The definition of an online community is described differently by many people. According to Howard Rheingold online communities are communities where people share the same interest and the authenticity of the relationships of the community. He tells BBC that more people are leaving the local communities to join online communities because they know that there are people online who share the same interest than thoes of the local community. Nancy Baym uses a few qualities to describe online community. One is ” space”, a common shared place the forms a community. Baym explains that most online communities allude to members creating fictional places such as buildings are parks. Another is Practice which she examples the use of lingo used only my members of the community. I think people join online communities for the reason Rheingold pointed which is to be part a more niche community. People now have the opportunity to find people with very specific common interest. I have not been a member of an online community other than Facebook which seems like it doesn’t count since online communities seem to be created with one or a couple of interest.
3 thoughts on “online community”
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I completely agree that it seems people join online forums to be a part of homogenous communities. The Norris study mentioned that even though we seek out groups that share our interests, this nevertheless brings us together with diverse groups of people. So there is good and bad. But it certainly seems like people choose to be around others that substantiate their views.
I also wondered if facebook would count as an online community, but there are communities within facebook that you can join, with your group of friends or people you do not know. It is like being in a community within a community where you guys have pinpointed a further interest.
People are more and more joining online communities, because in my opinion can be awkward to join a group of say Twilight lovers face to face. It would be much easier to discuss this shared interest (or in most cases obsession) via the internet.