Monday, March 26, 2007
Unit 3
I never thought of the concept of community as an online community. Whenever I think of community I normally think of my hometown. But after reading unit 3 I am more aware of how the term community can be interpreted. I also was interested to learn more about the term social network. I sometimes wonder what my life would be like with out the online social networks I'm apart of. I sure would have a lot more time on my hands, considering facebook and IM consume a lot of my online time. It's nice to have social networks. They help me to strengthen friendships by staying in touch, and also a great way to meet new people. I agree with the book when it says that "online communities are often offline communities that have come online." I realized that many of the people I communicate with online are people that I regulary communicate with FTF at home and at school. This unit was very insighting and interesting to read.
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2 comments:
leah I posted about the same thing this week! I agree I had never really thought of online groups or networks as communities even if I hear them referred to as such I don't think about the term too much. I think of them more as social networks. I also agree that I would have a lot more time on my hands if it weren't for these social networks but then again...what would I do without them?!
I definitely agree with you and the book when it says that online communities are "offline communities that have come online." I feel like most of my online friends are ones that I communicate FtF with when possible. Being at different colleges hours away from one another prohibits this FtF communication most of the time, but I definitely communicate with these individuals through both methods. I think this goes along the idea of being hybrid as well. As the book states, it's hard to have a clear distinction between the two, and I think that's one thing most scholars and lay people can agree on.
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