What Good Is ‘Community’ When Someone Else Makes All the Rules?
To me the greatest issue with the Facebook 'community' is that it is the conglomeration (the umbrella) of sub-communities which, in not being a Facebook member, excludes me from accessing any of them.  It's basically like having to obtain a passport just to enter the neighbouring town's pub.<p>A specific example: a local tabletop gaming store has a 'Facebook community' but no alternative forum.  There is potential friendship and worthwhile discourse to be had by joining the community, but it is not accessible without joining Facebook.<p>This problem just doesn't seem significant because so many are already in the 'Facebook community' already.  It's not that Facebook set the rules or defines the community, it's that <i>they own the front door and you need their key to enter.</i>