Received: from wpo.it.luc.edu (wpo.it.luc.edu [147.126.110.24]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.7.6/8.7.3/CNS-4.0p) with SMTP id PAA14126 for ; Wed, 14 May 1997 15:45:50 -0600 (MDT) Received: from LUCHICAGO-Message_Server by wpo.it.luc.edu with Novell_GroupWise; Wed, 14 May 1997 16:45:22 -0500 Message-Id: Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 15:32:13 -0500 From: David Katz To: socgrad@csf.colorado.edu, jcalabro@osf1.gmu.edu Subject: Re: Virtual Identities and Communities ...refs ??? -Reply Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Disposition: inline Jeanne-- I agree with you that the Internet is a medium in which marginalized groups can build community--I have found this to be the case in my own research on Neo-Pagans. However, I am highly skeptical of any claim that the Internet can be used to overcome inequalities. Let's face it, outside of Bill Gates' fantasy land, economic class (and associated educational opportunities) will continue to be a significant factor in who gets Internet access. Also, I'm not sure how forming virtual communities translates into the "cultural authority" that you speak of. A marginalized group that has a strong sense of community identity is still marginalized. David Katz Graduate Student Loyola University Chicago --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> "Jeanne A.B. Calabro" 05/13/97 12:22am >>>A lot of people worry about the current self-selection of membership in these communities, because there is a threshold of skills and education and economics in order to have the means to access the internet. After my research, however, I am really excited about the potential for the internet to overcome many of the inequalities experienced by marginal populations in terms of having voice, cultural authority, and access, that is, once computers are more readily available to all.