There are many positive aspects of virtual communities. They provide many with a chance to express different personas they may not feel comfortable showing elsewhere. Users can do this an environment of like minded people where they experience validation and belonging to this community and support others. Unfortunately this is also true for people who express antisocial or even dangerous behaviours.
A subculture is one that deviates from the norms and social values set out by society. Subcultures do not have to criminal, though, with many simply being a different form of expression such as “gothic.�? However groups that hold a value system that directly opposes the norms of society, that is it decreases social welfare, can be said to be a deviant subculture as proposed by sociologist Edwin Sutherland (Hagan, 1998:309, 33pgs). Theorists have argued about the validity of calling such groups a culture as self interest is a key factor in criminality but the rise of communication technology has banded together some groups of criminals.
The communication age gave rise to a number of new crimes such as electronic fraud and computer hacking but it also gave a communication network to these groups of criminals (Williams, 2000:95, 10pgs). Taking the example of computer hackers, where a person uses their computer to access another, it is more often than not a solitary excursion. However when one person accesses a highly restricted website or database, for example one belonging to the government, they may gain repute and it encourages others to try to crack areas more difficult to access. Websites can be found which offer would be hackers programs to use and help guides to assist them as well as discussion forum much like any other web site. This sharing of information and the relationships that form from meeting others with a common interest provides legitimacy for their activities.
A great deal of research has gone into examining what helps define one’s identity and many of these principals hold true in the formation of deviant subcultures. There can sometimes be conflict between what the individual perceives their identity to be and how a social group expects them to behave. Generally a person will affiliate themselves with a group that holds the same core values and the individual may alter some of their peripheral values (Newman & Newman, 2001:515, 24pgs). If a person who holds values that society considers deviant he or she may not display such traits due to the pressures of group norms. However, the World Wide Web and other communication devices have allowed deviant individuals to find and associate with other like minded people. The contact, communication and investment in these communities provides positive re-enforcement of these deviant traits and allows them to perpetuate.
Hagan, John. G.Hefler, G.Classen, K.Boehnke and H.Merkens. 1998. Subterranean sources of subcultural delinquency beyond the American dream. Criminology, 36(2):309, 33pgs (accessed 3 October 2005)
Newman, Barbara. M. and P.R.Newman. 2001. Group identity and alienation: Giving the we its due. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 30(5):515, 24pgs (accessed 3 October 2005)
Williams, Matthew. 2000. Virtually criminal: Discourse, deviance and anxiety within virtual communities. International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, 14(1):95, 10pgs (accessed 3 October 2005)
