false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174506163m/409303.jpg 409303 1 The term "online community" has been sucked dry of meaning in recent years, but there was a time when it connoted exciting possibilities and radical change. One early experiment, the WELL (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link), united smart, independent, left-leaning folks from all over as early as 1984, and still lives and breathes 17 years later. Journalist and long-time member Katie Hafner tells the story of its early days in <I>The Well: A Story of Love, Death and Real Life in the Seminal Online Community</I>. <p> Though the title isn't strictly accurate--there were comparatively primitive online communities long before 1984--the tale is well told and compelling. Started by visionary Stewart Brand and do-gooder Larry Brilliant, the dialup BBS offered a wide-open space for communication, developing relationships, and, inevitably, conflicts. Spicing up her story with excerpts from online posts, interviews with participants, and sometimes sordid details of WELL-being, Hafner shows that not all online communities are the same.<p> Though the WELL's social and business problems are legion--eventually it was bought by Salon.com--the participants and administrators consistently showed intelligence and determination, essential qualities for homesteading pioneers. Though the book can't begin to address big questions about virtual social environments (Do they help or hinder users' lives? Are they as deeply satisfying as traditional relationships? What makes them so popular?), it does help the reader begin to address them personally. That individual determination, aided by discussion with others, is the WELL's greatest legacy. <I>--Rob Lightner</I> 398596 4 2001 The Well: A Story of Love, Death & Real Life in the Seminal Online Community total:11|5:2|4:5|3:4|2:0|1:0| 11 42 24 2 5 1 false false Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Fri Dec 21 13:39:54 -0800 2007 Fri Dec 21 13:42:34 -0800 2007 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Feb 19 22:04:15 -0800 2008 Sun Mar 02 15:53:51 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Wed Nov 04 18:48:27 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 04 18:48:27 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Wed Oct 28 06:56:33 -0700 2009 Wed Oct 28 06:56:33 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Sat Aug 22 00:49:12 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 22 00:49:12 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Tue May 12 09:23:18 -0700 2009 Tue May 12 09:23:18 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Sat May 09 15:57:29 -0700 2009 Sat May 09 15:57:29 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Feb 01 20:57:25 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 01 20:57:25 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Wed Jan 14 14:56:05 -0800 2009 Wed Jan 14 14:56:05 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Wed Dec 10 17:25:54 -0800 2008 Sun Dec 14 08:45:59 -0800 2008 3 0 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2001 Sat Nov 29 12:26:40 -0800 2008 Sat Nov 29 12:26:40 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Mon Sep 22 07:23:58 -0700 2008 Mon Sep 22 07:23:58 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Fri Jul 04 05:39:19 -0700 2008 Fri Jul 04 05:39:19 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Tue Jun 03 10:37:14 -0700 2008 Tue Jun 03 10:37:14 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Thu May 22 14:11:49 -0700 2008 Thu May 22 14:11:50 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Sun May 04 18:59:16 -0700 2008 Sun May 04 19:02:36 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Wed Apr 30 14:01:05 -0700 2008 Wed Apr 30 14:01:09 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Wed Apr 30 05:10:12 -0700 2008 Wed Apr 30 05:10:20 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Sun Mar 02 23:19:29 -0800 2008 Sun Mar 02 23:19:29 -0800 2008 4 0 false false Tue Feb 12 18:04:31 -0800 2008 Tue Feb 12 18:04:31 -0800 2008 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=409303