Turning a group into a community

I thought I would never make it through to the end of the week, but I survived this weeks online community. Throughout the readings and discussions I learned that virtual communities are growing at a fast rate, where it is for some people their main source of communication. The computer has even come to the point of taking control of peoples lives, furthermore even becoming addictive. In the reading on addiction Blair Newman was definitely addicted to communicating online, which ultimately lead to his suicide. This can be a serious problem for some people especially if not aware of the negative effects.

Establishing friendships and personal relationships through a virtual community is a major reason people join online groups (Horrigan et al., 2001). While friendships online can provide information and social support some people go online for professional business and have no desire for personal relationships. The feeling of being together and being a member of a group of friends comes with notions of being a part of a group, spending time together, socializing and networking. Humans have a need to belong and be affiliated with others (Watson & Johnson, 1972). The more people that have the same interest, likes or dislikes as yourself tend to form groups . These groups can become virtual communities, forming friendships and personal relationships. The more people that respond and give feedback the more you will find yourself responding back building stronger relationships, so the more responses the more of a sense of belonging you feel.

I felt more of a community this week, I got to read and respond to my classmates which has given me an opportunity to get to know them a little better. I didn't have anyone respond to me this week, but I'm optimistic that I was just overlooked. I realized that in a group, having online discussion when you don't get responses or feedback you do feel as though you don't belong. That is why some people like myself tend not to communicate on the computer, there is no such thing as one way communication I need some type of interaction to feel as though I belong to this group.