Well, an online community is a place where people with like interests go to share info or get caught up on the lastest information on whatever topic the site is about, such as a site about your favorite sports team. To me, a random group of people would be places line Facebook, MySpace and other SNS places where you go not because of one specific topic they offer, but what group you can join once you are there. Sort of like the mall. Some might go for Macys, others JC Pennys. People are all there for different (shopping) reasons and while they are all there for shopping, they don't really co-mingle except when getting from one store to another. (I hope that makes sense).
People get involved in online communities for the very reason they are there...to share info and communicate with people with the same interest. I used to "lurk" amongst several Usenet groups back in the day, and I suppose it could be said that I still do as there are several sites I read everyday (lurk) and will once in a blue moon post something, but mainly I'm there to see the major posts and read some of the comments.
I like the analogy of SNSs to malls--we might revisit this in the next blog entry, when we look at SNSs more specifically. But I agree, that they are different from communities.
ReplyDeleteSo, true. Alot can be learned from the social networking of the internet. However, a person have to have the patience and understanding to be able to be logged in online as such for a great period of time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with kris about the communities being different from social networking. There are tons of friends on my facebook page that I don't know much about at all and don't communicate with ever.
ReplyDeleteI agree Will, people are able to learn when social networks are talking about positive issues. However it's not like this all the time. Many times people are rarely talking to each other just adding friends to make their friend list look good. Which would expand the community of people.
ReplyDeleteThe positive comments or inspirational comments are what I like to read. Also, there is a wealth of information especially if you have time to get through the junk. These communities can be helpful.
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