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Everyone wants to be a part of a crowd, accepted and to some degree, adored. The Internet provides services such as Myspace.com, chat rooms and international electronic mail, and it is not hard to see what the entire buzz has been about for the last several years. Before I go too far into the numerous benefits of online communities, and there are quite a few, let me first state that as with any social whirlpool in our brief lives there are none so widespread and deeply moving as the World Wide Web. Here are just a few things that fall under my list of "pros" regarding Internet communities:

Freedom of Selection

Just as you are free to choose which web page to go to, which services to register for, and what information you present about yourself, so too can the audience choose to love or hate you based on their own experiences and thoughts. People you are likely to get along with are more likely to welcome your presence, opinions and actions, most times letting you know through various mediums.

Of course, the same is true on the other side of the spectrum. Flamers will flame, haters will hate, and those who desire to indulge in battles of wits unarmed will prove themselves so if they so choose.

They do not like me! Time to change screen names!

As an example, let us say that Fred signed up for a chat service and is typing under the nickname "HotFreshFred." When Fred enters one of the new chat rooms for the first time, he doesn't seem to make a very good impression so he logs off, changes his screen name and then logs back in, behaving slightly different to engage a different reaction. In the end, he may make a friend or two, and if he does not mention his first visit/name, many folks will not recognize him as the same fellow they just did not like. This is unique to the online environment since in face-to-face interactions we can definitely tell the difference between animals and ourselves.

Learn more about this author, Charlotte Anderson.
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