From Joe Myers on community and commitment:

Commitment is a motivational resource (at least the way it is being discussed in this conversation). It is a resource people use to motivate themselves and/or others. Unfortunately, this resource has been so over used that it suffers in effectiveness. Commitment can motivate others toward community. However, commitment does not make certain the path toward community.

Every month I am reminded of my commitments via monthly billing statements yet, I experience no sense of community. I’m committed to my wife yet, this is the last motivational resource I want to use to experience oneness with her (passion and compassion seem to be more fun).

On the other hand, I have experienced community in public arenas (e.g. IU basketball games) where there was no expectation of commitment.

Community is an experience that one grasps when the sum of all their belongs are collected in healthy ways. For example, when a person has a harmonious and healthy relationship between their Public, Social, Personal, and Intimate belongings. Then community (real, authentic, whatever) emerges.