But in many ways, the real action for extremists on the Internet lies elsewhere. While many people will visit a hate site once or twice, even the committed typically want to move on to venues where real discussion takes place. Students of the Net have found that in order to flourish, Web sites must create a sense of community, a feeling that you will find new ideas and people who will engage your mind and interests. Otherwise, visitors may view a site on one or two occasions, but find little reason for returning regularly. But while a sense of community is very difficult to engender on static Web sites, it is natural to the lively exchanges that typify Net discussion groups.
Chatters engage in direct, unmediated discussions that flesh out their pre-existing views.
For those who are not members of hate groups, these venues allow a safe exploration of extremist ideology one in which no physical commitment is made. For people who are members, discussion groups have been likened to a virtual cross-burning a kind of hatefest in which participants reinforce one another s racist views. Expert opinion on these topics is not unanimous. Some believe that Web sites do significantly aid recruiting, and they point to the handful of cases where there is some evidence of this. Others say the sites have virtually no impact, except perhaps to take people out of active life in the movement and park them at a computer.