(b. 1965) is assistant professor in the college of computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She conducts research on virtual communities and education, formerly at the the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Media Lab. She founded MediaMOO, a MUD (Multi-User Domain) or text-based virtual community for professional media researchers, and MOOSE Crossing, which she describes on her Web page as "a MUD designed to be a constructionist learning environment for kids -- a context to get them excited about reading, writing, and programming." This essay originally appeared in 1996 in Technology Review, a magazine published by MIT's alumni association for a national audience interested in technology and society.

Amy Bruckman's home page

"Finding One's Own in Cyberspace" text

1. Bruckman makes a number of comparisons between cyber-communities and real-life, physical places. Why is it "a lot harder to find a good virtual community than it is to find a good bar" (¶ 5), according to the author?

2. Make an outline of Bruckman's advice for designing and constructing virtual communities, then evaluate one of her points in depth. For example, what are Bruckman's arguments in support of exclusive admissions policies and "the use of wealth as a social filter" (¶ 27)? How does she anticipate and respond to objections to her views? How persuaded are you by her arguments on this point?

3. Bruckman says, "The great promise of the Net is diversity" (¶ 37), and she mentions diversity in conjunction with several of her arguments. What value does she seem to see in diversity, online or off-line? To what extent do you agree with these values?

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