Wednesday, December 25, 2019

organized crime - 2317 Words

Critique of Provisions for Definitions of â€Å"Organized Crime† CARLO CAVALIERE 100817631 OCTOBER 1ST 2014 Defining organized crime has proven to be a general difficulty throughout history. The belief of this paper is that definition is crucial, however, at the same time one should identify that within the scope of organized crime, definition has been quite subjective and controversial. The reason why it is important is because the exact way in which organized crime is defined goes a significant distance in determining how legislation and laws are constructed, how research studies are completed, how examinations and prosecutions are coordinated, and lastly, how interactive and connected legal assistance†¦show more content†¦The Criminal Code identifies that the disguised illegal proceeds are deemed money laundering, if, the criminal acts were committed within Canada. Although other sections of the Criminal Code address importation of illegal monies, if done successfully ones cannot be successfully charged with money laundering, proving the existence of a possible loophole within the definition. This section can always be challenged within section 7 principle of fundamental justice. This is because a major part of discovering money laundering is focused around business that have their privacy comfort interrupted. Section 462.32(1) of the Criminal Code entitled searc and seizure of proceeds of crime deals with search warrants in regards to locations where authorities believe that assets or monies of illegal activities are located. The major thing to note within this section is that the law has supreme power over the citizens in which it governs, due to the fact that at any time, with sufficient evidence, whatever that may be, authorities can suspend your rights as a citizen and search your property. The only section, beyond sections that deal with privacy within the Charter that can be invoked, is that of section 8, which is illegal search and seizure. Essentially this means that there was a lack of evidence to attain a search warrant or the Show MoreRelatedThe Crime Of Organized Crime1649 Words   |  7 PagesWhen I hear the term organized crime, I associate it with â€Å"The Mafia†, â€Å"Scarface†, and â€Å"Cartels†. Organized crime can be defined in a variety of ways. It is an ongoing criminal enterprise that is wisely working to generate profit engaging in illegal activities depending on demand, where its presence is preserve through force, intimidations, and corruption. According to the FBI, organized crime is basically a group of transnational, national, or local alliances of highly centralized enterprises runRead MoreOrganized Crime Essay1325 Words   |  6 PagesOrganized Crime Donald Creesey was a pioneer in the study of organized crime. He was also considered the first expert on the subject. However, his contributions to the field are now in question. In the next two articles a battle of words is waged between Joseph L. Albini, author of Donald Cresseys Contributions to the Study of Organized Crime An Evaluation, and Charles H. Rogovin along with Frederick T. Martens, authors of The Evil That Men Do, concerning CresseysRead MoreOrganized Crime Essay1658 Words   |  7 Pagesthat happens right in front of our noses and we never know it. Organized crime is the one thing that we don’t know about that happens right out in the open. That pizza joint you go to that’s been around for years, and then burns down when it starts to go under; or those people that look all innocent and then go and do something a little suspicious. Those are both small things that happen that involve organized crime. Organized crime is all around us and has a huge effect on how society runs andRead MoreWhite Collar Crime And Organized Crime1805 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction: This paper explores white collar crime and elaborates on the types of organized crimes through the analysis of case studies. Furthermore, I will also discuss the differences and similarities between professional crime and organized crime. White collar crime is t he use of deceptive acts to solely benefit oneself, often leaving many victimized. Within this paper, I explain which theories best clarify why individuals partake in these criminal behaviors, and preventative methods. In additionRead MoreOrganized Crime Group Analysis1527 Words   |  7 PagesOrganized Crime Group Analysis Team A CJA 384 Organized Crime Group Analysis In this paper it was asked of us as a team to give an in-depth historical analysis of an organized crime group. With this class being about organized crime one would think to write about mobsters, but we decided to think outside the box. Even though when thinking of organized crime the first thought is The Italian Mafia and groups of that sort, one has to remember that organized crime comes in many different formsRead MoreA Look at Organized Crime Essay729 Words   |  3 PagesWoody Allen – A look at organized crime Comprehension: 1. Which illegal activities are performed by the Mafia? Murders, gambling, narcotics, prostitution, hijacking, loansharking, transportation of large whitefish across the state line for immoral purposes 2. What does it mean that the â€Å"Aquillante Construction Company decided to erect their new offices on the bridge of his nose†? Maybe it means that they are making a fool of sby of Doyle, and ends up killing him Or that they killed himRead MoreEssay about Deviance and Organized Crime1454 Words   |  6 Pagesmany forms of deviance. Among the many forms of deviance, organized crime stands out in many aspects of