pre-bib 2

The stuff I am reading about is pretty cool. I am interested in internet and civic engagement, and so far, here's what I've figured out (scroll to end if you don't care about research):
There's this notion called "social capital" which refers to our involvement with organizations and clubs. Denser social networks are said to be better, because amassed capital is assumed to lead to better welfare. Anyway, a guy named Putnam suggested that America has been losing social capital for the last 50 years (perhaps because we're working more, which would explain how businesses are getting richer!). I think that the internet lends itself to accelerated pluralism, which refers to the idea that we will be more issues-based, individualistic, and understanding of others. This certainly meshes with details held common about our generation: we don't like group work, we're regularly regarded as social libertarians, and we tend not to attach ourselves to two massive political parties (though I'm not going so far as to suggest that will ever change). The internet offers an added bonus, in that it supplements our communicative and information outlets, thus making us more effective and connected. The strong and weak ties we build to each other on facebook, and the increased ease with which we can communicate (text message, facebook message, IM, email, phone call), will lead to greater availability and more multitasking (another thing our generation is famous for). I'm worried about the "digital divide," or the difference between internet users and nonusers, but am comforted to know that poor people and minorities have been found repeatedly to be more aware of free access, and likely to use it. Anyway, to put an end to my rambling...I think things like the facebook are increasing our social bonds, which makes us more effective and/but individualistic, which will have a profound effect on social and political culture, in our lifetime.

But I could be wrong...