In our presentation of “Online Communities”, we will focus on Howard Rheingold’s article, “The Virtual Community.”
With referring to the experience in the online community, the WELL (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link), and with different computer-mediated communication such as MUD (Multi User Domains/ Dungeons), Rheingold has indicated the features of the virtual communities such as the disembodiment of users, various functions and communication regardless of the barriers of time and space. In which, he has examined the close relationship between the virtual communities and our real life practices. Beside, issues related to the development of virtual communities and the CMC (Computer-Mediated Communication) technology are also discussed.
Our presentation will be divided in to two parts. First, we will summarize the key points of Rheingold’s article. It includes the definition of virtual communities, its features, the influence of the virtual communities and the real life experience towards each other, and the possible problems involved in the virtual communities.
Then, we will take Facebook as a case to examine the ideas of virtual communities mentioned by Rheingold. And the related issues such as the privacy and censorship will also be investigated, with some examples.
In fact, we agree with Rheingold’s idea of the influence of virtual communities and the close relaions between the virtual realilty and real life shown in it. However, we think that we should also pay attention to the problems revealed in the development of such online communities.
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I think the "facebook" would be a significant example to interpret the application of virtual communities. The "facebook" is bringing a greater and greater popularity within these 2 years. Many of people are getting involved in it because their features and ideas are all well designed and similar to our communication in reality. It helps people easier interact with their friends without the physical boundaries. Its emergence makes the connection between the virtual communities and our real life practices becomes much tighter and closer. I do think that the ideas you presented can really fit it to this example and illustrate a complete examination to us.
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