society. Organized crime has been around for many years in America and for centuries in Europe. It is distinguished by its durability over time, expansive interests, hierarchical structure, buildup of profit, investment of profit, access to political protection, and the use of violence as an end to particular means. Organized crime is able to thrive throughout the world by supplying, or appearingRead MoreSimilarities Between Terrorism and Organized Crime:1630 Words   |  7 PagesSimilarities between terrorism and organized crime: Today’s terrorism and organized crime groups are so similar that their differences are starting to blur and the commonalities are becoming clearer. Terrorism and organized crime is a perfect match, that may have different objectives, but they can accomplish their goals through one another. The underground network, tactics they share and utilize to accomplish a task in support of one another, recruiting methods, financial institutions, and theRead MoreOrganized Crime During the Roaring Twenties1145 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica history. During this time period many American citizens believed and even acted out of hedonism. This mindset of the general population and along with other dilemmas led to a stunning and rapid increase in the amount of organized crime. The sudden uproar of organized crime during the 1920s was caused mainly by prohibition that gave rise to many street gangs, all with one man at its helm, which caused a massive increase in police forces. During the 1920s, the eighteenth amendment was enactedRead MoreChallenges Of Transnational Organized Crime1260 Words   |  6 PagesThis essay will discuss some threats transnational organised crime have to Southeast Asian states. By comparing to traditional security paradigm threats, this essay will argue that in order for states to combat transnational organised crime, they must consider and use traditional and non-traditional means. First, this essay will present the security paradigm of traditional security. In this section, this essay will discuss the points of, the focus traditional security has on the protection of the

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Women s Right And Racial Inequality Essay - 1885 Words

Argument Essay When looking back to several decades ago in comparison to now, it is quite obvious how far America has come in certain areas and issues. Two of the major areas of change that have occurred here in America pertain to the issues related to women’s right and racial inequality. In modern times, the women here in America have copious rights and privileges due to the passing of laws and acts. In addition, African American citizens now have rights equal to white people due to the Civil Rights Act and the impact of certain leaders. While our country has made significant progress in these areas, there are still inequalities present in our nation that could use attention. There are ways to overcome these issues and inequalities, but it takes the care and consideration of those willing to help make a change. Women’s rights have come a long way in America. The major changes for women over generations have been primarily in family life, employment, education, and gove rnment. Before the passing of the 19th amendment, women did not have the equal right to vote like men did. Even after women were granted the right to vote, they did not suddenly elevate to the same level as men. They still had fewer rights and different expectations in comparison to men at the time. and Women had no legal identity and were unable to own any land or property and they were expected to stay home and tend to cooking, cleaning, and the caretaking of the children. Women were not allowed to workShow MoreRelatedRacial Inequality And Gender Inequality889 Words   |  4 PagesIn today s world discrimination is a racial inequality when it come to different races in the United states. Discrimination has been around for years and have created a social inequality , economic crises and have lowered individuals into a group known as the â€Å" racial minorities â€Å".Racial minorities can be classified as older people , women , immigrants and young men and women. Women from th e early 1600’s to today s women have been discriminated against for years. Women have never had the sameRead MoreWhy Race and Gender Inequality Still Exist1101 Words   |  4 Pagescenturies ago, but inequalities between gender and race continue to exist. To analyze why gender and racial inequalities prevail, human capital theory and functionalism take into account cultural, historical, and economic factors. In my opinion, the human capital theory presents a more persuasive reason. Although race and gender inequalities in the United States have diminished in the past few centuries, many aspects of these inequalities still persist today. Race and gender inequalities are covert, andRead MoreFeminism And The Third Wave Of Feminism1212 Words   |  5 Pagessomething completely different than what it did in the days of women s suffrage. No longer is feminism working on allowing women just to vote. It focuses on intersectionality, gender norms, women s reproductive rights, and so much more. We are in the third wave of feminism. In 2017 most millennials identify with third wave feminism or a variant of the movement and strive to abolish gender roles, patriarchy, and fight for women s rights and equality. Our distinct personal experiences and social locationRead MoreRacial Segregation And Popular Culture1676 Words   |  7 Pagesgeneralizations and disturbing portrayals of members in a racial group contribute to the