With all of the talk about vertical communities on the net I thought that I better weigh in with my observations of a legislatively created vertical community.

An intersesting story relayed to me by a salesman for my former employer was that of a visiting middle-eastern man. He was surprised at the number of prostitutes that we have in New Zealand. Who he was refering to were not prostitutes, but the people that stand around outside building on the footpath with cigarettes in their hands.

When New Zealand outlawed smoking in public buildings it drove the smokers onto the streets it created hundreds of small communities with an addiction in common.

Along with the obvious negative side-effects, there are some positive things. Perhaps the most positive is the conversations that it generates. Great friendship and alliances can be made between senior managers and those in the engine room of an organisation. It is where our HR manager meets with out IT staff and Lawyers talk to Librarians.