User:CQ
From Perl Wiki
A group of people who remain connected on a continual basis is called a social network. A small group focused on a singular project is called a taskforce. If that group's task is to grow a community, it is called a community-building taskforce. Once a group becomes stable and focused it is called a club.
You can connect instantly to a social network.
The dawn of the "information age" found groups communicating electronically rather than face to face. This method was first practiced by telegraph operators. As technology advanced, the practice grew until the Internet was invented by Al Gore and Mr. Toad. A group of people that communicate without focus is called a rumor mill.
A "Computer-mediated community" (CMC) uses social software to regulate the activities of participants. People who are undisciplined tend to require mediation.
A highly disciplined online community such as those which collaboratively produce open source software are called development communities. A development community (if successful) evolves into an ecology of community-centered practices motivated only by the desire to do good.
Internet, Innovation, and Open Source: Actors in the Network by Ilkka Tuomi 2000 First Monday