A Must Read: The future of online communities, now.

[Toby]

Can anyone copy & paste it? I don't have an account...

For future reference:

Bugmenot

[shera]

Is this thing a parody?

This occurred to me too. The writer must be having a little fun after some caffeine saturated nights of internet research.

Marshall McLuhan's analysis of media also comes to mind. Internet communities seem yet another extension. I don't sweat it any more than I sweat using a car or a shovel. I think I do pretty well with keeping technology from ruling me rather than the other way around. As for teenagers, haven't they always gone gung-ho crazy about this, that, or the other? And then they grow up.

As far as maggots go, the members of the community seem more interesting than the existence of the community itself. I've accepted and embraced our little village without further angst. I do think about what kind and how much content I want to contribute and how much of my time should be devoted to reading and writing here.

Anyway, thanks for posting the link, yogachik. I enjoyed the read and also wandered around the NYT a bit.

[Dromond]

For future reference:

Bugmenot

Totally excellent link. Major thumbs.

[Out_to_lunch]

That article is just kind of sad. I don't know how people can spend that much time on the computer doing that kind of stuff.

Being 19 I guess I am part of "the future," but this "future" is not going to be living that way. Sure I have IM, a facebook thing and I post here every now and then, but if you look, ive posted around 500 times in two or three years, not every other hour. And more of half of those things he listed I've never heard of before.

I don't know if everybody's house is like my house, but mine has a phone and a front door in it. With the phone I can talk to people I alreday know, and once I open the door...the possibilities are endless.

Edit: I oppened the link OK and don't have an account

[13]

For future reference:

Bugmenot

Well played! I've got it bookmarked now.

[PaSucks]

Sure. Do you prefer murderer or murderee?

It would be so cool if you put me in their as well. If you remember, I did read your other book and thought it was good. You should let me be some guy that gets the shit kicked out of him by the main character for hitting on his girlfriend in a bar. Or maybe I get run over by a car, or bitten by a sea turtle and then die of salmanila!

[freshies]

TGR is cool, but basing your total self identity/self-worth based on virtual communities is just sad. kids today....go outside and play, damnit, put down the X Box/cell phone/IM/Blackberry/ and ride your bike, climb a tree, build a fort, play pick up baseball/basketball/street hockey/soccer, throw wggs at houses and run away, etc....that's the shit we did when we were young.

As for 20+ people, the internet is a good tool, basis for connecting, but shouldn't replace actual relationships and friendships. Just an opinion from a 38 year old (who is tech savy)....maybe I am outta touch.

[freshie247]

I can't believe you quoted Marshall McLuhan, I'm flashing back to that scene in "Annie Hall" & LMFAO!

" GOD... what I wouldn't give for a sock full of manure right now!"

Even if this chick is having a bit of fun with it,it is a sad state of events,& a dismal harbinger of things to come,the disconnection of society . As much as I enjoy reading MD9's pulp, I'd infinitely prefer to ski with him any day.People's skin is getting thinner & they are feeling the need for more insulation from the power that comes from interpersonal communications & relations. Once the "groinal socket " is introduced into the computer world,the world as we know it will cease to exist!

Thanks Yogles for the thought provoking post.

Marshall McLuhan's analysis of media also comes to mind. Internet communities seem yet another extension. I don't sweat it any more than I sweat using a car or a shovel. I think I do pretty well with keeping technology from ruling me rather than the other way around. As for teenagers, haven't they always gone gung-ho crazy about this, that, or the other? And then they grow up.