Virtual community of Facebook

Virtual community has a similar definition as “community” in that it can be defined as a unified body of people sharing common interests, ideas, and feelings in a virtual space, whereas virtual space is the only difference. I found that for me to identify virtual communities I reside in, I had to first define virtual community in a way that I understood. After doing that task I found that I reside in these four communities Facebook, twitter, blogging, Angel. Even though I listed 4 communities I am going to discuss one. Facebook seems to be where I am most active and have formed the most relationships or renewed relationships. I think what I like the most about facebook is, at first I interacted with people I already had a relationship. However I found that as time went on I met new people that I would never have met because we are geographically far away from each other. I also reconnected and expanded relationships with people I had brief encounters years ago but because of common interests in our lives today we not only speak on facebook but have used other means of communication, like texting, phone, and in person. In terms of space we do not have to be in a physical space to talk with each other. I am able to go online and talk on a daily basis with friends and co-workers I might not get to see very often because our lives are so busy or we are not in the same physical space very often. The barrier to this community is acceptance. I get to choose who I accept and deny access to my posts or information. They cannot enter my virtual space if I do not want them to enter. However if they are friends with one of my friends they can see postings of their friends however I have the choice to keep those friends or get rid of them. Ok that sounds harsh. Other barriers to facebook would understand how it works. When I first started I was very confused as to who could see what I was doing and where I should post if I wanted it to be viewed publicly or privately. Terminology was also a barrier I do not understand what wall referred to and how did I get to my friends walls. If I had not been comfortable with computers or willing to try I would not have been able to join this community.

Cyberspace: First Steps

I was very impressed with this essay and how Benedikt truly understood where we were headed in technology. As an older student I have experienced life in a world without knowing or even thinking about a virtual world. That was truly science fiction in my time as a kid. I found that when I read all of the definitions on cyberspace in Benedikt’s essay all of them have merit, however, number 3, 6, and 9 seemed to be the closest to how I would define cyberspace.

“The tablet become a page become a screen become a world, a virtual world. Everywhere and nowhere, a place where nothing is forgotten and yet everything changes.”
This one shows the progression of time and technology where we started in a physical realm moving towards a virtual realm. It shows the vastness of the virtual realm. We can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It boggles my mind when I think about how vast our world has become and how quickly it has occurred.

“Through its myriad, unblinking video eyes, distant places and faces, real or unreal, actual or long gone, can be summoned to presence. From vast databases that constitute the culture’s deposited wealth, every document is available, every recording is playable, and every picture is viewable. Around every participant, this: a laboratory, and instrumented bridge; taking no space, a home presiding over a world, and a dog under the table.”
In class we talked about the differences in freedom that countries experience as to whether the information they can access is filtered or allowed to flow freely. If cyberspace was allowed to be accessed equally and freely from all people on this earth we would then have access to every recording, picture, and document. I have to admit I was not sure what was meant by the dog under the table but I still liked this definition.

The last one we read out loud in class and when you think of the realm of pure information I think about it in the terms of 0,1’s or binary which is in essence pure information. It is when we start to interpret this information that it is no longer pure. The process of interpretation adds our own preconceived notions, ideals, and experiences which taints the information we are viewing. I think that is why I liked this definition, it touched upon the physical world very vividly and I could visualize how messy and crowded our physical world has become. With cyberspace it is limitless without bounds like infinity.

About Nancy

As you can see from my title, my name is Nancy. I will start off by sharing something about my beliefs. I believe that investment in today's youth is essential. I believe that actions speak louder than words. I believe in one God and that we are saved through his son Jesus Christ. I believe that we never stop learning.

I like to keep busy, a few of my interests include:
Going to the movies
Teaching Sunday school to 7th and 8th grade kids
Running a sound board for a local band Brazen Layver and the youth band at my church
Hiking
Bicycling
Music concerts
Going to the Oregon Coast
Spelunking (exploring caves)
Hanging out with my four daughters

Educational goals:
Finish my Bachelors
Pursue a Masters in Educational Leadership in conjunction with a doctorate in Community college leadership

Travel goals: Ireland, Norway, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii

Something new:
I got my motorcycle endorsement this past year and I am planning on buying a motorcycle this year.

That is enough about me.