I'm writing a paper on Online communities and how they formed, what they really are, how they function, etc. and would like to know what you guys think to help my paper have some actual statistics and be able to be a bit more personal. So here I have some questions for you guys, please answer as many of these as you can, it'd really help me with this:

1) In your opinion, what is an online community?

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

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

4) do you believe online communities are safe?

5) what characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?

6) what do you think are characteristics that make a good community and a bad one?

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

Thanks for taking the time to read, please respond to this by next friday so I can get the answers collected and inserted!  

1) In your opinion, what is an online community?
a group of people that share a common interest on a subject found in the internet and interact with each other.

2) Where do you think the first online community was formed?
I would need to be more familiar with the early days of the internet to state an opinion.

3) do you believe online communities display social patterns similar or differing from real life communities? Why?
Similar. Ill use the graalians community for my opinions.

a. we associate posters in categories like we do in real life.(jocks, nerds, popular, losers, no-life's, druggies, and so on)

b. we form closer friendships with certain posters( we also have inner circles among our community)

c. betrayal, deception, gossip, back stabbings, lies, jelousy, envy, and other frowned upon actions.

4) do you believe online communities are safe?
As long as everyone acts accordingly, but like irl it doesnt always happens that way.

5) what characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?
Interesting, funny, controversial, discussions. Constant additions to the community or constant changes/updates to the "shared subject" that united the community in the first place(or a combination of both). Constant discussions keep me hooked.

6) what do you think are characteristics that make a good community and a bad one?
first part applies to #5. i think a bad community is one that has little to discuss. Example the pc graal forum community, there are never updates to the "shared subject" and no new members to the forum, so it killed that community. Note: when I say bad I dont mean the people individually(if that makes sense)

7) do these communities form fast or slow? Can anyone create a working community?
since we are talking about the internet I feel a community could be formed pretty quickly. For the second part the cliche answer would be yes if they "try" hard enough, but I dont think everyone can create a working community(well one that last more than a week)  

1) In your opinion, what is an online community?
A group of individuals who share a common interest communicated via Internet.

2) Where do you think the first online community was formed?
Palo Alto, California?

3) do you believe online communities display social patterns similar or differing from real life communities? Why?
Differing. The Internet allows you to voice and share opinions publicly without the fear of oppression or physical harm anonymously. Interests and ideas are able to spread much quicker throughout the Internet opposed to verbal communication. At the click of a button, beliefs, interests, likes and dislikes become global. These beliefs, interests, likes and dislikes may be altered due to the spread of informarion and the lack of social pressure.

4) do you believe online communities are safe?
No.

5) what characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?
Rapport between its community members. Sharing commonalities and interests.

6) what do you think are characteristics that make a bad one?
Lack of rapport, differing and contrasting philosophies and interests. Disorganization of thoughts and incoherency between members- what is said, is often not what is implied and thus taken negatively or offensively (Ex: "Oh, God!" is found offensive to someone).

7) do these communities form fast or slow? Can anyone create a working community?
Fast. Yes, of course!  

1) In your opinion, what is an online community?
A group of people communicating over the internet.

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

3) do you believe online communities display social patterns similar or differing from real life communities? Why?
No, but it depends on varying levels of anonymity. In a community where communication is comepletely anonymous people will inevitably end up doing things they would not in real life because they aren't faced with consequences. Even on a forum like Graalians, where people have usernames, people say things they would not in real life because of a lack of real world consequence. The form of communication that most closely mimics how people act in the real world would probably be voice/video chat.

4) do you believe online communities are safe?
Online communities are as safe as the user makes them. If one keeps all their personal information private can be difficult to find them. Obviously if someone took the time and effort to track a person they could, but generally the work is not worth it for the average user.

5) what characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?
Positive discussion, variety in opinions, friendly people. The same things that make a good community in the real world.

6) what do you think are characteristics that make a good community and a bad one?
Read above.

7) do these communities form fast or slow? Can anyone create a working community?
Communities generally form from a common interest, so as long as the interest is there, and the market isn't super saturated with groups already, then its viable for anyone to start a community.  

