This information was published originally on July 5, 1999; some of the URLs are no longer functional. You can still find the information though -- simply type in the URL that isn't working into archive.org.

 

I have been online since 1994, and back then, the media seldom, if ever, wrote about the Internet -- probably because there weren't yet lots of online horror stories to report.

Since then, the Internet has brought me in touch with many wonderful people and ideas, personally and professionally. Based on my work as VV Project manager and my personal experiences, I believe that online experiences often lead to increased volunteerism and face-to-face interaction, and that there are thousands -- millions -- of people out there using the Internet to make a difference in the health and well-being of their families, their communities, and the causes they love.

These many, many positive cyber experiences stand in stark contrast to two widely-cited studies that implied the Internet makes people depressed and isolated from friends and family. I think these studies are quite flawed and downright misleading, and I think the media hype around the studies' findings is inaccurate and sensationalist (the Online Journalism Review apparently agrees with me, per their article "Media Reporting on Internet Studies Misses Fundamental Problems").

There also seems to be an endless number of letters to Ann Landers and Dear Abby about how "The Internet Broke up my Marriage!!", and many people interviewed on major TV networks were quick to try to somehow connect the Littleton, Colorado school shootings to Internet use.

I'm very tired of reading how the Internet is making us all lonely and cranky. I was lonely and cranky long before the Internet came along (grin).

To counter these negative stories, this section of the VV Project site offers information and essays to illustrate how cyberspace is bringing us together, not closing us off to each other.

 
Related materials:

 

• Building an Internet Culture
  "In thinking about culturally appropriate ways of using technologies like the Internet, the best starting-point is with people -- coherent communities of people and the ways they think together. " An excellent essay by Phil Agree that discusses the importance of social networking to job development and performation, how the Internet provides a great opportunity for such networking, and how cyberspace needs to be promoted as a place for social interaction and prevented from becoming a corporate wasteland. Many real world examples of such social networking that have assisted companies and individuals are given, even ways in which developing countries can use the internet to the advantage of itself and its people.

   
  

• First Person: Benefits of Virtual Volunteering
  for People With Disabilities
  The Virtual Volunteering Project has received several testimonials from people with disabilities serving as online volunteers for various organizations, showing how virtual volunteering creates new opportunities for people who might otherwise not get to participate in community service.

   
  

• Net Connections Comfort, Counsel Gays
  Who are Isolated or Don't Feel Free to Come Out
  An article in USA Today from May 3, 2000. The Internet is becoming an important resource to gays who might find it difficult to make connections with other homosexuals in their local communities. "It would be an extremely lonely place as far as gay life and gay community if it weren't for the Internet," said Larry Lamond, who lives in the tiny town of Milo, Maine. For Lamond, the Internet provides support in his battle with the AIDS virus, allowing him to keep in touch with others afflicted with the disease. The Net is a vital source of information, especially for those from smaller towns and rural areas who don't have access to support groups like those in larger communities.

   
  

• Pew Internet and American Life Project release report
  showing the Internet is of social benefit to many users
  and showing a surge of women onto the Internet
  New York Times Article
  USA Today Article
  This study released May 10, 2000 indicates the Internet may actually strengthening users' family ties. Internet users in the study reported far more offline social contact than non-users. Women in particular said they found e-mail very useful in keeping in touch with friends and family. "It's clear that Internet users have a more robust social network than non-Internet users," said Lee Rainie, director of the project. "There doesn't seem like there's any diminution of social networks because people are spending a lot of time online." Nearly half of Internet users reported that they had a social network, but only 38 percent of non-users did. The more years respondents had been going online, the more likely they were to report that they had a social network.

   
  

• Examples of Experiences Involving Online Volunteers and Youth With Disabilities
  An index of real-life examples of how volunteers and youth with disabilities are interacting with others via Cyberspace, illustrating some of the limitless possibilities and benefits of virtual volunteering.

   
  

• Online Culture
  A brief how-to to help you learn the different styles of "personalities" online, interpret people's written communications and assist volunteers and managers alike in being clear and effective online. Includes links to other Web sites with information about online culture and online psychology, inculding academic researchers' information.

You may also want to refer your online volunteers (and all staff, actually) to these online Netiquette guides:

Netiquette Guidelines
http://www.dtcc.edu/cs/rfc1855.html
Includes an excellent bibliography for more information as well. By Sally Hambridge of Intel Corporation.

Netiquette
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/book/index.html
By Virginia Shea, published by Albion Books. This online edition contains all the text and graphics from the bound book.

online etiquette - netiquette uncensored
http://www.theistudio.com/netiquette/

Spam Is Not the Worst of It:
Email etiquette and related gripes
http://unquietmind.com/e-mail.html

Open Directory's Netiquette Links
http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Etiquette/

 
OTHER RESOURCES

 
E-Mail Communication and Relationships
Dr. John Suler of the Department of Psychology at Rider University, presents a very detailed document that explores the psychological dimensions of environments created by computers and online networks. "It is intended as an evolving conceptual framework for understanding the various psychological components of cyberspace and how people react to and behave within it." Part of an even larger work, Psychology of Cyberspace, also available on this Web site.

