Is the Virtual Community of Any Value? If so what are the Advantages of Online Discussion Forums over Real Society?

There are some that raise warnings about the 'hype' surrounding the recent exponential growth of the Internet. They rightly observe that high promises were heard concerning previous media's potential for vastly improving education, accessibility of knowledge, and human community. They are correct to be cautious, but I feel that they also miss the vital differences between this medium; i.e. the Internet, and prior media. This is mainly due to the fact of media audience …

…these non-physical communications can only add to any relationships that exist, which has an impact on any further face to face exchanges with the people in question that may or may not take place as long as the purpose for the communication has been fulfilled. References (general texts consulted): Gauntlett, D. (ed) (2000) Web.Studies: Rewiring Media Studies for the Digital Age. London: Arnold Jones, S. (ed) (1997) Virtual Culture: Identity and Communication in Cybersociety. London: Sage