Belonging Chapter 6 ConClusion This chapter discussed how you can use epideictic storytelling techniques to create a sense of belonging in your networks and communities. Through your leaders' narratives about the origins of your organization, you can give purpose and meaning to members' participation in the group. And through mythologi- cal narratives that praise heroes of the group and vilify its enemies, you build esprit de corps and provide models of exemplary behavior you want to encourage in the group. This chapter also discussed creating rituals, routines, protocols, and schemas to guide your users' behaviors and to help them better understand what is expected of them in particular social situations. We discussed ways to use symbols, both verbal and visual, as ways of signaling to other users what kinds of protocols and routines would lead to effective communication. Once again, these strategies for building a sense of belonging among your users are really just attempts to prime the pump of creativity. The techniques I've offered here are by no means exhaustive. However, now that you're familiar with belonging and how it functions in social networks and communities, it is hoped that you'll be able to use these suggestions as jumping off points for creative and innovative techniques in your own systems. I hope you find the challenge 165