Community

jen macy

radio?

Tom and Juli had been friends for 2 years. They would talk, laugh, share stories and advice. As they were chatting one evening, they realized that Juli had just moved to Tom’s city. They decided to meet one another, live and in person, for the very first time. Tom and Juli met in an online community they frequented based on a shared interest. The American sense of community has altered over the last few decades, as the physical reality of community has transformed. As rural communities are abandoned in favor of the opportunities that suburban life offers, we’ve come to live amongst strangers. We pass people on the street, never meeting their eyes or speaking. We don’t know the names of our neighbors. Amidst all this separation, a new kind of community has arisen, based on shared needs and interests rather than geography. These communities are but a click away, accessible through your home or office p.c. The internet provides a location for people of similar interests to find one another in a community forum. We can sign on to share stories of bereavement or triumph, to seek advice or share our wisdom. We bring people living a world away into our homes as friends and advisors. We get to know faceless strangers, enjoying them for their shared love of p.c. games, or astrology, or parenting; the possibilities are endless. When we have a particular question, we might receive more relevant information in a few typed words than in hours of spoken ones.

Fortunately, our ability to travel has kept up with our ability to communicate, and when we find those familiars, those friends, it’s possible to bring our virtual community into real, physical being. Even without the nearness that usually comes with friendship, on-line communities put us in touch with people who understand a particular issue. When we have questions, or need advice, we can often find answers in those special interest communities on the Web. It’s one place where a sense of community can still be found, despite the geographic isolating choices people make.