Week Four-Topic One-Blanchard.

A: The term "community" is over-used according to Harris (taken from Blanchard's text). believe there is many important characterstics to describe a blog or forum (and so on) as a "community", these are a variety of things. This includes a feeling of membership and beloning. I think that people on these forums etc, often have thigns in common and tehrefore feel like a collective. This is especially binding if the subject is quite nice and people in the "real" world do not njoy or understand, so the online "community" is their only outlet. This is emphasised with Mcmillian and Chavis view that communitis are achieved by a "fulfilment of needs", which can often be achieved by this sense of similairity in interests etc. In n onlnie "community" a sense of shared emotion is neede.A shared sense of history and "community spirit" is also needed, the indvdiuals need to work together as a group. to erase problems and form matual bonds and respect.

B: "Virtual settlement"is a sueful concept ecause it helps us understand the virtual communities. The "settlement" of online comntities are aspects such as its posting, structure and content. This is useful in understanding why the posters and membrs f the community are the way they are-how and why they post and so on.