AbstractHardin's (1968) tragedy of the commons model has been implicated in projections of growing resource crises, an eventual threat to quality of life, and the extinction of civilization. The commons parable is explored in light of the open‐field commons system that characterized European agricultural village communities for as many as 1,000 years. This system enabled carrying capacity to increase, not to be exceeded. The essential role of community organization and group solidarity is highlighted, and some suggestions for commons' beneficial use in community are presented. Comedy as a worldview for community is contrasted with traged