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Celebrating your niche
Bridget Walsh on 01 September, 2011 |

It's very easy to be bombarded by messages and propaganda it our busy society, and so many people are simply sheep who follow along with the latest fad, fashion or top 40 hit because it's what everyone else is doing. But for those who like to think a little more for themselves, the mighty niche is on the uprise.

Looking at the significant leaps in technology over the past couple of centuries, a big feature behind these developments has been the connection of people through the removal of obstacles and distance, both social and geographical. Probably the most significant connection developed in recent times, is the Internet.

The Internet provides a seemingly infinite platform of connections, which in turn allows communities to form, congregate and celebrate their niche, widening the scope for alternative and independent thought, challenges to our status quo, and the celebration of the individual and unique.

Ellen, 19, is a child of the internet generation, in her second year of university study in literature and the media. She is not only able to dissect and analyse the role of the Internet, and it’s connections through the online community, but she is actively living and breathing it.

“An online community forms when likeminded people choose to use the internet as a way to discuss what they’re passionate about. The anonymity of the internet – while it can notoriously cause problems which are exploited by the media- also creates the perfect atmosphere for users to feel free to be themselves, without risking judgement from their peers as they would were they in an offline setting. People wish to gather to discuss the things they enjoy with others who enjoy them. Forums and the online communities that grow from them, allow these conversations to happen.”

So how do these communities form?

“Usually an online community will form itself around a message forum, a readily available platform for a back-and-forward conversation to take place. I have experienced a wide variety of online communities for many different reasons. They can form around any area of interest. There are many forums catering to people who wish to discuss ventures such as arts, crafts and other hobbies, television, film, books, etc. Music fandoms are very popular too. There are also platforms which allow other elements of lifestyles to be expressed freely. The gay community in particular have been known to use the internet as a very powerful medium to connect and support one another.”

Is there a distinct demographic who is more likely to be involved in an online community?

“Online communities can cater to all demographics. The internet is generally a safe haven for those who have had negative labels stuck upon them by their immediate peers. These groups use to internet as a way to express themselves without judgement. Their communities can create the sort of support which allows these people to take their passion and use it to better their lives.

Unfortunately the internet is also filled with people (colloquially known as ‘trolls’) who use the anonymity of the internet as a channel of abusive and destructive behaviours. It is these groups which impair the positivity that online communities can offer.”

Beyond their internet presence, how can online communities manifest?

“While the internet is a great basis for a community, it is sometimes augmented with offline interactions. Gatherings are a common attribute to a fully developed community and can even manifest in full of commercially organised conventions such as Comic-Con (an amalgamation of many ‘nerdy’ communities both online and off), VidCon (YouTube community), LeakyCon (Harry Potter fandom community), all of which see members coming in from all over the world to participate in weekends of open, offline, unjudged adoration of their particular niche.

These conventions encourage the members to make ‘real world’ connections with people and with the basis of the connection being something that the members are mutually very passionate about these friendships can often last a lifetime.”

How important do you think online communities are in encouraging people to celebrate the individuality and interests?

“I personally think online communities are extremely powerful and important to our current society. A person can feel isolated from their immediate society by their love of something, so it is amazing that the internet allows them to find others who share the same level of passion.”