3 Myths about Community

REALITY: Communities disagree over issues continually.

Groups Develop Over How to Address Specific Issues/Ideology. Organizations are formed. Sometimes organizations work together, and sometimes they do not.

Disagreement over issues may result in exclusion from a group but does not exclude persons from the community

EXAMPLES

Martin Luther King vs. Black Panthers

Every Religion Ever

REALITY: Not everyone in a community will be your friend

You cannot assume others will have your back, or always agree with you merely because you are a member of their community

Personal Disagreements, Arguments, or other types of drama does not exclude you from the Community

BUT Members of closely knit groups sometimes feel compelled or are pressured to pick sides in personal disagreements. Its  a pretty shitty spot to be put in.

Example: continuous interpersonal drama on group facebook pages

REALITY: Organizations,leaders,and personalities within communities are sometimes perceived as speaking for an entire community.

Examples

Temple Grandin does not speak for all autistics

Al Sharpton does not speak for every person of color.

ISIS do not represent the entire religion of Islam. They may want to, even claim to, but they do not.

REALITY: Leaders of organizations or groups have to make leadership decisions within those organizations. This does not mean they have a right or ability to run, or speak for an entire community.

Example: The Pope can make decisions within his Church, he would be scoffed at if he tried to make proclamations pertaining to the entire Christian community.

REALITY: Persons or organizations attempting to be spokespeople for entire communities do exist, but the community exists with or without them.

Example: If the National Federation of the Blind shut its doors, there would still be a blind community.

REALITY: Unless the Community is interest based, like "fandoms" or gaming, shared struggle, history, and other defining characteristics are necessary

Interest of or Association by family relation, friendship or professionally does not actually make you a member of that community. It makes you a parent, friend, or professional who is also hopefully invested in being an advocate and ally.

EXAMPLE: being a friend to black people does not make a white woman a member of the black community or give her a right to attempt to lead/dominate the conversation.