Response to Craigslist

The thesis that Putnam and Feldstein have developed in their piece is one of acknowledging the fact that the idea behind Internet community did not exactly surface the way in which it was intended. Putnam and Feldstein argued that the users of internet do not necessarily contact and start relationships with people that they do not know, but instead reinforce relationships that have already been established. The authors take into account (with statistics) that most people prefer to communicate with others via instant messenger.

In attempts to create an online community "craiglist.org" was developed. With the goal to network various people from various locations together through the use of an open forum type website, craiglist has successfully attracted millions of users. Although the mass amount of users may appear to make this website look useful in networking various people, it can also be argued that it is accomplishing the same goals as communicating over e-mail or instant messenger. The people who use this website generally stay within their own location when searching for people to meet or places to go and things to do, therefore they are not expanding their searches to people in other parts of the county. By developing relationships with only certain people in comfortable, familiar settings, craiglist is just as useful as e-mail or instant messenger, but does not create a vast online community.

Craigslist Reponse

The Craigslist article by Putnam and Feldstein would best be described as an argument that attempts to explain that the same type of communication that goes on within communities can in fact be engaged in the website called Craigslist. This San Francisco based website stands as an example of what this electronic community has to offer and is complete with categories and "discourse communities". However, I believe that some of this communication can only be achieved to an extent. I don't believe that an internet based "community" can provide the genuine feel of a face-to-face community. Like many electronic mediums, it can only do and connect so much. On the other hand, it is an impressive example of a well-achieved and well-organized discourse community and provider.

Craigslist and Public Relations

(1) The thesis that Mr. Robert D. Putnam and Lewis F. Feldstein, is trying to make is that even though Craiglist offers alot of people to make "elevator pitches" and other business deals, sometimes it Craiglist can get a little crazy. Certain situations such as unimportant, unprofessional, personal problems and stunts, as well as making lazy abbrieviations "CL", like what some people might do in Facebook and Myspace at times may reduce the professional view of the Craiglist. They also state that it is hard locally to find a great deal that Craiglist has to offer because even though they offer alot of states there are only certain people in certain areas that might participate in making valid "offerors" to the "offerees" to the public. Another problem is that sometimes the offer might no longer be valid due to the closed deal that the "offeree" made with the "offeror" since many people are Online in this website trying to make a great deal.

(2)I think due to the "Rapid-Growth Stage" that Craig Newmarks' Craigslist has experienced in the history of his website (a few years after 1995) that from its many applicants and employeers that Craigslist it has been a very successful website (even though Craig Newmarks and his staff refused to except a sell out exit strategy from another venture capitalists). Craiglist is a very efficient discourse community business site that can help the temporary unemployeed discouraged workers.

Craigslist

The author's point is that there are different ways to describe a community. An online source, such as "craigslist" would be a community because you can do all the things online that you might in a regular community, even though it is not traditional. For example, the site had areas to find and meet people, search for jobs, search for restaurants or other locations within that community.

Craiglist

I think the author is trying to show how similar this website is to the "real world." People can do all the things they would in a city, on this website. It removes the need for people to get out in the world and carry on face to face conversations with people. I think that websites such as these have some place in the world, but I they should not take the place of one's interaction with people on a daily basis. a person can only learn so much talking and typing to a computer.

Craigslist

Putnam and Feldstein see Craigslist as its own community with people able to find jobs, homes, relationships, and all kinds of other stuff on one site. Having local craiglist sites to all different places gives the user a more intimate feeling that you don't get from other blogger sites. I agree that this is a community in itself when they don't even want to meet physically at a Craiglist gathering, but rather just staying socially internet based.