1)In your opinion, what is an online community?
A group of people connected by the internet, who share a common interest and share different information.
2)Where do you think the first online community was formed?
California.
3)Do you believe online communities display social patterns similier or differing from a real life community? Why?
Differing. Usually, you would never say things like you do online. Even having usernames doesn't prevent it.
4)Do you think online communities are safe?
It all depends on the people of the community.
5)What characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?
Friendly people, positive chat/criticism, new posts.
6)What characteristics make up a bad one?
Negative chat, swearing excessively, arguments that have no meaning.
Do these communities form fast or slow? Can anyone create a working community?
It all depends on the common interest.  

1) In your opinion, what is an online community?

A group of people that primarily communicate online, often sharing similar interests.

2) Where do you think the first online community was formed?
Not sure

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

Yes. The anonymity and ability create a new identity allows people to be more open about themselves. People will share more, as they won't be as hesitant to say things.

4) do you believe online communities are safe?

Yes.

5) what characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?

Friendly people, generally smaller is better. If I can have good conversations with them, I will keep coming back.

6) what do you think are characteristics that make a good community and a bad one?

A bad community generally happens when people are toxic to each other, or when they get too large that trolls start to show up.

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

It depends. Anyone can form one, but you would need a reason for forming it such as a common interest.  

I'm writing a paper on Online communities and how they formed, what they really are, how they function, etc. and would like to know what you guys think to help my paper have some actual statistics and be able to be a bit more personal. So here I have some questions for you guys, please answer as many of these as you can, it'd really help me with this:

1) In your opinion, what is an online community?
Graalians

2) Where do you think the first online community was formed?
Yes
3) do you believe online communities display social patterns similar or differing from real life communities? Why?
Similar in Some ways, but not quite.neven we have our fair share of trolls.
Don't you just love being anonymous

4) do you believe online communities are safe?
Depends on what you use them for
5) what characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?
Good flamewars
Graal

6) what do you think are characteristics that make a good community and a bad one? Multiple choice

7) do these communities form fast or slow? Can anyone create a working community?
Depends.
If you have the materials, sure.

Thanks for taking the time to read, please respond to this by next friday so I can get the answers collected and inserted!  

Good idea :0

1) In your opinion, what is an online community?
A group of people on a screen who do the same thing. It allows you to communicate with people from different lifestyle and ways in the comfort of your house.
2) Where do you think the first online community was formed?
Cannot answer... probably the first forums or games.
3) do you believe online communities display social patterns similar or differing from real life communities? Why?
Yes and no... You can be someone else online, say whatever you want, and be safe. They do allow people to meet, converse, and learn some people skills. I think the internet is great because you are judging people on their actions, not their race, age, looks, or gender. That is what makes the internet the greatest.
4) do you believe online communities are safe?
NO. You don't know who someone is. You have to be smart. NEVER GIVE DETAILED INFORMATION.
5) what characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?
It's fun, unique, diverse... These keep people hooked.
6) what do you think are characteristics that make a good community and a bad one?
Good: respectable, active, kind, fun; Bad: inactive, rudeness to members, bland members
7) do these communities form fast or slow? Can anyone create a working community?
They form slow. No one can know about them unless they are told. Its a domino effect.  

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.  

1) In your opinion, what is an online community?

A group of people who share a common interest and gather to converse about it on a social website.

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

I don't know where it was formed, but I would guess one of the earlier popular online communities would have been YouTube or MySpace.

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

I would say that people in online communities are more comfortable speaking their mind than people in a real life social community. The fear of being judged for it is far less than a real life community.

4) Do you believe online communities are safe?

Yes and no. You never know who is roaming around online communities so it is wise to be on guard by avoiding sharing an excessive amount of personal information. It all depends on who is part of the community.

5) What characteristics make up a good online community? What keeps you hooked?

Kindness, acceptance, and guidelines are three key factors. Everyone should feel welcome and able to share their opinions on particular matters without having the fear of being ridiculed for it. However, there should be enforced guidelines for rule breakers who do not treat others properly, share explicit content, and so forth.

6) What do you think are characteristics that make a good community and a bad one?

Unorganized, uncaring, and thoughtless are some aspects that make a community bad. Bad communities often ignore the fact that there is another person behind the computer screen with feelings. They often treat other members poorly and often lack strict guidelines for this behavior.

7) Do these communities form fast or slow? Can anyone create a working community?

It rather depends on the advertisement the online community receives. For example, if a gaming company such as Bungie were to advertise their website for one of their games in an announcement, there would be thousands of people signing up and discussing Bungie's games and other topics with people that share similar interests.