Whilst doing the reading for week 4 - http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/blogs_as_virtual.html
It got me thinking about what exactly makes a website a 'virtual community?' - As in what do we think makes it this?
I think that forums can become virtual community's but I have to admit when I think of the term virtual community, this is the only form of virtual community I think of! Perhaps this is just because it is the only one I have experienced myself?
I think that virtual community's can be created with some forums, but not all, also, I think they are created by people becoming use to each other on there, so say for example when X hasnt posted for a few days, people start to wonder where they are. I also think virtual community means when people offer support, guidance etc in many ways (even if it's guiding them towards whats going to happen in Eastenders tomorrow! etc). I also think that (like the Lister book states!) that online community's are built when in some cases relationships are not just online anymore, they become offline too. Like the members of forums speak not just on this virtual community they met on, but also in other places, like MSN, or on the phone, perhaps even meeting up etc.
I found it interesting how the concept of 'Lurkers' was approched within this text (Not the lister text, the text that was linked at the beginning of the post!), I'd never really thought of 'lurkers' feeling like part of the community, but now I can see it. I often go on forums and dont post, but I still feel like I am part of the community in ways - but like the text said, I dont feel as much of a part of the community as regular contributors.
Whats everyone elses thoughts on this? What do you think makes a virtual community? Do you think their is a place for lurkers within this space?
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6 comments:
I suppose I should be accused of lurking as I do tend to read through other people's stuff and generally flick around lots of blogs and the forum, but I agree it still makes you feel part of the community even though you are not necessarily hugely active within it. I found an article that I have used with some other blogs of mine that can be found at this address - http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/nt/2002/nt_2002_03_18_interactivity.htm
This take a look at what makes a community online. He says for example that no one would ever make a group of people in a nightclub a community, and yet people who look at the same website or just have discussions online are suddenly communities. What's the difference between IRl and online that suddenly makes it a community....hmm i wonder!
i think lurkers in something like a forum is ok, kuz they may just go 2 have a look or find out information. like, what sue was saying in the lecture 2day about trying to fnd out how to uncode the dvd player. Like, I'm sure people do things like this all the time an take the information but not necessarily reply or post anything. Or like Jess lurking around posts trying to find how to make her IKEA sofas, like I think that's fine. People have posted the information obviously with the intention for other people to see and use, otherwise they wouldn't have bothered putting it on such a public place as the internet and I'm sure most don't really expect a response from any1 who has used it.
So I guess lurking in this sense is ok.
But on say social networking sites such as Bebo or Facebook, could lurking around people's profiles of people you don't know or just not saying anything, becuase that's a form of lurking isn't it? But in that sense, it seems a bit scary....perhaps even stalkerish??? whereas with forums it does't have tht 'stalker-ish' element about it, I dont think anyway.
about what alyson said about people luring in social networking sites like facebook, it reminded me of something that happened in a networking site called "orkut". This is a networking site just like facebook with a few less "gadgets". It was founded by a turkish man in america but i think over 60% of the users are brazilians. In this site you could look at other people profile as much as you wanted even if they werent your "friend". What happened then was that they put a gadged through which you could see the last 10 people who looked at you profile. This was updated each day. It caused such a big discussion in my school that communities where formed of poeple saying whether they liked it or not. I never really though about whether it was "stalkerish" or not. Because all the info you put on your site you put in "free will" so to say. you are not obliged to put it there if you dont want to, so if other people read it, it should not be much of a problem. All in all it turned out that people loved the littel "who has last seen your profile" gadget and most people didnt care if others could see that they "lurked" as well.
Personally I dont consider it "stalking" or anything like that, more like "showing interest".
I'm a lurker when it comes to some online forums as I prefer to reverse my opinion and instead be updated on the latest publicity of musicians for example. I think its harmless when it comes to forums and messageboards but when it comes to social networking sites it brings about questions of confidentiality etc. I think when the option to limit profile views on sites such Facebook and people chose not to do so then maybe this is less of an issue.
Emma, Thanks for leaving that link. I couldnt get it to work though, but I get the jist of what he is saying from your comment. It is interesting what you said about whats the difference between IRL and online communities - It made me think - What exactly do we class as a community IRL? I personally, when I think of community, as neighbours etc - people who live in the same area, obviously this cant be the same online - so what should define an online community?
I think part of it is - when people show 'care and thoughtfulness' towards others on the internet forums. But others are going to have a different concept of what virtual community means arent they? Why does it have to referred to as a 'community?' - is this the new media trying to envoke the fact that technology is taking over our life - and that eventually the only 'communitys' that exsist will be online?
In respond to Alysons comment - I hold my hands up and say that I do lurk! I think alot of people do it, on other forums which I go on, I cant exactly post 'RINCY' as they wouldnt know what I meant! Equally, they'd probably be annoyed if I just put 'hello' or something to demonstrate that I'd been and gone! I hadnt thought of the whole Facebook thing, but I have to say that I agree with Sophia - that its more showing interest than stalking! Surely if you make up a profile your doing so in knowing that people are going to be looking at it? And thats really the whole point of it? Because why else would we have it? Yes to communicate, but those we want to communicate have to access our profiles, and if we didnt want 'randomers' seeing our stuff - we wouldnt accept it would we? I think I am fully aware that people who I probably dont speak to that much will be 'nosing' around on my profile, but its not something in which I put a great deal of thought into, as it doesnt bother me particularly.
I agree with what Peter has said about how sometimes you would rather reserve your own opinion etc that post it, but is it aswell down to lazyness perhaps? If you where involved in a RL conversation in a community - you wouldnt be able to just walk away would you? You'd have to speak, so why is it OK for communities to be structured differently online?
about your last point megan, i think that the main reason for communities online being structured differently is the "reality" part, because in real life, if you just walk away people will cosider you rude or weird and thats probably all do to the way culture and society and "etiquette" etc is set. If we where taught that it was ok to just walk away as soon as you lose interes in something or cant think of anything "really good" to say, we probably would do. Sice on the cyber world people can't see you, know you or know that you are there looking, it is ok to do it. I am sure that people would think twice though if it was registered everytime they entered a website/blog or social networking site leaving their picture, address, real name etc behind. But I guess thats the wonders of the net, you can be who you want to be or you can be no one.
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