Where virtual becomes counter productive.

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Numerous instances that exemplify the desirability of online community can be found. Someone in a small town with an esoteric hobby is perhaps the most classic example. Online social networks seem, however, to be examples of quite the opposite - situations in which the "virtual" nature of the community goes against its primary value. Why, for instance, would someone want to be a member of an exclusive club, but have the fact of his or her membership kept essentially secret from others? Yes, there's probably some inherent value simply in belonging and, through belonging, having access to important people. But there's additional, and significant, value in other people seeing that you belong, and this additional value is very easily lost in an online social network.

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Go to: Exclusion vs. Inclusion, or
Go to: Do we need this?, or
Go to: Who cares?