In reading chapter 4, ” articles and books on digital community often begin by noting that no one has ever been able to agree what exactly “community” means” (Byam. 74). People join communities for different reasons, shared interests, or the need to talk to other people. Communities can make people who share a common interest have a place or space where they feel comfortable to share. I found the interview very informational, especially the part that people join to share their feelings or vent that really intrigued me. I could really understand why people would want to join a community where they felt like they were being heard. Some people might feel like no body ever listens to what they have to say. They might have a tough day, and feel the need to share their day with someone but no one is there. With an online community they have fast easy access to many readily listening ears.
I have not been involved in an online community personally, but with reading this chapter I understand why people would be part of a community. It might be the only place for some people to interact and share things they might not be able to share in their offline life. For some people these online communities are so tight that they feel like they are part of a family.
I agree that some communities feel tight as if they are family but they say friends stick closer than a brother. People tend to talk to people that are non related to then because the do not have to worry about judgement from them or upholding the standards that your family feel you should be. I have never been involved in a community as well. I actually have never thought about a community until now.
Dialectic communiation seems to be more important than self-presentation on online communities. Not that South Park isn’t offensive and over the top at times, but occassionaly underneath all that there is enlightening social commentary. I came across an episode last night where Stan’s Facebook profile takes over his life and actually sucks him into the site. The message is that some people are more concerned with how many Facebook friends they have than building meaningful relationships. On web forums and online communities, like the Bronze, this isn’t the case. The members appear to value the relationships with their peers.
That’s a really interesting observation Tim (man I haven’t watched South Park in over a decade!). I think that the more “stripped down” nature of most web forums and discussion boards gets people to focus more on what people are saying. Also, as opposed to Facebook, in online communities you often start by not knowing anybody, because you are connected by shared interest, whereas most research shows that people’s Facebook friends are by and large people they have a connection with offline. Facebook is much more about maintaining existing relationships than building new ones.
I saw the episode of Southpark, which was hilarious by the way. My sister and I laughed so hard because Stan’s dad wanted to know why he had not added grandma as a friend. It is true some people value the number of friends they have on facebook rather than the actual relationship.
When you said people join communities because they feel the need to talk to other people; they feel comfortable. Some people, sadly do not have any other sense of a community, or maybe cannot relate to others without having the web as a solid line drawn between people while still belonging. Community, the word itself, is very diverse. I could belong in many different communities on Facebook, simply by “liking” a page. But it doesn’t mean that i necessarily belong or feel welcomed into that community.
I also haven’t been part of an online community, but I know others that have. As you said, they can become so close to others within their online communities that it feels like a family. I think this is particularly true of the many online communities that operate as networks for people suffering from the loss of a loved one or an acute health issue. In those cases, the internet is able to connect people who can empathize with each other.