justification of unequal treatment in various syste ms that impact people in the society negatively. Racial biases exist unconsciously in our attitudes. This leads to actions that are negatively interpreted in our cultures and diffuse in the media, which in turn, form prejudice and discrimination that structure systems to target minority groups. The two most frequent racial stereotypes in cultural and social agendas areRead MoreA Jewish Man And A Christian Man Walk Into A Bar The Bartender1492 Words   |  6 Pagescan not cross this line. Discrimination is something that needs to be addressed because of sexism, racial inequality, and religious differences. Muslims, African-Americans, and Hispanics; what do they all have in common you ask, they are the top most discriminated people in America. People should not be judged off of what somebody of their race has done once upon a time. America gives people the right to freedom of religion even so people still choose to disobey it, some people around the world arenRead MoreRacial Segregat ion And Racial Discrimination1645 Words   |  7 Pageshistory of racial segregation created a clear view of how most racial minorities have been treated throughout history and views and differences amount racial majority. This paper primarily focus will be the treatment or experience racial minority faced throughout this historical revolution. African American are not the only racial minority who has been treated inequality or racial oppression, Chinese American and Native American but African American illustrates a direct view of racial inequality throughoutRead MoreRace And Health Inequality In America. . Racial Discrimination1580 Words   |  7 PagesRace and Health Inequality in America Racial discrimination by doctors According to Golash-Boza (2016), the systemic racism or the accumulated disadvantages for non-whites are also reflected in in the areas of health and environment. Golash-Boza (2016) argues that racial inequalities diminish not only he opportunities for non-whites but also â€Å"our time on earth†. This can have an effect on the health and life expectancy. It is interesting to look at why blacks have a lower life expectancy thanRead MoreThe Social Philosophies On The Race Theory And Feminism Approaches1316 Words   |  6 Pagesjustice, and examples of injustice. The Race theory is viewed as a self-conscious way of thinking. It is referred to as ideas of human differences beginning from ancient times to today. Racism is made up of practices and commitments deriving from racial hierarchies. However, the thought is that where there is a race, racism follows and vise versa, therefore, consequences adheres to this notion. The definitional of racism is results from the idea of what is done to races in social term, certain racesRead MoreRacial Segregation Of The United States1508 Words   |  7 PagesWe have issues. More specifically the United States has issues, continuous and all encompassing issues of racial inequality.The United States is experiencing a outburst of racism, as can be seen from the 2014 killings of two unarmed African-American men, to the brutality of white supremacy in Charleston and the string of arsons in black churches across the South. Of course, it’s nothing new for a nation with a long history of extreme racist vio lence—the most recent lynching-related death occurredRead MoreExplication Of The s Story Presentation, A Fellow Classmate Of Mine Claimed That Invisible 1701 Words   |  7 PagesInvisible was extremely influenced by outside forces such as racial etiquette. The â€Å"racial etiquette governed the actions, manners, attitudes, and words† of Invisible because of his skine color (Davis 1). As Ronald davis wrote in his essay Racial Etiquette, the expectation was that â€Å"black Americans [conducted] themselves according to well-understood rituals of behaviour† and racial customs. Invisible clearly followed the rules of racial etiquette. Invisible is not an existinsist when he follows social

Monday, December 9, 2019

Rob A Life Hamlet by Shakespeare Essay Example For Students

Rob A Life: Hamlet by Shakespeare Essay In his book Poetics, Aristotle writes that a tragic hero is a great man who is neither a paragon of virtue and justice nor undergoes the change to misfortune through a real badness or wickedness but because of some mistake. Thus, a tragic hero is neither a villain nor a model of flawlessness he is good and decent. Such a person falls through a weakness of character, an error of sorts. As shown by his actions in Shakespeares play Hamlet, the character of Hamlet is a prime example of an Aristotelian tragic hero. Hamlets tragic flaw is his uncertainty on how to act or proceed. Shakespeare makes it known to the reader that Hamlet has not come to terms with the death of his father at the very beginning of the play. The marriage of his mother to Claudius clearly makes Hamlet suspicious of Claudius motives and character in general. Hamlet does not see a point to living. This is shown when he says, How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world, and this is carried on throughout the play. Hamlet cannot bring himself to actually commit suicide because he does not know what awaits him after death. This presents the large flaw that makes Hamlet such a tragedy. Hamlet is rather fickle and is in constant conflict about what he wants to do about what is making him so conflicted. Hamlet speaks of his fathers tragic flaw that ultimately led to his death, but it applies equally well to himself. So, oft it chances in particular men, That for some vicious mole of nature in them, As, in their birth, wherein they are