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Even after the long discussion of community I still kinda hold to what I thought about it before we even had the discussion. A community can be defined by groups of people connected to each other by either one or a combination of the following things: geography, interests, desires, hobbies, responsibility, ect. Some times you voluntarily chose to be a part of these communities but other time you have no choice, weather I like it or not I am in a community with those people that live in my apartment complex, regardless if I like them or have similar interests. That relationship can be best defined by the idea that if something were to happen to our building like the loss of power then it would effect us all. However there are other communities which we choose to be a part. If I am on a basketball team then I am a member of that community. One thing happens to the team it effects us all, but if I simply choose to exit that community I can and therefore avoid the recent effects on the community. Now I relation to the internet, it gives much more options for these communities, and also the convenience of leaving a community whenever you want. With just a click of your button you withdraw all association and responsibility from your community. That can be rather gratifying to people as they are forced into communities in the real world. For example of someone wages war against America, I have no choice, it affects me. It is much easier to click the button then it is to move out of the country.

The latest class discussion brought some interesting ideas about the internet and the way it is impacting our lives. I thought the group that led the discussion did a great job of keeping things moving and bringing up relevant questions. The discussion turned to a rather moral issue, which in a way makes it ver hard to discuss the matter seeing as we all have different moral standards. The vaules and ideals that one person holds on morals is different from another. One may see nothing wrong with pornography while another may see that as horrible wrong. Its not like discussing something that is accepted by all people as being good or bad. For example a topic of air pollution which we all agree is bad, you would just discuss the most effective way to deal with it. So though i thought some intelligent statements were given i don't feel like any headway was made.

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The idea that i may influence another human being through these means, when i would otherwise have zero effect is a pretty incredible thing. The level of incredible only matters if that influence is for good.