Subject: Is There a There in Cyberspace?(abstract)

From: [email-masked] (Everly Denise Brown)
Date: 22 Feb 1995 02:54:04 GMT

Everly Brown							Feb. 21, 1995
LIS 341								Abstract #2

	Can cyberspace be a community? The essence of community is 
explored within this article, and is defined as more than the  simple 
contact and exchange of information which typically characterize life 
on the Internet. The Internet is found to lack 
the spirit and the experiences that define physical communities. Missing, 
are body language, tone of voice, beauty, weather, wildlife, 
architecture, music, smells, and sunlight. These are many of the 
qualities that the author feels make life real and experience of a 
community  ring true.
	Two other factors discussed as major  hinderances to  the existence 
of a true cyberspace community are  the lack of diversity on the 
Internet (i.e., most users are white males), and the fact that the 
Internet is a contrived community. The Net was almost exclusively 
built by persons with engineering degrees; it is described as falling far 
short of representing the complexities and alternatives of real life, and 
is said to whitewash the adversity and pain common in true human 
communities. The voices of women, children, the elderly, the poor and 
underpriviledged, etc. are some of the under represented populations 
focused upon.
	Human connections in cyberspace are recognized within the article.  It 
is admitted that people do find love, companionship and solace through the Net. 
The question of whether cyberspace will be able to function as a 
community is never firmly resolved. But, it is purported that people will 
likely find an even deeper appreciation of their physical reality after 
spending much time in virutality.

Barlow, John Perry. (1995, March-April). "Is There a There in 
Cyberspace?" UTNE Reader, 68, 52-56.