This article outlines some of the key concepts in making virtual communities work. Or is it that the virtual community is an entirely new and original form of communication, one that is worthy of attention and regard. The latter holds that virtual communities are more than just messages flashed on the screen - they are an entire network of emotion and communication. They are a social and technological breakthrough. However, the former view is insistant upon the belief that community means more than just written messages between people - community needs a common location, heritage, and sometimes religious background.
Community needs real tangible human interaction.
The author here feels that technology has indeed come a long way, and that virtual communities are a feasible concept. The author defends the virtual community by pointing out that to very ill and incapacitated patients, the ability to communicate is incredibly welcomed. He suggests that we not put down the role of technology, that virtual communities are not necessarily de-humanizing. He points out that it is not the electronic connections that make a community, but the human ones. He is not attempting to replace people with computers - to eradicate real tangible relationships.