One thing the online world does for community is become the great equalizer, even if it is only initially. Without seeing someone face to face, it is not as easy to make judgements or establish prejudices when the only thing you know is their name (or their "screen name"). In this way it could be easier for people of different backgrounds and experiences to come together and discuss a certain topic or general interest, without necessarily focusing on a person's background or personality, per say.
I see this as an important aspect of online communities not only for my particular work setting, where the two biggest populations are those about to retire and those just getting started in their career, but also for educational and work settings everywhere. In many different ways, people have attempted to bring different generations together, some successfully and others not so successfully, but I believe the online world enables a different level of bringing people of common interest together regardless of their age, location, occupation, race or gender. What this means for community at large is that people can relate to and commune online with others they may not have given a second glance on the street, but it also means there is the potential for a great community of sharing knowledge and learning from each other - bringing generations closer together instead of estranging them from each other.
Certainly once you get to talking to someone online you discover different aspects of their background, experiences, and personality, but the online (text-based) format of communication allows the focus to be on the content of the conversation instead of the appearance or personality of the person(s) communicating.
This idea is applicable to anyone who seeks to enable different generations to interact together in a place where the focus is on the content, learning from each other, and discussing issues that are important to the individuals. If generations become so segregated that we cannot communicate with each other, then we will cease to learn from the work of others and be forced to learn only from our own experiences.
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I question how much an equalizer online learning really is? Don't we all still get impressions, just influenced by different way?
ReplyDeleteYes, it is equalizes some issues, but exposes other? Always more to contemplate! ~ Datta Kaur
I don't think there's a perfect equalizer, and certainly we all have impressions, but I think those impressions are delayed. When you see a person, there are instant impressions generated in your brain before they even open their mouth. Online, at least the impressions are generated by what the person said/wrote, and possibly by their name or screen name.
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