Homophobia is a problem in all virtual communities, but especially in gaming communities. GLAAD recently launched a project to combat this, beginning with a panel discussion with gaming industry leaders next week. Through statistics and video, GLAAD makes some compelling arguments about why this important issue needs to be addressed right now. I’m proud to be working with GLAAD on this — as a gaming industry employee, a community manager, and an out lesbian.
I tried to buy my mom a Sony eBook gift certificate for her birthday. But Sony’s unnecessary requirements have prevented me from doing so. Sorry, mom!
Facebook is growing, but MySpace isn’t shrinking. Why do some people choose to leave MySpace for Facebook, and some people choose to stay? Teenagers gave danah boyd insight into this, and the results have wide-reaching implications for anyone looking to engage an audience using social media.
Why aren’t there more women gamers? It seems like one of those unanswerable questions, but I don’t think it actually is. Perhaps it’s the game plots, the game design, or the way women have been portrayed in games. There is a tremendous up-and-coming market of non-traditional gamers that would be incredible for gaming companies to reach. How do we do that without alienating our current consumers? How do we go from a straight man’s world to a more inclusive one? I don’t have the answers, but I do have some ideas. And I welcome the conversation.
Social media and the internet are impacting the court system, and can result in mistrials and unfair trials. Find out why this is important, and what you can do (and not do) to prevent a mistrial when you’re serving on a jury.
Travel doesn’t have to be a huge hassle. Here are some of my best travel tips, including why you should never check luggage, and why you should always be nice to the TSA agents. If I missed your favorite travel tip, share it in the comments.
What does anthropology have to do with online community? Your first instinct may be “nothing”, but the answer is really “everything”.
Dave Balter of BzzAgent shares his tips with Guy Kawasaki, and I weigh in with some points of my own. Got questions not addressed here? Let me know. I’m happy to take them on.
Does your company have a social media policy, or are you considering one? I’ve taken a look at two corporate policies — Intel and the Wall Street Journal — and the differences are striking. Which one should you look to for guidance? Find out inside.
Setting rules and expectations for your users from the beginning is crucial. If you skip this step, you’ll spend a lot of time and money wishing you had. The developers of City of Heroes found this out the hard way.