Friday, May 28, 2004
Discovery Writing 2
As discussed in the reading of David Bell’s chapter on “Community and Cyberculture,” people are part of many different communities. I would say the most obvious Gemeinschaft community (the "tradtional" community where "everybody knows your name”) that I am a part of would be my family. They have known me the longest and I would not hesitate to say that they probably know things about me that most of my closest friends don’t even know. But since leaving for college in another state I have created my own Gemeinschaft community of friends in Greenville that have sort of replaced the role my family played.
Since I am trying to put myself through school I work two jobs in an attempt to pay all of my bills. The individuals I work with in these jobs, Eckerd Drug and The Daily Reflector, are another two Gesellschaft communities (an "associational" community where relationships are "partial and transitory") that I associate with. I would never do the same things with these people as I would with my family.
I understand how you viewed your friends in Greenville as a type of replacement for your family while at school. I agree in the sense that especially when being far from home, a person tends to bond with someone who may be similar to what they were used to back home or with someone who may remind you of another as a way to help in the transition of being on your own for the first time. I also agree with your statement about not doing the same things with your work friends as you would with your family or close friends. They are two completely separate communities.
Constantina
I think for most people their families are the closet community they can have. I feel that the people I meet don’t really replace my family, but are a sort of way to pass time and have some sort of close emotional connection. Friends and family are always kind of grouped together, but when you think about it they are really not much alike at all. There are much more personal things my parents know, whereas with friends it’s never really that personal. Of course my best friends know personal things but not acquaintances.
Jeff
Since I am trying to put myself through school I work two jobs in an attempt to pay all of my bills. The individuals I work with in these jobs, Eckerd Drug and The Daily Reflector, are another two Gesellschaft communities (an "associational" community where relationships are "partial and transitory") that I associate with. I would never do the same things with these people as I would with my family.
I understand how you viewed your friends in Greenville as a type of replacement for your family while at school. I agree in the sense that especially when being far from home, a person tends to bond with someone who may be similar to what they were used to back home or with someone who may remind you of another as a way to help in the transition of being on your own for the first time. I also agree with your statement about not doing the same things with your work friends as you would with your family or close friends. They are two completely separate communities.
Constantina
I think for most people their families are the closet community they can have. I feel that the people I meet don’t really replace my family, but are a sort of way to pass time and have some sort of close emotional connection. Friends and family are always kind of grouped together, but when you think about it they are really not much alike at all. There are much more personal things my parents know, whereas with friends it’s never really that personal. Of course my best friends know personal things but not acquaintances.
Jeff
