Community Paper  Is There a There in Cyberspace? John Barlow  Does the Internet Strengthen Community? William Galston

Barlow’s Argument Communities Exist in Cyberspace and are the Only Sort for Some Groups. A Place for the Heart in the Net. Information and Experience are Different.

Barlow’s Argument Not Much Diversity in Cyberspace. Failure of Communities in ’60s & ’70s. The Internet Built by Engineers.

Barlow’s Argument The Bond Between Virtual Communities: Deadheads. The New Frontier is Cyberspace. The Future Community in Cyberspace.

Galston’s Argument Sees Effects of Internet on Community Life. Contemporary American Society Structured by Two Cultural Forces:  High Value of Individual Choice  Longing for Community

Galston’s Argument Sees a Problem Arising Between Autonomy and Bonds. Solution: “Voluntary Community”. Low Barriers of Entry and Exit.

Galston’s Argument Online Groups vs. Communities. J. Snyder: Not a Community but a Club. Thomas Bender: Shared Understanding and a Sense of Obligation.

Galston’s Argument Four Structural Features of Community: –Limited Membership –Shared Norms –Affective Ties –Mutual Obligation

Galston’s Argument Limited Membership: –American Democracy in Peril? –Easy Exit = No Voice –Internally Homogenous Groups

Galston’s Argument Shared Norms: –Group Norms Develop. Affective Ties: –Feelings Exist Online –Visual and Tonal Cues –Simulating Identities

Galston’s Argument Mutual Obligation: –Neil Postman: No Evidence of Responsibility or Obligation Nessim Watson: Obligation Disappeared in Contemporary America.

Galston’s Argument Three Structural Doubts of Voluntary Community: –Do Not Promote Voice –Do Not Acknowledge Need for Authority –Do Not Roster Mutual Obligation Virtual Community: Not a Model of a Future Society