Online Social Communities

jenchin66

Support from others

crawley_girl

* available 24/7
* i am able to be anonymous as well as being totally honest
* collective knowledge from many many different sources who have nothing to gain by passing on info/ knowledge
* feel supported and know that I'm not the only person with issues with debt
* good advice available
* feel I can pass on knowledge that I may have to people that will not laugh in my face and call me a 'tight-wad'
* many different boards for all aspects of money-saving etc etc
* am pointed in direction of good deals
* community feeling/ make friends

HTH

:heartpuls CG :heartpuls

sgx.saint

Thanks for the replies so far! Very helpful.

Happy to receive more though and now think about the following question in relation to Online Social Communities ....

"Is the internet a force for good?"

tyllwyd

Online social communities

Positive
- can build self-worth by contributing to debate (especially if housebound, suffering from social phobia etc)
- gather opinions/advice from a wide range of viewpoints

Negative
- friendships can become too intense too quickly, and people get hurt when they burn out
- people are not always who/what they seem to be
- online flirting can become unwanted harassment
- getting too involved with arguments online can have a negative impact on your 'real' life

Mrs_J_3

Positives
- Easy and fast access to a wide variety of advice and support.
- Anonymity, you may have an issue you don't think you can share with family or friends, but online you can vent/meep etc.
- Oppurtunity to make genuine friends. From other forums I have met loads of people, travelled the country to meet them and stay in thier houses etc. It's nice to think that in my everyday life I don't meet a lot of people who share my passions, but via online communities I've made real friendships and experienced things that I could only ever dream of before. And before you ask, it's nothing kinky, just equine pursuits. I owe a lot to online forums, this one has saved me money and kept me on the straight and narrow (usually:rolleyes:) and others have increased my social circle and given me the confidence to just go out and do things, even if that means doing things alone. My life would have been poorer in all senses without them.

Negatives
- Bad advice, you need to take everything on a forum with a pinch of salt. By all means take advice, but do a bit of research yourself.
- Anonymity, just as you can keep your identity quiet, so can others. I know of many people who've been subjected to virtual bullying, and forums that have had to restructure due to this.
- Gossip. I know of many a reputation brought into question due to completley unfounded rumours placed on open forums.
- Being a newbie. It can be hard to get your foot in the door in a new forum, and when you do pluck up to post those initial thoughts, the replys can be make or break as to wether you feel valued enough to continue. I don't post much here for that reason, yet I'm on here lurking most days. On other forums I'm up for gobbiest member awards.
- It's not real. Some people do get too involved, and are in danger of living through a online forum.
- It's deemed a bit sad to meet friends off t'internet. Yep, when I have internet meet-ups everyone thinsk I'm a bit sad and have no friends.

As for is the internet a force for good, I'd say it's not a force for anything, it's a tool. It's up to the individual users to dictate how it is used. I prefer to be nice, and if I've nothing constructive or nice to say, I withdraw from debate. There are others who spend their days delibirately posting inflammatory comments, the trolls. If anything these entities can destroy otherwise harmonious and useful communities.

lady_fuschia

I'm a member of two other online communities other than this one and I've found some of the benefits are:
- People seem not to judge you so much on your looks, age, background or job. I have "online friends" from all ages from about 15 to 60, from all over the world. People I've enjoyed talking to include a 14 year old "emo" teenager, a 55 year old American accountant, a white witch and a science obsessive who actually understands quantumn physics. These are people who I otherwise would probably not have been in a situation to, or considered, striking up a conversation with , not because I think less of them, but because I would just have assumed that we had no common interests.
- Communities usually have a specific theme or topic. In real life I'd be horrifically embarrassed to talk about my financial well-being (or lack thereof!) with my friends and colleagues. Partly because I'd be worried about being boring, partly because its sometimes difficult to talk about sensitive stuff like debts, and relative anonyminity makes it easier. Plus you know that people who are going, or have been through similar things will understand and probably have useful advice. And youdon't worry so much about being a bore because you know that people don't have to read your posts if they don't want to.
Negatives are:
- Flamewars! Not really a problem here but some people seem to feel the protection of their computer keyboard as a license to chuck around insults and be very very rude and personal with people they disagree with without fear of repercussion. Some people even enjoy causing a ruckus, or have an agenda they are determined to push. On one forum I'm a member of we had a nasty troll-type who could turn any post (however innocent or completely unnconnected) into a rant about immigrants in the space of about three minutes. It seems not be so much of a problem on MSE, although there's been a few nasties around from time to time.

- Can be addictive and sometimes you end up living out your life more online than you do in the "real" world. Because you can "create" a new version of yourself online, and because people, delighted by finding people they have so much in common with, are often very quick to form close friendships and flirtations- with all the bits you don't like edited out, its easy to get addicted to being that person and forget to be the "real" you and to work at real-life friendships and relationships, which can often seem like hard work compared to online connections.

sgx.saint

Sorry I have not replied in a few days.

Just to let you all know that my presentation was a success and my professor suggested that I had passed with a very very good grade.

So a big thanks to everyone that contributed to the thread. I really appreciate your input and the time taken to respond to my initial questions.

Have a beer one me

System

Anominty, unbiased/impartial and non predjucide advice, carefully considered advice - advice is a form of nostalga and its not easy to be patient with someone giving it because they dont always have enought time to formulate it, hence on here you can. The ability to express one's self in ways you wouldn't ordinarily face to face.

~evanesco~

sgx.saint wrote:

"Is the internet a force for good?"

I'd say so, obviously there are those that abuse the internet. But in general, it's a good thing. I belong to many online communities. This, CAB, and WW being my most influential. Others are my obsessions, especially Harry Potter, I'm 26, and officially a geek. The HP sites allow me to express my geekdom, whereas my 'real live' friends simply ingnore it!!

Evans. xox

taxi73

So glad you got a good grade...the posters on here always have useful info...only just found this thread so no point giving my opinion as you've already completed it!!