Posted by Drealm on
URL: https://coalpha.arkian.net/Group-Cohesion-tp5588680.html

I've always been fascinated by group cohesion. When a group has a high level of cohesion, it can out compete other groups. Often times cohesive military groups will even be able to conquer none-cohesive enemy groups several magnitudes their own size. I'm sure J. Durden can attest to the power of cohesion from his life in the Marine Corps, a highly cohesive group.

I'm going to start a brainstorm of ways to create group cohesion within CoAlpha Brotherhood. Some of these ideas will be easy to apply, some wont. Some ideas will be virtual in nature while others will require in person initiatives. Quite a few ideas here will be redundant, meaningless or fluff. A few ideas here may be simple and valuable adjustments though. If we can find ways to bring us closer as a group, we'll grow stronger. I'll try breaking down group cohesion ideas into relevant categories.

---Virtual---

1. Standardized naming convention for forum members.

This could be first letter of first name and whole last name, initials, or some other combo based on real names. fschmidt and j. durden, already basically do this. I've not written my name for privacy concerns. Perhaps we should make a rule requiring real name as forum name upon membership request. This would serve as a first step towards trusting members and willing to sacrifice personal liberties for the group. This will also serve as a way to weed out trolls.

2. Name tags.

On several forums I go to, groups identify themselves by putting their group acronym in their individual forum names. For example ours would look something like "[CAB]drealm", "[CAB]fschmidt", "[CAB]Ardia" "[CAB]J. Durden", ect. This would make our group more recognizable across multiple forums.

This "tag" could also serve as a requirement upon entry. It would distinguish members from visitors.

3. Signature.

We already have a standardized text signature "CoAlpha Brotherhood Dating". This can evolve into a picture signature eventually.

4. Avatar.

We can eventually create a standard visual avatar.

5. Desktop background.

We can create downloadable backgrounds. These backgrounds could have images, text, ect, which represents CoAlpha Brotherhood.

---In Person---

6. Multi tier membership system.

Right now the organization is egalitarian. We don't really distinguish between members, non-members, ect. Since we're small, we don't need division yet. As we scale though, division will become more relevant. My suggestion for something in the future would be a multi tier membership system. The membership system would have two membership levels. The first level would be registering. The second level would be meeting in person as a yearly conference. A person wouldn't be a full fledged member until they attended at least one yearly conference. This membership system could eventually be reflected with corresponding signatures.

7. Rite of passage.

A rite of passage deserves a thread in and of itself. If we created a multi tier membership system, we could create two rites of passage. The first would be virtual. This could start with a filling out an application, writing an introduction, or as was previously done, commenting on "Sexual Utopia In Power". Another rite of passage can take place by meeting in person. This in person passage could be more secretive and meaningful. The point of a rite of passage is to create a meaningful entry into the group. A meaningful group entry has the side effect of cementing bonds between members by way of a common starting point.

8. Appearance.

In the future we'll probably draft many documents, which will come to evolve into a constitution of practices for a way of life. This constitution will serve as a secular version of religious laws like Canon law (Christianity), Sharia law (Islam), Halakha law (Jewdism), ect.

Within this constitution I see lots of room for engineering appearance. Engineering our appearance could include clothing etiquette, uniforms, hair cuts, body modification restrictions, ect.

9. Events.

- Annual events.
- Weekly video conferences.

10. Commemorative Items.

- Mugs.
- T-Shirts.
- Mouse pads.
- Stickers.
- Ect.

11. Certificates for things achieved within group.

- Reading specific books.
- ect.