Is it a Diaspora?
what is a diaspora i hear you say!
the dictionary definition of diaspora mainly has to do with the cultural separation of a group of people from their original homeland (here). and while that is a good and valid definition, the word has now been applied to a lot more things than just that.
there are many online diaspora, in fact, the internet has really furthered the whole notion of a diaspora, with the introduction of being able to chat and communicate with people from all parts of the world. chat rooms and message forums have been around since the start of the public internet in the mid 90's, and nowadays there are message forums for nearly everything.
so what is a diaspora exactly, in the broad sense of the term? simply a group of people, a community who share a common linkage, or interest, who are geographically separated.
i am a part of several of them (in the form of message forums), including one for a web comic, one a friends, and one called Gush.
but, the question then stands. is Gush (or those other online message forums) actually diaspora? i personally think it is, as we are a group of people who are linked by a common interest, and we are geographically separated...
i read an article about online religious diaspora, and the author wrote "People are going online to get information about, discuss, and argue about religious beliefs and practices, as well as to share their religious feelings and concerns, post prayer requests, chat, and even conduct and participate in online religious rituals. (http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue3/helland.html)."
the dictionary definition of diaspora mainly has to do with the cultural separation of a group of people from their original homeland (here). and while that is a good and valid definition, the word has now been applied to a lot more things than just that.
there are many online diaspora, in fact, the internet has really furthered the whole notion of a diaspora, with the introduction of being able to chat and communicate with people from all parts of the world. chat rooms and message forums have been around since the start of the public internet in the mid 90's, and nowadays there are message forums for nearly everything.
so what is a diaspora exactly, in the broad sense of the term? simply a group of people, a community who share a common linkage, or interest, who are geographically separated.
i am a part of several of them (in the form of message forums), including one for a web comic, one a friends, and one called Gush.
but, the question then stands. is Gush (or those other online message forums) actually diaspora? i personally think it is, as we are a group of people who are linked by a common interest, and we are geographically separated...
i read an article about online religious diaspora, and the author wrote "People are going online to get information about, discuss, and argue about religious beliefs and practices, as well as to share their religious feelings and concerns, post prayer requests, chat, and even conduct and participate in online religious rituals. (http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue3/helland.html)."
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on Tuesday 15 May 2007 at 3:45 pm.
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