I think that their is risks involved with online self-expression, but it depends on what is thought of when self-expression is referred too. Personally I can be quite opinionated, and I do tend to express this quite a lot! I use to use a forum and if I disagreed with what somebody had said on a general life matter then I would say so - obviously in a nice way, but it would still occassionaly get flamed. Obviously I am not the only one prone to that, lots of online community users can be flamed if other members dont agree with their opinion on something. I think opinions is the base for self-expression, because you're self-expression is based upon your own values which I believe come from your opinion on X and X issues etc.
I have witnessed online relationships taking place, on the forum I used to use, people would appear to be really good friends with each other - even though they had never met! Such good friends that in some cases they even met up in big groups everynow and then with several of the forum members attending so they could all socialise! I personally dont think I would ever participate in such an event, but I can see why some poeple do, although I think in society it could be frowned upon, as people might think along the lines of do they not have any 'real life' friends? But I guess too them, these people are they're real life friends, as well as their other friends who they havent met through the internet.
I think the internet can be good RE helping relationships bond, I have friends who have got to know their now boyfriends better through the likes of MSN - general chit chat which develops. I think that quite a lot of people would be able to relate to that? Knowing someone who had done that I mean, possibly people a little younger than us now perhaps... (I still think I'm 17 at times!)
Internet is also good for prolonging relationships, I use facebook to get in touch with friends from Uni or send messages/photos to people from back home, people I've met on holidays etc, without this the contact would perhaps be a little less and our relationships would perhaps deteriate a little more than what it has.
I think that its great if people can build relationships, even if it is online - with people who have similar interests etc. It's also good that their is an alternative for people to meet someone they 'love' through online dating, as Dave stated in todays lecture - It is possible that now more people meet their partners through the internet than IRL!
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