Join an internet community for at least two weeks (you should join the community early in the term). This can be a discussion group, listserv, or other virtual community. However, social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook don’t count. This group should be outside the university setting and should be a group new to you. You can find such a group by typing in a subject you’re interested in followed by discussion board. For example, “Pittsburgh Penguin discussion board.” Discuss how you assimilate into the group. How are you accepted and how do you know you are accepted? How are agreements and disagreements expressed and resolved?
Earlier this year, I joined a online community on absolutepunk.net This website is dedicated to providing a social and friendly environment where anyone can join and discuss the latest news,reviews,events, etc. in the alternative rock genre. Although this is the main concentration of the community, the site revolves around entertainment in general, including movies, TV, video games, and really anything else that attracts the younger generation.
I first found out about this through a friend. I always saw him browsing the pages of this website, and it eventually became his homepage. What really attracted me to this website was the content that all these people around the world were contributing to each other. All these people are just as excited as I am about alternative rock genre and all of these great bands. This site is also incredibly organized, making it very easy to navigate through different topics on the site. Since I have discovered this community, I have spent hours going through what other people have to say, and also contributing my own thoughts. Although I must admit, according to Wood and Smith I am somewhat of a lurker. I spent most of my time looking at reviews and comments about all the material then contributing to the site. I am more there for the information than the interactions between people. Although, I do get involved in some discussion boards on the bands and information that I have a lot of interest in.
There are many different kind of people on this website who make themselves noticed. There are those people who just like to show off, and talk about how special and cool they are because of their minimal association with a big band. There are those people who are there just to express their opinions, and discuss with others about hot topics. There are also those people like me, who are information seekers and like to read what other people have to say about the stuff they're interested in. As far as acceptance into the community goes, it really is quite simple. If you are able to contribute to a discussion, and bring in something new or exciting, people will listen to you. If people are listening to you and you are talking, online interaction is happening! Some people do take some of their content too far, such as bashing on other people or bands in a negative way. The whole point of these communities is to share information and talk to people like yourselves. It is supposed to be fun, so when people are negative all the time, they're acceptance won't last too long.
Often times, disagreements do evolve when people are giving reviews and opinions about bands and events. As I mentioned earlier, you do get some of those people who are just out there to be an a$$hole and disagree with people. Most of the members don't mind some disagreement. Disagreements allow for further understanding of another's point of view. The majority of conflicts are solved simply by more interaction, talking about how and why they think the way they do.
Although I have found quite a bit of joy in this new online community, I don't think it is really taking away my time from other personal interactions with other communities I am involved in. The book mentions that people are joining online discussions instead of going out into their real world communities to interact. Although this may be true, I think people will always have the desire for person-to-person interactions. I am still going to go out and talk with the people I'm interested in no matter my involvement online. I am just scared for the next generation. If you have read the book "Feed", you may understand. If not you should definitely check it out, good quick read.
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