What are virtual online communities?
Virtual online communities are communities where users come to discuss or interact with
each other.
The main goal here is to get people to communicate their ideas, views, or opinions, and to
get other
people involve and in turn, keep returning to this site to interact. These online
communities are
creative, has topics to entertain or to keep the discussion going and it is updated
regularly. "Virtual
online communities are created when a group of people with a common interest interact with
one
another in a computer-mediated environment rather than a physical one. They are
diverse, some
exist to help people in their personal lives, others have a strongly personal focus."
(Howard
Rheingold)
Purpose of online communities
The purpose of online communities is to give the users what they want in terms of their
interests.
These communities must have potential or incentives to get users to keep coming back to
this site.
Another purpose is to allow users communicate or interact with each other through the use
of
exchanging words and ideas through the computer bulletin boards and networks.
"Virtual online
communities also help people solve heath problems, make business contacts, evaluate new
software,
discuss legal issues, support people through difficult times, help people choose a car,
fight an
environmental campaign, give investment advice, and so on." (Howard Rheingold)
Who creates online communities?
There are no certain businesses that have copyrights in creating online communities.
Therefore,
anyone can create them. A lot of entrepreneurs, Web developers, publishers and
investors, as well
as users. This web site needs to be creative and needs loyal users that can bring in more
users and
who returns over and over. According to BUILDER.COM, there are ten tips for building
effective
online communities:
#1. Test the waters.
#2. Make it a party.
#3. Have 'em waiting at the door
#4. Use your entire site to seed discussions
#5. Recruit help
#6. Set and enforce rules
#7. Remember it is their community, too.
#8. Project personality
#9. Grow carefully
#10. Be a skillful moderator.
After going through the ten tips provided by BUILDER.COM on building effective
communities, a
web builder starts off by getting users to come to this site. To do this, the web
builder should do
research on what types of topics would attract a user to visit this site. Once the
builder can establish
a certain amount of users who are loyal and keeps coming back, then this online community
can start
to branch off. For example, a builder creates a site for jokes. Users that
type in "jokes" in the
search engine can browse through this page and if the user is interested, the user then in
turn tells
other people about this site and before long, this online community can work on improving
this site
through their suggestions and input on making this site a better place.
Types of Virtual Online Communities
There are many types of virtual online communities on the net
today. Some types include shopping
networks, where users come to shop. There are psychological help groups where users
can talk to
psychologists or peers that are going through the same problems. There are chat
rooms, where
users come to talk about anything. There are business, where users suggest ideas on
improving their
business entity. And there is many more. Any site can be considered an online
community as long
as there is some type of interaction between the user and another person and loyal to this
site to
keep returning back. Bulletin boards and networks are also virtual online
communities because it
gets people to interact.
What are Virtual Online Communites?
Before I begin telling you about the history of online communities, let me first define what a community is. A community is a group of people striving for a common goal. The minimum amount three people is needed to make a community because it gives an unequal number to have a discussion. For example, two poeple can side with one agreement while the other one defends his/her points.
Virtual online communities originated in PC-based bulletin boards operated by people all over the world. Bulletin boards were for person-to-person interactivity. Online communities are found throughout the internet. You don't have to be from the same area, in fact, communities can be form with people from around the world. Just as long as these people meet to interact with each other either on a daily, weekly, monthly, etc, to discuss whatever it is they are discussing. For example, if a business community was discussing plans to better their business, the member who keep in touch with each other as often to keep up with their plans. These communities function just like a face-to-face interaction. They talk to each other when they have a new idea or suggestion and leave when they are done.
Would I become a member?
Right now, I would have to say no because I just don't have the time to
get myself committed to
anything. With school, work, and my social life in the "real" world, I
have too much going on for
me. Don't get me wrong. I would love to meet new people and hear their
new ideas, but I never
really interest me to talk to other people other than face-to-face. I haven't
yet accepted that
communication through computers is possible. In fact, it is probably the most
effective modes of
communication today because the response is faster (if you are in a different city or
country). Call
me "old fashioned" but I like to communicate face-to-face because of
eye-contact. I need to see
that someone is actually listening to me rather than doing something else. I guess
it is the attention
that I need.
I've got my reservations about becoming a member because of this issue of anonymity.
