Dear friends,
This is an argument I made as a reply to Jenny’s post under “Dear Linda2898, we miss you!” I thought you all might find it interesting.
Jenny, your analysis of the nature of net forums and the motivations of their participants makes sense in some contexts, but it seems to me to be more than a little biased.
You basically expressed the opinion that when people can’t find their right place in the real life, they escape to the virtual net world. And you go on to think that friends who have left this forum must have successfully achieved their goals in real society while those who stay haven’t done so, and therefore remain here sharing their difficulties and receiving comfort.
I strongly believe that this is not the case.
People are attracted to a net forum because of net forums’ unique features. Here are some of them:
1.Net forums are free of restriction of time and space. Is it possible for us to meet David, Mary, Tim and other friends from across the whole country every day all at once? No. Is it possible for you to jump into various discussions whenever you’re free, whether it is in the day or at night? No. But we can here.
2.Net meetings are much easier to be arranged. There’re about 20 regular folks on our forum and dozens more irregular visitors. If it were in reality, meetings of such a number of people would become very complicated. It would involve the hiring of meeting rooms, arrangement of meals and lodging, weariness of travel and individuals’ time schedule. All these mean not only trouble, but also expenses. In fact, it would be too complicated to make the discussions possible. But in here, all the inconvenience can be done away with.
3.Members are free of social complexities. Whether young or old, intelligent or dull, a millionaire or a beggar, all forum friends are equal. And since mostly we don’t know each other, we needn’t worry that our confessions would return as rumors to our disadvantage or be turned into weapons against us.
4.Net forums satisfy our desire to be a writer. To publish was once a privilege enjoyed by a small number of people. Now with the help of information technology, everyone can publish and experience the feeling of a real writer. We write, getting our ideas known to others, and are being read and appreciated.
I think the above features of net forums are among the main reasons why people are attracted. Canuck’s Column has yet another appealing feature – you can practice your English. The most powerful engine in learning English, as well as in learning anything else, is the need to use what you’re about to learn. Canuck’s column is such an engine. If you are rightly equipped with it, your English will take leaps forward.
Most friends come here to practice English. This is a symbol that they have goals and are trying to improve themselves. So, dear Jenny, my conclusion is opposite. Friends here are active and leading a more meaningful life than the average. They come here not to escape, but to train so that they can get prepared for greater challenges.
In short, friends come to our forum not because they have no place in the real world so that they want to seek comfort here, but because they want a higher place. Take me for example. Do you think I'm the kind who can easily be shouldered aside by others and lose his place in real society? Past experience has proven that this is not the case.
Warm greetings to you all and thank you very much for reading!
Be happy, Jenny! The more we argue, the nearer we’re to the truth, right? :-)
