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The Virtual Community is a 1993 book aboutvirtual communities byHoward Rheingold, a member of the early network systemThe WELL. A second edition, with a new concluding chapter, was published in 2000 by MIT Press.
The book's discussion ranges from Rheingold's adventures on The WELL,computer-mediated communication and social groups and information science. Technologies cited includeUsenet,MUDs (multi-user dungeons) and their derivativesMUSHes andMOOs,Internet Relay Chat (IRC),chat rooms, andelectronic mailing lists. Rheingold also points out the potential benefits for personal psychological well-being, as well as for society at large, of belonging to a virtual community.
