New Wave Library

(My First Experience with Virtual Communities)

Football! Football (for American readers, soccer) was that reason why I, hesitantly, approached the online community unknowing what to expect. First, I spent long difficult minutes thinking of the best login name. Then I logged on. And I saw the football message board. So many discussion threats. So many members. So many login names. And so many avatars. How I wanted one too. You know, to be like others. To belong. So I spent many difficult minutes thinking about the best possible avatar. And then I created one. After that I was ready to post for the first time. But where to start? General football discussion? Post match and in game chat? Mediaroom? The club house? Transfer talk? So many choices…Now, I visit the football forum every single day. I post quite frequently too. Usually, I add to some interesting threat, occasionally I start a new threat too. Last week one threat I had started received a 5 star rating (out of 5). A couple of days later I got a personal response to one of my posts. I felt happy. I felt accepted. I felt like I belonged.