Virtual Communities

Virtual Communities in the internet involve rhizomic relationships "personal relationships". These occur over time where the personal relationships can develop and grow. So...when i think about networks throughout the internet, its like two or more people sharing a common interest in like an issue, a product etc and comment their opinion..this can then add more people all sharing their own beliefs establishing a network. The norms, social trust, co-ordination and co-operation that are associated with networks is social capital.
Communication can either have strong or weak ties..indiviuals shape communitites and communities shape indiviuals.

I personally believe that social communities are a great way for people to share a part of their identity and sare their opinion to a whole range of people over the internet. I recently heard of a person who had a medical condition, felt all alone and didnt have much knowledge of what it was so went online and came upon a network with a community having the same condition sharing their negative, postive experiences and sharing information about it. In the end, she formed strong ties between people over the internet, where she had felt so alone in that situation before....