As someone who first got online in the mid '80s and has never really left (even met my former partner on an email discussion list), I've wrestled with questions around horizontal versus vertical community a fair bit over the years too. In my experience, the benefits and drawbacks of each aren't necessarily as clear as …
As someone who first got online in the mid '80s and has never really left (even met my former partner on an email discussion list), I've wrestled with questions around horizontal versus vertical community a fair bit over the years too. In my experience, the benefits and drawbacks of each aren't necessarily as clear as we might think or want them to be.
I met many people first online, and then in real life, and we created genuine, deep relationships that endured for decades; I daresay many would still exist if I hadn't changed my political views. While we weren't often physically together, the support was ongoing and substantive. I helped someone I considered my second mother to a more peaceful death through an ongoing email conversation. I couldn't travel to her and she obviously couldn't travel anywhere, but my physical presence wasn't needed.
My recent physical neighbors include a family that displayed Trump 2016 campaign materials in their windows and left their dogs' massive shits all over right outside our building; both of these were contra to their lease. I've lost count of the number of dysfunctional relationships we've heard through the walls/floors, or even out in public. And this is allegedly a solidly middle-class community.
Even when teaching at the community college, it was increasingly difficult to find and engage with people as curious about the world and interested in exploring issues and ideas in good-faith discussions as I've encountered here ... and I don't even comment that much! I'd much rather hug it out with many people here than anyone physically nearby.
I appreciate reading about your experience in both horizontal and vertical living. For better or worse, I pretty much dwell in the horizontal meatspace, but I like to hear about what works for others.
Great edition, JVL.
As someone who first got online in the mid '80s and has never really left (even met my former partner on an email discussion list), I've wrestled with questions around horizontal versus vertical community a fair bit over the years too. In my experience, the benefits and drawbacks of each aren't necessarily as clear as we might think or want them to be.
I met many people first online, and then in real life, and we created genuine, deep relationships that endured for decades; I daresay many would still exist if I hadn't changed my political views. While we weren't often physically together, the support was ongoing and substantive. I helped someone I considered my second mother to a more peaceful death through an ongoing email conversation. I couldn't travel to her and she obviously couldn't travel anywhere, but my physical presence wasn't needed.
My recent physical neighbors include a family that displayed Trump 2016 campaign materials in their windows and left their dogs' massive shits all over right outside our building; both of these were contra to their lease. I've lost count of the number of dysfunctional relationships we've heard through the walls/floors, or even out in public. And this is allegedly a solidly middle-class community.
Even when teaching at the community college, it was increasingly difficult to find and engage with people as curious about the world and interested in exploring issues and ideas in good-faith discussions as I've encountered here ... and I don't even comment that much! I'd much rather hug it out with many people here than anyone physically nearby.
I appreciate reading about your experience in both horizontal and vertical living. For better or worse, I pretty much dwell in the horizontal meatspace, but I like to hear about what works for others.