Online communities are a place where people connect to one another. People can join, gain info, discuss issues, share ideas/other things, sell/buy things, or just generally keep in touch.
We all like to keep in touch with one another, and these days online communities are an important part of our lives. It's easy to become"friends" with each other on communities like facebook, and online communities can provide company for people who are isolated sometimes. There's a really good example of how online communites can bring people together in this
video: an organisation called "The Nickolai Organisation (NO)"... they have taken it one step further and actually met up in person :)
ONline communities are also great at providing us with information... I've added "
foodlovers.co.nz" as it's a great place to get ideas for recipes etc!!!!
On "foodlovers.co.nz", people contribute to forums about food, wine, etc. There is also loads of info about recipes etc.
People join foodlovers.co because it's an easy way to acess information without leaving the home. If you're in the kitchen and need to know a conversion for a measurement, alternate for a missing ingredient, what wine will go with your meal, stuck for an idea for dinner-just pop online to get information or inspiration-it's easier than leaving the house to go to the library!!!
- Here's an example of one of the forums, in which people are discussing whether Chardonnay or Sav Blanc is sweeter: (something close to my heart!!!)
Which is sweeter Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
Posted by:
kathie3461 (IP Logged)
Date: February 23, 2009 08:41AM
I do realize that their is no real set rule here, but I was hoping to get a rule of thumb as to which is sweeter or which is the drier of the two if this is possible?
Re: Which is sweeter Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
Posted by:
chris carrad (IP Logged)
Date: February 25, 2009 01:22PM
Technically they're both dry if done properly. However many new world wineries add sugar to give mouth feel and texture, and also make their wines more attractive to the greater public. Aussie Chardonnays can contain up to 17 g/L Resudual sugar, which really means it is SWEET!!. Most people say 'I don't like sweet wine, I'll have a Chardonnay / Sauvignon instead'. However most of them talk dry, but in fact drink sweet.
In answer to your question, they are infact about the same, with Chard being a wee touch drier, however the sweetness level may vary from wine to wine and NZ tends to be drier than Aus.
chris
Re: Which is sweeter Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
Posted by:
kathie3461 (IP Logged)
Date: February 26, 2009 08:32AM
Thankyou for that Chris, unfortunately for me two connaiseurs created a heathen drink wise and I did not inherit they savy taste buds.
Re: Which is sweeter Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
Posted by:
chris carrad (IP Logged)
Date: February 26, 2009 11:23AM
Hi Kathie,
Hope you find one to your taste. I always say the best way to know wines is to taste them, so whenever you are offered a taste, ie supermarkets etc, take the opportunity. Don't feel pressured into buying and if you don't like it tell them, it will help them in their feed back as well to improve their product.
good luck
chris
Ethical issues that present themselves when using online communities are:
- ethics: people can pretty much say whatever they want and not be held accountable.
- people are also non-identifiable, so there are no "real" people on there as such.
- following on from the second point=how much information should we reveal about ourselves online? Is it safe to reveal a lot? Or should be be wary about posting our personal information? Here's an article from stuff.co.nz about a survey that is being done with young people, to record their "digital footprint"-how much info they post online. Apparently, one in two students had posted sensitive information about themselves without thinking of the consequences.
- There are also some interesting stories out there that claim being part of online communities (specifically facebook) can lower student's grades. Perhaps the thinking behind this is that we check our profiles too much rather than studying. It is certainly obvious from going into the Uni library just how many people are checking their facebook whilst meant to be 'studying'. ANyway, this is an area that needs more research, and an issue for another debate!
The middle point I stated about 'no real people' on there, also reiterates that although being part of an online community gives us access to information that would otherwise be harder to come by, it does not provide for other human needs-the basic need to have face to face contact with other people. Therfore, it does not provide a traditional sense of "community". INstead of joining a discussion forum, we could join a cooking class, and see people face to face each week, rather than looking things up online all the time!!!
that is used to increaseor improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." (Public Law (PL) 100-407, Technical Assistance to the States Act, in Cook, A.M. & Hussey, S.M. (1995). Assistive technology: principles and practice. Mosby: Missouri
and then the message will be replayed.
They are quite robust, which is great for a person with limited motor control. They come in various sizes-from the simplest with 4 cells, to the largest with 24 cells. The cells have the abilty to record multiple messages, up to 5 per cell. Therfore, even with just the 4 cell GoTalk, about 20 messages can be stored.