rest below get my title, but this group, internationally, is known and can be identified by those in the community. They’re the ‘moms’ (and certainly include dads in spite of the name) that are accused of bitching and moaning, gossiping and criticising anything and everything that goes on. It’s suggested if you want the low down on anyone and anything, all you have to do is insert yourselves into this group and you’ll have all the data you need.
But what value fo they offer? They’re certainly intimidating in their togetherness, their volume of information (no matter how accurate) and therefore the ‘power’ they have in a community. Are they listened to by those with ‘real’ power? My feeling is that this group forms because they’re not listened to, don’t have a voice, feel powerless, and therefore attach themselves to this group in order to feel some sense of an ability to effect the change they’d like to see.
I often wonder if they see what others see? Are they aware of their label? And if so are the OK with it?
The Invisible Influential
I know from many of the community based organisations I have worked and participated within, that there is always a small but invisible group of very influential people, who are almost always behind the scenes, and enjoy an extra-ordinary ability to make things happen with very little effort on their part.
They don’t always move in a herd. They can often be very insulated and isolated characters. They’re the ‘God-Father’, the Illuminati, the decision makers behind the decision maker that we suspect are there, but just can’t prove.
My observation is that they get into this space because of one of the following or a combination of, wealth, position within the community, ability to get impressive things done, have a very big lever by way of something ‘dark’. This could be damning information, a real reputation that creates fear, etc.
The Tireless Workers
This group are often idealists. They trust the system, the processes and the elected leaders. They’re actively engaged. They volunteer to assist in making things happen. They have their own opinion, but will often allow it to be superseded by the wants and wishes of ‘the community’. They’re positive, cheerful, up-beat. The cynics look down on them as ‘push-overs’ and accuse them of being naive. But the truth is, that without them, most communities would come to a grinding halt.
Perhaps their biggest fault, is that, because of their enthusiastic involvement they can keep a bad idea, process or leadership body ‘alive’ far longer than it should ever have lived for.
I suspect that once they get ‘burned’ they step outside and join the ‘Car Park Moms’?
The Blah
There always seems to be a group (and it can be the majority) who just get on with it. They’re not concerned with who’s in charge and what they’re attempting to do.
They pay no attention to the Car Park Moms, and they think the Invisible Influential are the creation of the Conspiracy Theorists. They’re grateful to the Tireless Workers, but they’re not going to put their hands up and join.
They seem to be pre-occupied with things outside of the community, or inside of themselves, but whatever it is, community is somewhere down their priority list. They really don’t seem to care much, as long as their world isn’t impacted too severely. They’re here, but they’re not. They’re in, but they’re out. At times they even seem completely out of touch with what’s going on.
Group X…
So there are four groups I’ve observed. There must be many more? As I write this I’m aware there have to have been others who have done a truck load of work in this space? These groups apply to countries (it is a big community after-all). Politicians must be interested in them, therefore, someone has been funded somewhere to describe them, in order to win their votes. If anyone does have a couple of signposts for me to check-out, I’d be grateful.
Like I said, I’m just curious.
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