Week 5 - social networks

Social networks are networks between actors. Some actors are more central in the web, some figure as a bridge between different groups and some are standing on the side. When studied in the form of online communities there is also the term social media. The movie from 2010 called Social Network is even about the social medium Facebook. Social media that I am using have no direct coordinating mechanisms, so I will describe two special social groups.

Theater group
A more concrete network I am involved in is a theater group in Delft. Every production a (different) board is managing new members, funds and logistics. The board is the least dependent on the other members of the group. The board is dependent on the members that are willing to form a new board for the continuity.

Members are playing, making music and delivering the sound, light, costumes or stage. Reasons to participate are mostly fun and some social and learning opportunities. Members are depending on the board and director but could also self organize activities.

The director sometimes gets paid and most of the times likes to work with student groups. He/she is mostly dependent on the players to produce something and partly on the board for funding.

Approximately once a year there is a performance with spectators that are depending on the players. And in return the spectators deliver a financial contribution to the production.

Last but not least are the funds. S&C from TU Delft has a location and gets a good relation back with the students. Other funds are depending on gifts and interest to stimulate a cultural climate.

Conquer Club
This gaming website allows users to play an equivalent of the boardgame Risk with each other. This is set up by an individual in 2006 that wanted to turn his hobby into his work. Most of the other administrators are volunteers that can modify forum posts or even ban players if they misbehave.

Everyone has an own user name and can organize themselves in so called clans. These clans are ranked in score so the higher clans are more in favor to join. The clans have their own leaders that decide if a new members is accepted. Making friends also helps so you know what to expect in the game.

The most interesting for me is the map making section. Everybody with an idea for a new environment can submit this and everybody can give feedback. So people are depending on getting feedback in order to continue with the idea. Also to try these new environments people are depending on the mapmakers.