not guilty (Since nature cannot choose his origin), By the oergrowth of some complexion, Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, Or by some habit that too much oer-leavens The form of plausive mannersthat these men, Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, Being natures livery, or fortunes star, Their virtues else, be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may undergo, Shall in the general censure take corruption From that particular fault. The dram of evil Doth all the noble substance of a doubt To his own scandal. (I.iv.23-38) Hamlet speaks of the one defect that is in particular men from birth, and the fact that that one defect is his particular fault. Hamlet says that this fault a tragic flaw will corrupt the man. Later, Hamlets flaw of irresolution is shown when he sees the passion one particula r actor has in a play. A group of players arrives and Hamlet arranges a personal viewing of The Murder of Gonzago with some of his own lines inserted. When one of the players puts on a  great display of emotion, Hamlet is besieged by guilt and self-contempt. Hamlet observes that he himself has all the reason in the world to react with great emotion and sorrow, yet he fails to show any that could be compared with the act of the player. Hamlet calls himself a rogue and peasant slave and a dull and muddy-mettled rascal who, like a John-a-dreams, can take no action. Hamlet continues his fiery speech by degrading himself and resolving to take some sort of action to avenge his fathers death. Next, Hamlets flaw of irresolution is shown after the famed To be or not to be soliloquy. Hamlet directly identifies his own tragic flaw, remarking on his own inability to act. Hamlet, unsure whether or not his uncle Claudius was responsible for his fathers murder, plans to have The Murder of Gonzago presented to the royal court, with minor changes to make its contents closely resemble the circumstances behind the murder. Reflecting on his own guilt, Hamlet talks of death, referring to it as the undiscovered country. He declares conscience does make cowards of us all and that the natural ruddy complexion of ones intent on an action is sicklied over with the pale cast of thought. This makes an individual second-guess his own actions and oftentimes take no action at all. These statements not only apply to what occurred up to this point, but also foreshadow what is to occur. .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb , .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb .postImageUrl , .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb , .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb:hover , .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb:visited , .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb:active { border:0!important; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb:active , .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub4ada46d35a879607b8498ce27e11efb:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Shakespeare uses various techniques to create different moods and atmospheres and to reveal the characters EssayHamlets tragic flaw is again shown during his fourth soliloquy. Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway, and his army have passed by Hamlet and his escorts, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet sees the action Fortinbras takes in fighting and then examines Fortinbras efforts and bravery in an attempt to rekindle his own desire for revenge against Claudius. Hamlet remarks how everything around him attempts to spur my dull revenge, yet he takes no action to defy those obstacles. He notices how he thinks too precisely on an event and that he has cause, and will, and streng th, and means to get revenge. He also notices that the evidence pointing to Claudius as his fathers killer is as evident as earth itself. Hamlet finally decides my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth He must take action against Claudius immediately. Hamlets irresolution is evident in his actions after viewing the emotion of the actors, after his third soliloquy, in his fourth soliloquy, and in his indecisive pursuit of revenge for his fathers death. Hamlet is able to avenge his fathers death, but his own death along the way labels him as a tragic hero. Hamlet masterfully shows how the inability to act, however noble ones intentions, can be detrimental to character.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Should we discuss cyber communities as real communities Essay Example

Should we discuss cyber communities as real communities Paper The internet has become an everyday part of life for the majority of the contemporary society who have the technology and knowledge to access it, and as such new groups known as cyber or virtual communities have developed, living and growing on the world wide web, expanding simultaneously as is evident with real physical societies found in our everyday lives. Is it ok then to discuss these in the same context as each other, or are they entirely different incarnations of human interaction that should be separated and therefore discussed at different ends of the equation that is community? I want first to take a brief look at the history of the Internet, and how it offers the chance for cyber communities to develop. I will hopefully identify a framework for these cyber communities, which I will use to compare them against real life communities and then discuss the similarities and differences and so be able to draw a conclusion as to whether the two types of communities are able to be discussed in the same context. The