-Chapter one: the heart of the well
-The internet and the public sphere,pt 1.
CHAPTER ONE: THE HEART OF THE WELL.
In this chapter, Howard Rheingold tries to inform the
reader about what a virtual community is. He explains us how he first logged
onto the WELL(a virtual community) since his daughter had had a little
problem and through the WELL he could find information about what to do
very fast. As he says in the article, many people think that virtual communities
are cold places, but according to him they are places where you can find
support and information, so he gives many examples of this by explaining
the cases of people who had some problems and find some help thanks to
the WELL.He also explains some advantages of the virtual communities. There
are some people who find it very difficult to make friends due to the physical
handicaps they have, but these people usually find it easier to make friends
in virtual communities due to the fact that they are not seen by the person
they are talking to. Another adavantage would be that you can access to
a chat that allows you to talk with people who you share an affinity with.In
addition, he comments something about the addiction to computers.
I agree with almost everything that the author says, although
I think that face-to-face conversation is easier for me, but I suppose
this depends on the character of each person. I don't usually chat, because
I don't like to talk with people I don't know since I don't have anything
to say to someone I don't know. Anyway, virtual communities have made it
easier and faster to find information we could have not found as easily
some years ago.
THE INTERNET AND THE PUBLIC SPHERE.
This text also talks about virtual communities but in
a more formal way. The author begins defining the "public sphere" according
to Habermas.Later, he explains why virtual commmunities had such a success.
They were very successful because you could talk to people that had the
same ideas than you or that wanted to talk about the same issue than you,etc...that
is to say virtual communities allow you to connect with people you share
an affinity.He also says that it is necessary that the experienced chatters
behave well so that beginners can follow their model.