 
Online Community Toolkit
A great set of tools regarding online communities, from what they are to how to facilitate them to sample online community guidelines, rules and member agreements. This collection of helpful articles are by Full Circle Associates Nancy White, Sue Boettcher and Heather Duggan.

 
What's Working in Online Community Building
Resources from the Benton Foundation, including "Building Online Communities: Transforming Assumptions into Success", "Tips for Gaining More Experience in Online Community Building," and the transcripts from an online discussion hosted by the Benton Foundation Oct. 27 - Nov. 4 regarding building community on the Internet.

 
Social MUSHes and the
Anxiety of Communication
An abstract for a study by Christopher N. Larsen of Harvard on why online interactions are particularly appealing for those who experience anxiety during face-to-face conversation and for people with disabilities, as well as the characteristics that can emerge on an online community. This is part of the Journal of Virtual Environments, a "refereed electronic journal" which publishes academic research that relates to Virtual Environments or makes use of Virtual Environments. Of particular interest are psychological, anthropological, sociological approaches, as are the practical and technical aspects of creating, maintaining and administrating VEs.

 
Communication and Trust in Global Virtual Teams
an in-depth academic study by Dr. Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa that "explores the challenges of creating and maintaining trust in a global virtual team," particularly those that involve people of different cultures and interest, and varying degrees of commitment.

 
WELL Community Guidelines
http://www.thewell.com/conf/guidelines.html
an excellent example of rules for online communities and moderators. Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link (WELL) began in 1985, starting with a dialog between the writers and readers of the Whole Earth Review. The WELL is now a "cluster of electronic villages on the Internet." There are more than 260 Conferences open to WELL members, covering subject categories such as "Parenting," "The Future," or "Pop Culture." WELL members have founded advocacy organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and their experiences have been used to explore online culture and community (such as in Howard Rheingold's The Virtual Community.

 
Psychology of Virtual Communities
Created and maintained by Storm A. King. An index of online journals and e-mail discussion groups that deal with the psychology of virtual communities and links to sites for researchers interested in the psychology of virtual communities; AND, research articles and essays by Storm A. King about Virtual Therapy, Online Self-Help Groups and The Psychology of Cyberspace.

 
Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies
A not-for-profit organization working to research, study, teach, support and create diverse and dynamic elements of cyberculture. RCCS seeks to establish and support ongoing conversations about the emerging field, to foster a community of students, scholars, teachers, explorers, and builders of cyberculture, and to showcase various models, works-in-progress and online projects.

 
Online Communities: Opportunities and Challenges
Includes information on getting a community to become "effective online," and lessons from experience. By European Telework Online, "the European and International focal point for information, news and discussion on Telework, Teletrade and Telecooperation."

 
PsyberPsychology: A Literature Review Pertaining to the Psycho/Social Aspects of Multi-User Dimensions (MUDS) in Cyberspace
by James Sempsey III of Temple University. The history and development of virtual groups are briefly explained, with a particular emphasis placed upon the evolution of MUD environments. The "current" state of research in this area (gathered from multiple disciplines and originally published in 1996) is examined and the various emergent psycho/social phenomena of MUD interaction are identified and examined.

 
Using Real-Time Communications
With Volunteers
A growing number of organizations are using real-time communications -- usually called "chats" -- to hold online meetings with volunteers, or to allow volunteers to interact with staff, clients, or each other. This resource provides more information on chats -- what they are, how agencies are using them to interact with volunteers, tips to encourage and maintain participation in chats, and where to find chat software. This resource was developed by the Virtual Volunteering Project.

 
Internet discussion groups for volunteers
Many agencies have created e-mail-based discussion groups or newsgroups for their volunteers. These asynchronous online tools allow agencies to easily make announcements to volunteers, and sometimes also allow volunteers to interact with each other, get suggestions and feedback, and ask questions. They can also serve as a written record of participation, concerns, trends and issues for volunteers. Unlike chats, volunteers can participate whenever they wish, and they don't need special software to do so. This resource was developed by the Virtual Volunteering Project.

 
Connecting Humans: Essays on the Positive Side of Online Culture
Information, essays and examples that illustrate how cyberspace is bringing us together, not closing us off to each other. The kickoff essay is how Fan-Based Online Groups Use the Internet to Make a Difference. Includes examples of such groups, with comments from members regarding their online philanthropic activities and what makes them successful. This resource was developed by the Virtual Volunteering Project.

 
Groupware Links
CSCW or "Computer-Supported Cooperative Work" is the study of how people work together using computer technology. Typical types of applications include e-mail, awareness and notification systems, video conferencing, chat systems, multi-player games, and real time shared applications (such as collaborative writing or drawing). This site offers more information about CSCW, as well as many, many helpful links.

 
The forums of the Virtual Community Center at Electric Minds. The Center is made up of many online discussions covering the social aspects of working together online, primarily as an online community and in terms of many-to-many communications.

 

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