The Changing Meaning of Community

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the changing meaning and nature of community. It particularly focuses on the effect that virtual communities are having on our traditional concept of community. The paper defines community and discusses the complexities of community. It then looks at the example of communities in Toronto. Lastly, the paper defines and analyzes virtual communities and looks at their advantages and disadvantages.

From the Paper:

"The overall argument appears to be balanced because Native communities in remote areas of Canada are using the Internet. Furthermore, they are receiving support from all over Canada and other countries in their land claims and demands for self-government. The Internet is also creating new virtual communities in countries such as Nigeria and Mexico which are learning to use the technology to overcome their poverty. Inequality and the rise of urban societies have damaged community. Globalization in particular has created far worse social and economic inequality than has ever been experienced before. The Internet has the potential to create a new type of community, although there are new challenges at the present time than ever before (Hiller, 2005). This is because the Internet has the possibility of giving rise to interactions that never were possible in the urban environment. Community depends most of all on interests, and the Internet has been able to create new interests as well as new types of connections that were not available in the past. As Peck (1987) pointed out, the future of community and especially for virtual communities depends on how seriously we take the concept of community. Related to that, the priorities for the future have to be such goals as commitment, freedom, equality, and concern for authentic community."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aulakh, R. (2007). Somalis across city react with anger at U.S. air attack. Globe and Mail, January 7, 3.
• Hiller, H. (2005). Urban Canada: Sociological perspectives. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press.
• Lai, T. (2007). TTC wants website revamp. Toronto Star, January 8, 2.
• Nelson, M. (1999). Internet, the social barrier. Sociology 233/88. Vancouver, B.C.: Langara College. http://www.langara.bc.ca
• OMNITV (2007). Portuguese language documentary recalls 1977 Emanuel Jacques tragedy. Http://www.OMNITV.ca

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