1) In your opinion, what is an online community?
A group of people joined together due to the internet.

2) Where do you think the first online community was formed?

Most likely in a military setting.

3) do you believe online communities display social patterns similar or differing from real life communities? Why?

Both. The people of the Internet want others to display maturity, politeness and other desirable traits but at the same time the feeling of anonymity we believe ourselves to have on the internet makes us act in ways we would not in real life.

4) do you believe online communities are safe?
It depends.

5) what characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?
Activity of the community, friendliness etc. An online community needs to make people feel as if they belong in order to get anyone hooked. A bad community with none of the listed traits will keep people away from it.

6) what do you think are characteristics that make a good community and a bad one?
Good=Nice people, friendliness, a good amount of maturity and a sense of belonging.

Bad=A community that may as well be ran by Satan himself.

7) do these communities form fast or slow? Can anyone create a working community?
Depends.