Virtual Communities

For your parents’ generation, community means

friends and neighbours, people at the shops and
school. But for the younger networked
generation, friendship and the idea of community
is changing all the time. So what does community
mean these days?

Networking sites are revolutionising the way we

find new things and how we communicate.
The sites give you your own online space which
you personalise with a profile, photos, music and
lists of your favourite films, music, videos and
books. You browse to find other people who like
the same things as you, and of course, you can
chat.

The technology is amazing, but its effects on our

community are even more significant. People
who live hundreds of kilometres from the nearest
town will never feel lonely again. They can have the same friends and enjoy the same
fashions as people who live in a big city. People with specialised interests can instantly
meet others who share their hobby. Nobody can see or hear you, so shy people can
communicate with the same confidence as the most sociable people in the community,
and the culture of sharing and communicating has positive effect on everybody. But
there are people who doubt using internet.

A recent survey in the United Kingdom has shown that the number of people who do
not intend to get internet access has risen. These people, who are known as 'net
refuseniks', make up 44% of UK households, or 11, 2 million people in total. The
research also showed that more than 70 percent of these people said that they were not
interested in getting connected to the internet. This number has risen from just over
50% in 2005, with most giving lack of computer skills as a reason for not getting
internet access, though some also said it was because of the cost.

The cost of getting online is going

down and internet speeds are
increasing, so many see the main
challenge to be explaining the
relevance of the internet to this
group. This would encourage
them to get connected before
they are left too far behind. The
gap between those who have
access to and use the internet is
the digital divide, and if the gap
continues to widen, those without
access will get left behind and miss out on many opportunities, especially in their
careers.

The world gets smaller every day, while electronic communities grow. However,
although virtual communities are quick, easy and fun, we must never forget the
importance of family, neighbours and school. Communities could not exist if everybody
was a hikikomori.

A) Choose the best answer. Circle A, B, C or D.

1. What does the writer say about the effects of internet on community?
a) The internet has many negative effects on people’s lives.
b) The internet never affects people’s social life.
c) Although internet has good effects on society, people should also give importance to their
real network.
d) The internet has some positive effects.

2. What would a reader learn about networking from the text?

a) You can upload anything you want from your personal life and communicate easily.
b) You can’t give information about yourselves.
c) Only people who like your profile can chat with you.
d) There are no limits in the networking sites.

3. Which of the following best describes the writer’s attitude toward people who do not
intend to get internet access?
a) As the writer knows the positive results of internet, there will be no problem about people
who do not intend to get internet access.
b) People who do not intend to get internet access will have no future.
c) They will get poorer as they can’t afford internet access.
d) Without internet connection, people will experience bad effects on their professions.

4. In the sentences “these people said that they were not interested in getting.” “they” refers
to…
a) all the 'net refuseniks'
b) more than 70 percent of the people in the UK
c) more than 70 percent of 'net refuseniks'
d) 44% of UK households

5. In the sentence, “Communities could not exist if everybody was a hikikomori.”

“hikikomori.” means…
a) A person who uses the internet more than 5 hours in a day.
b) A person who communicates with the networking sites but doesn’t relate real community.
c) A person who communicates with the networking sites.
d) A very quick and comfortable person on the net.
B) Circle true (T), false (F). Circle your answers according to the text called “Virtual
Communities”.
1. T F More people in the UK do not intend to get internet access than before.
2. T F The majority of people in the UK are 'net refuseniks'.
3. T F Most of those without internet access don’t want to get it.
4. T F The minority of the people surveyed in 2005 weren't interested in
having internet access.
5. T F The main reason for not getting internet access is the cost.
C) Answer the questions.

1. How can internet encourage shy people?

……………………………………………………………………………………………
2. How can you describe virtual community?
.……………………………………………………………………………………………
3. What does digital divide mean?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
4. What would help 'net refuseniks' to get connected before they are left too far behind?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
5. What is the writer’s main purpose to write the text?
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Answer Key:
A) 1.C 2.A 3.D 4.C 5.B
B) 1.T 2.F 3.T 4.F 5.F
C)
1. Nobody can see or hear you, so shy people can communicate with the same confidence as
the most sociable people in the community.
2. People can communicate fast and easily, people from far villages can also have friends
from all over the world.
3. The gap between those who have access to and use the internet is the digital divide.
4. The cost of getting online is going down and internet speeds are increasing. This would
help them.
5. The writer’s main purpose is to describe the virtual community (and its effects on real life.)