Systems and community Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Systems and community - Essay Example It is generally accepted that the strength and resilience of a community is directly proportional to the frequency at which individual members communicate with each other. Internet has revolutionized the way people communicate with each other and it has spawned numerous internet communities where individual members get together and communicate with each other on specific issues much like real world communities. However, this communication and interaction is only of a virtual nature and several researchers feel that a virtual interaction cannot be a substitute for real life interaction that can be achieved through face to face news and information exchanges between members, or, through a very common activity as playing a group game. But there are an almost equal number of social researchers that are of the opinion that the nature of communities is undergoing a metamorphosis where the traditional concept of community is gradually fading out with the internet communities filling in that void. This group of researchers contends that internet communities are not necessarily restricted to the virtual world and there are increasing instances where exchange of physical resources is being done among virtual community members. So, a new setup where both virtual and real co-exists in their relevant spheres and complement each other is fast taking a concrete and irreversible shape. This group of researchers feels that in spite of a stupendous level of connectivity fostered by internet, the spirit of community and civic engagement is collapsing and members of the society are becoming increasingly disconnected with each other leading to irredeemable loss of social capital. This is more accentuated by the easy and cheap alternative provided by the internet where individuals can interact globally on issues that might be slightly remoter than the more immediate issues that