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Rules, Guidelines, Norms, and Values
The Blueprint for a Thriving Community What makes a community feel safe, welcoming, and resilient? What keeps it from spiraling into chaos or becoming so rigid that it loses its humanity? The answers often lie in the delicate balance between rules, guidelines, norms, and values—four distinct but interconnected forces that shape the culture of any…
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Burnout and the Role of Rules in Protecting Community Longevity
Every community, no matter how vibrant or well-intentioned, will face moments of strain. The people who build and sustain these spaces—moderators, organizers, and core leaders—often find themselves bearing the weight of maintaining harmony, managing conflict, and navigating the ever-evolving needs of their members. Burnout is one of the most significant threats to any community’s longevity,…
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Exploring the pain of Judgment through HOP
Judgment is a scarcity-based emotion rooted in concern, fear, and the desire to control. It’s often tied to the Hero/Victor archetype, emerging when we feel responsible for saving others, fixing problems, or maintaining order. Judgment operates on a scarcity mindset—it’s driven by the belief that there isn’t enough time, patience, or capacity to let things…
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Exploring Perspectives: Spectrum Street Epistemology
At BridgeMakers, we believe that understanding others starts with the willingness to step outside our own beliefs and try on perspectives we may not naturally hold. Virtual reality (VR) offers the perfect space to do this. It allows us to safely engage with new ideas, experience different viewpoints, and even question the foundations of what…
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Are Goodbyes Always Good?
What are those other types of endings called? When leaders leave social VR communities without saying goodbye, it often feels less like an ending and more like an unresolved fracture. These departures bring up questions about closure, continuity, and the underlying dynamics that make abrupt exits so common. Why do leaders in social VR choose…
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Leadership Summit on Conflict Resiliency
Special Presentation: The DOT Model – Conflict Resiliency Framework This Sunday at the Leadership Summit, I’ll be presenting on conflict resiliency through our new DOT Model World in VRC. One of our Helpers, FindingNimzy, is rounding out her 3 months and has created this world as her special project. Her Discord profile says, “seeker of…
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Moderation in Moderation
How can Social VR Leaders Utilize Harm-Reduction and Harm-Prevention? Social VR moderation requires more nuance than the punitive measures commonly seen in 2D social media platforms. This is because social VR operates on different psychological and emotional dynamics. To fully understand the complexities of moderation in these spaces, we need to explore where we came…
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Building Civil Discourse in Social VR
What does building a bridge to hard conversations about important things look like in social VR? Social VR is more than a playground for creativity and connection—it’s a proving ground for the future of civil discourse. In these immersive spaces, we’re getting creative and playful in how to bridge divides, navigate challenges, and practice the…
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VR’noia and What to Do About It
Virtual reality (VR) offers a doorway into the boundless imagination of humanity. It invites us to explore, connect, and create in ways that transcend physical limitations. Yet, alongside this wonder comes VR’noia—a mix of paranoia and pronoia, reflecting the duality of our experiences in virtual spaces. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that reveals both the shadows…
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Troll Strategy
During Cyberbullying Awareness Month 2024, BridgeMakers collaborated with Educators in VR (EDVR) to host a panel discussion addressing the complexities of community management in social VR. Moderated by Dr. Ruth Diaz, creator and core leader of BridgeMakers, the panel featured seasoned professionals who shared insights on managing trolling, fostering resilience, and envisioning empowered virtual communities.…
BridgeMakers
Bridging Communities Across Social VR