#1

This blog is set up as part of my Communities Online module at Leeds Met University.

The aim of this blog is to record my thoughts on a number of issues, all relating around online communities and discussions from the lectures.

The format of this module surprised me at first, I think I must have misread the module guide - I was under the impression this module was coursework and exam based - though it turns out the marks come from this 12 week reflective blog, plus an analytical exercise. Not that I’m complaining, anything’s better than sitting through an exam...

I’ve taken a quick look at the WebCT discussion forums, and it looks pretty dull at the moment. A couple of people look like they’re trying to have their presence felt – even if it means posting a lot of unrelated comments. As I started on this course as a full time student a few years ago and dropped it to part time, I know a few people who have taken part in similar exercises and I’ve been told it will most likely get very cliquey… a few people who post like they have nothing better to do, with the majority of people steering well clear. It will be interesting to see which route these forums have head down in a few months…

To get some things clear, I don’t have a problem with online communities. I was an avid user of chat rooms ‘back in the day’ when I was 15 and using AOL. I’ve been a member of several forums for years, such as Tech help boards (to aid the web design work I do for a living), a picture blog, and other various forums. I HAVE found in the past few years that I’ve become detached to this method of communication, and am definitely losing interest. This isn’t due to the standards of the message boards, but more the fact that I have more important things to do with my time – Uni, paid work etc. I’m looking forward to this module as I’m doing something I’ve never done before, which is look at online communities in an objective sense and attempt to analyse their contribution to the feeling of ‘community’. Perhaps it may even get me back on track and turn me into an Internet Addict again ;)