Tutorial Six: The internet and online communities

Either search online for a community which interest you or choose one of the provided online communities to investigate. Make sure your selected a community that comprises some form of online forum, discussion page or chat room. You may also wish to see if your community has a Wikipedia entry.

Provide the web address and the name of the community you are investigating

www.kapitiharriers.org.nz


What is the brief or focus of this community

The Kapiti Harriers club organises a range of sporting events such as road races, triathlons, mountain racing, kayaking, cross-country, walking, duathlons, cycling and multi-sport events.


What services are provided? How interactive is this site? How can people contribute?

The service provides a syllabus for 2008 events, results, information, entry forms for up and coming events, club archives and summaries on the previous events that have being held.


Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on why people choose to contribute to this community. What is it they are seeking?

Why people choose to contribute to a community can be:

• Find it addictive
• Anticipated reciprocity
• Increased recognition
• Sense of community
Cut and paste an example of the type of topics being discussed (you may have to provide a context to your excerpt).
“Club runs are held on Saturday afternoons or Sunday mornings, sometimes both.
The syllabus provides information on club activities throughout the season.”
“The club caters for serious athletes (members have competed at Olympic and World Championship
triathlon and duathlon races), also for average competitors (such as your web editor, who tries his
best, sometimes surprising himself and others) and social athletes.”
Retrieved from (www.kapitiharriers.org.nz) on the 23rd of May2008


Considering material presented during the course and make comment on the potential ethical issues that may arise in this community e.g. lack of identity and accountability.

The potential ethical issues:
• Results are not private, they are available for the public to view
Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on the benefits this community holds over traditional notions of community e.g. communities reliant on geographic proximity

Benefits:
• Able to retrieve large amounts of information
• Connect with others in different locations
• Same or similar interests
• Can foster understanding and unity
• Free service
• Silent observation
• Fast way to receive information
Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment what this community lacks or can not provide which traditional communities can.

• It does not provide detail
• Does not provide instant results
• Limited communication tools
• Requires someone to maintain and manage site