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A summit in the midst of the storm:
Reflections on Building Resilient Communities The recent BridgeMakers Leadership Summit brought together over 20 community builders from across virtual spaces to tackle some of the toughest challenges facing social VR communities. From managing conflict to fostering connections across diverse groups, the discussions were both raw and transformative. As I reflect on the event, the wisdom…
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Navigating Conflict in Times of Intolerance
Conflict is an inevitable part of human communities, stemming from differences in perspectives, values, and lived experiences. In today’s polarized world, these tensions have become more pronounced, fueled by discriminatory policies that target minorities and embolden harmful behaviors. Whether in physical reality (PR) or virtual spaces like social VR, communities grapple with a critical challenge:…
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Building Emotional Fluency in VR
As VR community builders we strive to build digital experiences where individuals feel safe, understood, and connected. Central to this mission is the development of emotional fluency— the ability to recognize, comprehend, and express emotions effectively. In virtual spaces, where interactions can be magnified by immersion and anonymity, emotional fluency can transform the way we…
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From Learner to Leader
Empowering Through Mentorship & Sponsorship in Social VR Almost two decades ago, in an undergraduate psychology course, I was struck by the talent of a graduate student who had been brought in to teach in place of the tenured professor. His ability to engage the class and connect seemingly complex ideas through a practice called…
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The Gravity of Leadership Styles in Community Building
In social VR, community builders take on diverse roles, each contributing uniquely to the growth and resilience of their communities. Whether you’re a moderator fostering respectful dialogue, an influencer drawing people together through personal charisma, a world builder creating immersive environments, an avatar designer crafting identity through digital expression, a content producer sharing valuable resources,…
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BridgeShakers – Religion and Sexuality
by Community Helper: Sotalo This week, we’ve talked about a hard subject in BridgeShakers: how suffering, gender identity/sexuality, and religion combine and conflict with each other. My perspective as a former practitioner and Senior Altar Acolyte of Greek Orthodox Christianity (who also attended Baptist churches in Florida) and lived through several priests, with an ace/gay…
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Conflict-Resilient Moderation: Lessons from tRoll Play
At BridgeMakers, we believe that conflict is not just something to manage—it’s something we can learn and grow from, especially when navigating challenging interactions like trolling. Our latest session on Conflict-Resilient Moderation focused on real-life scenarios where community leaders encounter trolls and disruptive behavior. Through role-playing exercises, we explored how moderators can transform these moments…
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Judgement
The Low-key Hero and Silent Villain in VR Communities Let’s talk about judgment—that sneaky thing we all do, even if we don’t always notice. Judgment, when it’s healthy, is like your brain’s personal sorting system. It helps you make sense of people, ideas, and situations, guiding your choices and actions. But when conflict kicks in,…
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From Wandering to Woke
Growing through the Social Dynamics of the Metaverse Last night at our weekly BridgeMakers meetup we talked about navigating the drama of the rumor mill in social VR. We reviewed reflective listening, bypassing the hostility (or emotional vomit) by getting to the heart of the matter (finding the golden nugget to build relationship on!), and…
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“Oh the Rumors!”
Dealing with Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation In your community, do you notice polarization due to conflicting beliefs or divisive information? For example, two groups within your VR platform repeatedly clash in discussions about climate change, with one side dismissing any evidence and the other growing increasingly frustrated, resulting in hostile interactions. If so, your group…
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Bridging Communities Across Social VR