In a nearby neighborhood, when Alpha McPherson learned that an insect exterminator was planning to store pesticides near his home on Georgia Avenue in Washington, he wanted to fight the move, but didn't know how. Within 24 hours, McPherson's online neighbors provided him with compelling information on the toxic chemicals in question, tips on how to lodge a protest with the city's bureaucracy and offers to help. McPherson and his neighbors mobilized so quickly and effectively that the District government, not known for its efficiency, denied the exterminator's application in no time flat. Value of online networks supported by research A few years ago, Microsoft did a study to measure the value of neighborhood networks. More recently, two University of Toronto sociologists conducted a three-year study of the impact of an online network on a nearby suburb.
Some people still think that communication over the computer is too impersonal.
But the Internet is more than just another organizing tool, more than a telephone or a photocopier. But not everyone has a computer, and some people are computer phobic. McPherson worries that it might. I like the passing of information, especially regarding crime. It's a great way for neighbors to stay in touch.