Internets first appearance was in 1969 with the ARPANET computer network, run by the US Defense Department. The US Government was interested in creating a network that could withstand a nuclear attack. This system was the primary component of the super network that would eventually become the Internet. The first event of the Internet that we know today was in 1974, when Vint Cerf and Bob Khan defined the transmission control protocol (TCP) and Internet protocol (IP) by which information could be packaged addressed and sent to various destinations along a computer network. We will write a custom essay sample on Should we discuss cyber communities as real communities specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Should we discuss cyber communities as real communities specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Should we discuss cyber communities as real communities specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In 1983 this TCP/IP based Internet was launched across the USA, and has since developed to todays standards, of a global network of 43 million interconnected computers (Gauntlett 2000). Presently, Internet technology enables several forms of interactive networking among users, including traditional activities suggestive of geographic communities, such as town meetings, exchanging information, discussing problems, and informal chatting. Forms of these communities include; Email, Multi-user Dimensions (MUDs), Chat channels (rooms) Conferencing systems/ Bulletin Board Systems (BBS)/ Information Services. These are just a handful of the most popular communication techniques widely available on the Internet. Access to the Internet and these services is provided through commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as America Online (AOL) that offer a range of member services in addition to Internet access. The WELL provides a vivid example of the capability of online groups to facilitate sustained and meaningful interaction among members. (http://www. harvardlawreview. org/issues/112/7_1586. htm#fn35 Accessed 23/04/03) The WELL is a large conferencing system, centered in the San Francisco Bay area; it was established in 1985 and has grown to become a vibrant online community where many topics and aspects of everyday life are discussed (Gauntlett 2000). Howard Rheingold has been actively interested in the topic of virtual (cyber) communities since the early days of the Internet and especially the topic of the WELL, I will use examples taken from his book The Virtual Community and other scholars of the subject to help analyze the idea of the cyber community and its links to real communities. At this point I would like to clarify exactly what I mean when talking about community, and what the definition of a community is in the context of this essay. I will use a simple definition, often accustomed to the debate about virtual communities. Aaron Davidson states When Internet critics speak of community, they refer to the definition of community as a group of people who live together in close physical proximity, I will refer to this type of community as a Classic Community. The more general essence of community is a group of people, which share a common interest. This more flexible definition encompasses both physical communities as well as more intangible communities such as special interest clubs and online communities (http://spaz. ca/aaron/school/online. html Accessed 20/04/03). This definition of community translates that a classical real life community is a group of people who are geographically local to each other and so form bonds due to location and not necessarily interests, such as street parties, or communal bonfires and firework shows. The non-classical internet community is when people group together in a non-physical text based platform due to a common interest on a certain subject, such as a military vehicle web ring or music group discussions. Taylor (1982) states the core attributes that are (or should be) possessed by all communities to some extent are, common beliefs and values, direct and many-sided relationships between members, and reciprocity and communication. While shared values and beliefs generally promote communication, the presence of communication does not necessarily result in shared values. This has a key implication for the creation of cyber communities as unlike real life communities people accessing them do so for the topic, such as health, music or films and through this shared affinity for the subject communication is initiated, while some might access purely for communication and not information, they are going to try and generate conversation within the topic range they are interested in (Rheingold 2000). I will now try to categorize a framework of characteristics that would be associated with a cyber community, and how these differ from their real life counterparts. I located several definitions from different writers on the characteristics, which an online community has, but they all seem to be able to be grouped together under five headings. The first is that they are spatial, in that they are not restrained by geography, the community is able to be built and developed not only on a national scale but more on an international scale now, and not just within the close geographical proximities experienced by real world communities. They are developed around an understanding or appreciation of a topic, which brings people together, which may or may not have known each other prior to the discussion, while real life communities are often forced together either through the location of residence or