Rethinking presence, absence, and belonging in virtual organization: the neglection of online communities time

Contemporary digital life is characterized by fragmented attention and a pervasive state of 'absent presence,' particularly evident in Online Communities (OCs). Traditional organizational temporal theories, often relying on positive ontologies focusing on presence and objective time, prove insufficient to fully capture the complexities of this condition. They overlook the structuring role of absence and the effortful transitions between temporal spheres, particularly as individuals navigate their engagement with OCs. Addressing this theoretical gap, this article proposes a novel tripartite conceptual model for understanding temporal experience in OCs. This model integrates vivid temporality (actively lived time), subtracted temporality (correspondingly relinquished time rooted in a negative ontology), and the Temporal Chiasma (the active mediating mechanism of ontological transition). The model is systematically applied to analyze three ideal-typical modes of OC participation—Observation (Lurking), Partial Engagement, and Total Immersion. Analysis reveals distinct temporal configurations across these modes, demonstrating that subtracted temporality is constitutive and actively shapes vivid engagement, and that the Temporal Chiasma represents active, necessary organizing work demanding deliberate ontological navigation. This conceptualization significantly advances organizational temporality theory by systematically integrating a negative ontology of time with its lived experience, offering a more nuanced understanding of temporal mediation. Practically, it provides crucial insights for OC management and individual strategies to navigate complex online-offline temporal realities, fostering a more holistic grasp of contemporary organizing and the pursuit of temporal coherence within these digital spaces.