The person
on the other end may not be their true self, and already the trust is broken. Trust
is very important to
me and I need to know I can trust someone first before I can really open up to them.
Another
reservation I have is sometimes being myself isn't enough. I'd probably find
myself trying to impress
others just so I could be included in the conversation. Who would want to talk to
someone boring!
I think that under the circumstances where these communities are for fun, like telling
jokes, I'd
probably become a member. But when it comes to communities that have strict rules
and is very
serious, then I wouldn't even bother.
Significance of a Virtual Communities.
The significance of a virtual community is a community striving for a common goal. It gets people to interact with each other and it is a way for people to meet new people on a more personal basis, rather than a face-to-face interaction.
Face-to-face vs. online interaction
Interaction within online communities are quite similiar to face-to-face interaction through the way information gets from the sender to the listener. Everything is pretty much the same except communication is done by typing in messages on the computer and the message appears on the screen. Face-to-face interaction, messages are received as soon as the person speaks. Thinking about what is said is done spontaneously, therefore, if the person said something that regrets, the listener already heard it. Online interactions, there is room to change mistakes or to re-think about what is being said to the other person. I feel that online interactions have the advantage that the person on the other end, does not judge you on your appearance, but by the way your messages is being understood.
Can there be an evolution?
Yes! Virtual online communities reflect human transaction by going through these three stages: evolution, development, and change. When a person meets someone for the first time, people are usually shy (except for some, of course). When they meet again, they start to feel a little bit more comfortable until they spend more time together. Usually when there are similarities or a common interest, the relationship grows. The people establishes a bond and the relationship grows stronger and stronger. I believe that there could be an evolution because more and more users of the internet are beginning to feel more comfortable with interaction with strangers. I think people feel less threatened by the fact that they are strangers as well and they are judge by what they think rather than what they look like.
Reports on Virtual Communities and Cyberspace Citizen
After reading Rapoza's report on cyberspace citizenship, I felt as though I am advanced in what I know about cyberspace. We both were new to the internet, but with the changes and advances in technology, I felt I learned about the internet at a faster rate. It is amazing that within a year or two, the changes in the internet change very rapidly. Rapoza felt that time is a big factor in the "process of getting to know that Web and becoming a regular and lifelong cyberspace citizen. She also looked at a couple of other students reports and described their experiences of becoming a cyberspace citizen. For example, according to a student name Phillipe, he stated that "stress" is a big factor, but he does occasionally have a breakthrough when sitting in from of the computer screen over a long time could sometimes be worthwhile. I could relate to Phillipe's experiences of stress because these reports do generate stress. I think that this stress is beneficial because as a first time web page creator, I didn't know what to do, but once I get the hang of it, it becomes easier with time. Time is a major factor in cyberspace because with time I can learn about its process and try to figure out how I fit into it. For example, learning about the cyberspace really tests my patience. It only gets better the more and more I practice and practice takes time.
After reading Rho's report on cyberspace citizenship, she felt that "downloading, e-mailing, searching topics, and viewing newsgroups was not being an active participant in cyberspace." She thinks that "the process of getting to know the web and becoming a lifelong cyberspace citizen, is the continuous usage of the web." I totally agree with her on this statement. Over the years, I did that same things as she did, check my e-mail once or twice a month or when I had a research project to do I'd search for topics on the internet. Now that I'm constantly doing work on the Internet, I consider myself to be a cyberspace citizen. She also took a look at other student's reports and commented on their reactions on cyberspace citizenship. For example, according Diane, she felt that "being honest was essential, and that maybe one should leave their ego outside the whole Internet experience," and it was important for the future generation to know this because they can understand the process and experiences that we all share as first time cyberspace users. Like I mentioned above, time is important. Getting to really know about cyberspace is through the use of the Web. I think that the only way of truly learning about it and experiencing it at the same time. I feel that I'm in the same boat as Rho because feeling part of the cyberspace makes me want to appreciate it more.
While doing this report, I learned that having a community gives a person support that they need. To the future generation, I believe that virtual community will be available to all of you and can actually help you out in many ways. I think that you could further this report by observing different on-line communities and sharing with everyone about what you've learned and anything interesting that others would like to read.