Readings: Kahn & Kellner

Write a brief summary of the main ideas and issues raised in the text. (150-180 words)
In this reading, Kahn and Kellner state that online communities have used and developed internet technology to produce new social relations and forms of democratic political possibility, showing the three dimensions of online communities, political activist organizations, terrorists, and publics.
First, political activist organizations, including both right and left, have used internet to their political goals. By internet and online communities, they have gathered information to acieve their goals. The movements have made the style of the participation to political world diverse and increased, controlling the participation by online communities. For example, it can be written that there are the battles between pro-globalism groups and anti-globalism group in internet. In addition, it can be said that a good aspect is open and radical opinions from many and diverse people.
Second, terrorists have also utilized internet for their political desires and hackers have also used it for their personal or public goals. The terrorists have use websites to distribute their ideas. For example, Al Qaeda sent the secret messages related to their activity to the users. In addition, the hackers have utilized internet. For instance, Wi-Fi networks are sometimes hacked by such hackers who target the free network.
Third, there are the relationships between public and personal online communities. The examples are blog and Wikipedia. Blogs and Wikipedia have become the popular communicative methods.
In conclusion, online communities have used and developed internet technology to produce new social relations and forms of democratic political possibility, but the possibility is sometimes positive, but sometimes negative, or neutral.

What is your reaction? Respond to one particular idea that really resonates with you. (30 words) SCICU e-Portfolio.
The developments of online communities and internet will produce a deep gap between the people who can use internet and the people who cannot use internet. It is because online communities have so strong power and passion that they will be more important and crucial in making decisions of political activity such as vote and support to an own favorite party. On the other hand, people who cannot use internet cannot have the possibility and the choice of such political activities.