‘n0tice.com’s not just a tool but a community’ – report from the London meet-up

Posted: August 14, 2012 | Author: sarah | Filed under: Features | Tags: meet-up. girlondon, n0tice, n0tocers | 3 Comments »

A group of keen n0tice.com users get together at the weekend to share ideas and put some names to avatars. Here one of them, Kathryn Geels aka GirLondon, reports

There was coffee, there were sweet treats, and more importantly there was a handful of ideas people at Sunday’s n0tice.com meet up in London.

We may have been small on numbers – eight of us n0ticers graced St Pancras with our presence – but by no means did this hinder our ability to thrash out ideas and suggestions about the development of “our tool”, “our community”.

I say “our” with every bit of intent, as it was apparent from our discussions that n0tice means more to its members than just another social media or open journalism platform.

We considered the opportunities to develop our community don’t just rely on a numbers game, which sounds good on paper because of x number of (somewhat faceless) users or followers.

n0tice.com has clout – or, perhaps these days it should be Klout – for the reason that behind every noticeboard there are real people.

Real people with a genuine investment in a tool and community they believe in, and not just an investment because it’s the latest craze.

Connections

There was a consensus that this belief in n0tice’s ability to connect, inform and empower individuals and local communities is because of the personalised and relevant experience it provides.

It’s not like mass media, which pushes news and gossip onto its audience, and is prescriptive in what topics and themes it covers.

There’s also more to it than strings of pointless updates from that cat-loving friend of yours.

You know the one, that person on Facebook you’d really like to delete because of their constant infliction of irrelevant content that adds no value to your life.

On the contrary, we agreed because n0tice is driven by its content curators (those of us who have notice boards) as well as its audience – who may or may not be one and the same – it allows each and every community member to not only become part of and relate to the content, but to different localities, as well as other members.

For Cathy Watson, who joined us on Sunday from East Sussex, and runs uckfield.n0tice.com and crowborough.n0tice.com, a big drawing card for n0tice is that it facilitates her to publish relevant yet objective content, which she says a platform like Facebook can’t provide.

For Sean Brady, who travelled from Merseyside, and runs several notice boards relating to all things Formby, n0tice helps to put Formby on the map.

Which, according to Sean, the younger residents of the town are quite chuffed about.

Another idea raised is that n0tice facilitates meaningful interaction both online and in the real world.

How many of you agree you had never heard of half the geographical localities or concepts – think yarn bombing – in our community before their presence on n0tice?

I for one feel more connected with my London borough of Hackney through following Keith Magnum’s plethora of East London notice boards.

I also feel compelled to spend a weekend in Bridport as Stephen Banks, aka the Dorset Scouser, makes it seem like it is the epicentre of the world.

At the end of Sunday’s meet up Matt McAlister quoted something I said back in December when he visited my stand at a car boot sale, which I had posted on n0tice.

Facebook for grown-ups

My idea of n0tice back then was that it was “like Facebook for grown ups”.

My thought process has moved on since then and so too has our community.

And no, I don’t mean that n0tice is now like Facebook for geriatrics.

The point I’m trying to make, that the eight of us made on Sunday, is that n0tice is yours, is “ours”.

Embrace your contribution, encourage other members’ contributions – be it reposting, letting them know you find their post interesting, or commenting on their post – and relish being part of our global local community.

To use a cliché – you only get out what you put in.

So, go forth to a car boot sale, the Festival of Culture or a Kettlercise class in Bridport, find prehistoric footprints in Formby, or get henna body art in Camden.

Get offline, be the eyes and ears of your little corner of the world, be the real person behind your notice board, and truly notice what’s happening near you.

* If you want to organise a n0tice.com meet-up in your area, let us know and we’ll help and let everyone know in the google group and via the events on n0tice.com.

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