through working ties. Virtual communities such as the WELL for example grew within a region of America (San Francisco Bay) but to become a member you dont have to live in San Francisco to participate in the community and the building of bonds within it (Rheingold 2000). The second is that virtual communities are asynchronous, in that communication doesnt have to take place in real time, unless the community is built within a chat room environment, but even in this environment they often facilitate the use of a message board for users to access. Messages and information can be posted and replies received days later (Castells 2001). For sustained communication to take place in the real world at least two people are needed at the same time, even if not at the same location via telephone. Third due to the lack of data able to be sent the communities are predominantly text based. For decades, online communities were built with nothing more than unformatted text. Web-based media bring inline graphics, animations, video, sounds, formatted text, and links into the conversation, creating a more dynamic ability to communicate with other users, and therefore enhancing the community being developed (Jones 1997). Real life communities are able to be built not just on text (speech) but also through the use of paralinguistic features, these non verbal gestures help to add meaning, and the impact of a face to face discussion is amplified due to facial features which are not evident in the computer world, but can be expressed as text (Jones 1997). The Fourth characteristic is that they are astigmatic, in those physical attributes such as race, gender, and physical impairments, which would often locate an individual in certain social standings in real life, are not present on the c yber communities. Religion is also not an important issue in virtual communities. These aspects not only shape our social standing but can inhibit our involvement in social gatherings and communal events simply because we are not aesthetically matched, but in the virtual world these impairments, and characteristics do not affect our acceptance and do not need to be made public unless the individual chooses to do so. People whose physical handicaps make it difficult to form new friendships find that virtual communities treat them as they always wanted to be treated as thinkers and transmitters of ideas and feeling beings, not carnal vessels with a certain appearance and way of walking and talking (or not walking and not talking) (http://www. eff. org/Net_culture/Virtual_community/slice_of_life. article Accessed 22/04/03). The fifth key feature of a virtual community is that the members of a virtual community are anonymous from each other, unless they choose to meet in person. Unlike in real life where face to face interaction leads to people being able to recognize outside of the community environment, while community members on the virtual plain would not recognize each other if passing in the street. This ability to remain anonymous from other users offers virtual citizens the ability to create their own virtual identity and mold their appearance as they see fit, playing out fantasies online (Castells 2001). This can be seen with a quote from the blockbuster movie The Matrix where Neo and Morpheus are discussing the Matrix and how it offers Neo and the users the chance to portray their residual self image, the mental projection of your digital self as Morpheus quotes to Neo. This is the same in a virtual community where members are able to portray themselves as they wish others to see them; whether truthful or false the anonymity provided by the virtual community allows freedom from physical flaws present in their real life personas (Jones 1997). That was the five key characteristics identified by many people as to what makes a virtual community different from a real life example. Another characteristic that is evident with online communication is the fact that it can be conducted on a many to many basis. This is different from the format of few to many associated with a broadcast, or one to one such as telephone conversation. Virtual communities offer groups of people the ability to communicate with many others simultaneously. A brief over view of the characteristics of a virtual community shows as that they are not bound by geography, but are bonded together by interests and bonds formed through these interests. Communication doesnt have to be undertaken in real time, and is predominantly text based. No physical or religious pre conceived prejudices are experienced as members are able to remain anonymous from each other in the real world and so any physical attributes or religious beliefs are made public to fellow members through the free choice of the individual. Finally communication can be carried out on a many to many interaction with lots of people contributing to the discussion if and when they feel they should. The difference between real life and cyber (virtual) communities are evident then, but is this the end of the discussion as to whether they should or shouldnt be classed as real? Possibly the most significant aspect of these more mainstream uses of the Internet is not their status as alternative communities, but the opportunities they offer for individuals to supplement their lives in real world communities (http://www. arvardlawreview. org/issues/112/7_1586. htm#fn35 Accessed 20/04/03). Cyber communities are often seen and categorized in this way as an extension of our communal lives and that they extend our real life communities to new levels. Ray Oldenburg (1991) states that there are three