Discussion on Mr. Barlow's Is There a There in Cyberspace

Do you know what non intententional and intentional communities are? If you are like me, then you have no idea what it is or how it relates to society. That was until I read the selection written by John Perry Barlow “Is There a There in Cyberspace.” Are you informed on what I am talking about or would you like to know more?

You may not even be aware of what nonintentional means. The dictionary definition for this word is "not done on purpose." In Barlow’s discussion of these types of communities, he states that “Unlike most modern Americans, I grew up in an actual place, an entire nonintentional community called Pinedale, Wyoming” (Barlow 164). Pinedale was not made on purpose, but nevertheless, it was still made and acted as a community. He goes on to explain in detail they were a close-knit community that always supported each other through thick and thin. Even though it was a nonintentional community it wasn’t without purpose. They came together through a common goal which was to support one another and be a community.

Intentional is the exact opposite of nonintentional. This word means "to be done on purpose.” In Barlow’s article, he tells readers that cyberspace communities were intentional communities. These places were made on purpose yet still had the same goals as a nonintentional community. They much like a traditional community lived together and helped each other out virtually instead of in person. Pinedale, where he grew up was a nonintentional community. So in saying simply, an intentional community would be going and living in a big city such as New York. It has been there for a long time and is a well-known established place. In that community, people look out for each other and help one another. Even though Pin...

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...ugh they really never saw each other. As he talked and compared the two, it embellished his discussion on his topic about communities. I honestly believe that he felt lost and mad at the same time by how people now a day started to act, but when he found the dead heads it encouraged him like it once did when he lived in Pinedale. Nonintentional and intentional communities are opposites yet share the same common purpose.

Finally, I discussed the effectiveness of these comparisons and contrasts in embellishing Mr. Barlow's discussion about communities. In all, I believe that even though nowadays people don't really care anymore, and communities are dwindling away we can still have heart and find people that still care for one another even if that has to be online.

Work Cited

• Barlow, John. “Is There a There in Cyberspace?” Utne Reader, March/April 1995. Print.