Driskell, Goodspeed and Kidder’s pieces all discuss the effect of online communities on modern society. My expert question focused on Driskell’s discussion of cyberspace and its influence on community. More specifically, my question addressed Driskell’s “lost community thesis,” which argues the necessity of identification with place for community (376). Driskell claims that relationships that operate only online lack an identification with place, and therefore lack the same, true intimacy that one experiences from face-to-face interactions. However, all three readings note that online communities are spaces that allow individuals with similar interests to connect with each other. This observation leads scholars to question whether or not these relationships can be considered real. I wanted to know what my classmates thought about authenticity in relation to these arguments. Does authenticity matter when determining if a community is real or not? Because members get to choose their online groups, can it be argued that these communities are actually more authentic? Is there something to be said about groups that are thrust upon us by history, family, or cultural experiences? Is authenticity necessary as a condition of community?
A few classmates expressed their difficulty in seeing how an online community could be considered more authentic than a community one is linked to by history, family, or cultural experiences. While they agreed with the authors that the bonds and relationships that one forms in an online community are real, several people stated their belief that sharing interests does not necessarily create an authentic bond. However, other classmates said they think authenticity depends on what the online community is about. For example, if someone needed a support group that perhaps they are unable to find in person or within their home community, this outside support group could be considered authentic (Class Discussion, October 23rd). So, while on the whole it appeared that authenticity is necessary as a condition of community, this authenticity may or may not originate from history, family, or cultural experiences.
My expert question also asked the class to think about these readings in relation to Karyn Lacy’s discussion of strategic assimilation and authentic blackness. Lacy argues,
“the construction of an authentic black racial identity is incomplete in the absence of meaningful interactions with other blacks” (183). In this sense, it appears Lacy highly values history, family and cultural expectations in regards to authenticity, repeatedly stating that “they can’t forget they are black” (153) and therefore must maintain strong ties to the black community. Though the class did not really discuss this part of the question, I feel as though these two discussions can be brought together. I think Lacy would argue that in no way can an online community be considered authentic. Lacy would argue that one’s upbringing and one’s identification with place is too important in developing a sense of community that anything less should not be considered authentic. Sure, online communities are an extension-of-reach of the same desire to find and connect with people—but no incorporation into another community can outweigh a “local place where one was born, raised, and died” (Driskell, 376). I think Lacy would argue that the “inherently intimate, holistic relationships” (Driskell, 376) that are a result of meaningful interactions cannot and should not surrender to online relationships.
I think this notion of online communities is a really interesting concept and a concept that has been troubling scholars for some time especially since it is a relatively new idea. In my other class we have been reading Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam which explores the decline of community and civic society in the United States. Putnam concludes that one of the biggest drivers of this decline is the emergence of the television and other electronic devices. While it is evident that technology has driven some of our communities into cyber space, I struggle with the notion of which community is “better.” While I may personally prefer a community that is rooted in family, history and roots in a place, this is not an achievable community to some. Some people may feel isolated in the space in which they live or grew up in and the internet has allowed them to reach a new demographic of people and have exposed them to ideas and cultures that they would have never been able to experience before. Moreover, some people have trouble obtaining personal connection to other people face to face and the internet has allowed them a level of security and protection which allows them to open up to people. Although I personally believe and most scholars believe that face to face communities are superior to internet communities I have a difficult time claiming that these communities are better. Ultimately, communities should only be judged by the people who are apart of them and are benefitting from them.
It is very interesting to compare the views of Driskell, Goodspeed, and Kidder to that of Lacy’s opinions in regards to the authenticity of online communities. After reading this blog post and listening to our class discussion about this expert question, I agree that Lacy would reject the idea that authentic communities can be built through virtual worlds. This being said, I would push back against this view and argue that what a person deems “authentic” in a community is completely dependent upon the individual and their circumstance. I do not think you can accurately compare what a seventy five year old man sees as an authentic community to what a teenage girl sees as a communal space. Because both individuals grew up in drastically different time periods with differing technological advancements and concepts of community, it would be useless to try and ask the broad question of what they believe is more authentic and expect a congruent response. These variances are also not limited to time differences as they can also stem from differences in culture or class even if the same space is being occupied. Overall, this question does an excellent job of comparing the works of separate authors with differing views of what they believe an authentic community entails.