essential places in every persons life, the place they live, the place they work, and the place they gather for conviviality. Virtual communities can fulfill the role of the third place re-matting the fabric of community spirit, which has been lost in the modern real world where community bonds are being eroded. The ability to network, gain knowledge, or find communion within cyberspace is, according to Rheingold (2000), the social glue that binds formerly isolated individuals into a community (http://www. well. com/user/hlr/texts/VCcivil. html Accessed 22/04/03). I tend to agree with this finding that cyber communities do not stand-alone but are interwoven with our real life communal experiences, and so I feel to a certain extent they should be discussed as real communities, but with an air of caution when doing so. The key difference between the cyber and real community is the context of the plain they are built on, whether it being physical or virtual. They both exist together with real world topics being the basis for many of the interactions experienced within there cyber counterparts, further leads me to the view that they presently only fulfill the role of enhancing or communal lives in real life. The key similarity between the two community environments is the constant communication, forming links and bonds, however the initiation process in cyber communities is also different. In traditional kinds of communities, we are accustomed to meeting people, then getting to know them; in virtual communities, you can get to know people and then choose to meet them. In some cases, you can get to know people who you might never meet on the physical plain (Rheingold 2000). The point that cyber communities can exist as asynchronous is contested by Jones (1997), saying that synchronicity when users interact at the same time such as in a chat room, the occupants are less interested in the topic but more so in the individual doing the talking, less interested in text than in community. This offers the argument that not all communication on the internet is communal, and only the real time chat room environments when people discuss and form real time bonds with one another in quick fire conversations does the feeling of community really exist. From my experiences on the Internet and especially in chat rooms I would have to agree with this. When I post a message on a guest book or message board, I dont get a feeling interaction with others, but within the environment of a chat room I am able to build bonds, and return to them at later dates with a sense, if only small at first of knowing the other users of the room. Jones (1997) also accounts for this and the issue of free riding, where he quotes Ostrom (1990) identified free riding as the key threat to community formation and well-being, free riders being surfers of the Internet who do not participate in the community but simply use it for its resources. I have outlined here some of the theories and thoughts offered on the subject of cyber communities and I want to know draw them all together and conclude this writing. For cyber communities to be discussed in the same context as real world examples there is the point that they offer the user a sense of belonging, albeit a different one from the real world. They also incorporate a large amount of people, all communicating and sharing experiences with each other, which is the same as in the traditional physical communities. Cyber communities are built around a shared value or interests, you are able to choose to join the community or not, you are not forced into it through work or residence. This point offers the question of how strong the bonds are between the people, simply because they have a shared interest in a certain topic, the commitment to one another in the cyber realm compared to the real world is a lot weaker, as Jones (1997) states, in the book, Virtual culture. People who communicate via words on a screen dont necessarily share the same level of commitment to each other in real life as more traditional communities. Communities can emerge from and exist within computer-linked groups, but that technical linkage of electronic personae is not sufficient to create a community (Jones 1997). Howard Rheingold states brilliantly one of the key advantages of partaking in a virtual community, life will be happier for the on-line individual because the people with whom one interacts most strongly will be selected more by commonality of interests and goals than by accidents of proximity(Rheingold 2000). For the feeling of community to exist the key attribute identified through my study is the need for sustained communication between the members. I will use the following quote from The Electronic Frontier Foundation website to sum up the conclusion of this study. When a group of people remains in communication with one another for extended periods of time, the question of whether it is a community arises. Virtual communities might be real communities, they might be pseudocommunities, or they might be something entirely new in the realm of social contracts, but they are in part a response to the hunger for community that has followed the disintegration of traditional communities around the world (http://www. ff. org/Net_culture/Virtual_community/slice_of_life. article Accessed 20/04/03). Therefore cyber communities are real communities, they are very similar, where links and bonds are formed in a non-physical environment, and that these cyber communities should be discussed in the same context as real life examples but not separately but as an extension of our physical communal lives.