Internet Exercises

Communicating in the Small Group

Exercise 1 Subject: Visiting a MUD

Given your new understanding and appreciation for group communication, your first assignment for chapter eleven is to seek out a small group that regularly uses online communication. Multi-user dungeon environments, or MUD's, are frequented by game-playing patrons who engage in a language of textual interaction, spiked with real-time commentary.

Take your web-browser to: www.mud.com/astromud

Once you login to the environment, type "help." Following the help screen's simple commands, move around the environment and talk with your new group members in AstroMud. Ask them to show you around.

Exercise 2 Subject: A visit to the Democratic Dialogue site

One of the persistent trouble spots in the world is, of course, Northern Ireland. Democratic Dialogue is the think tank guiding Northern Ireland's search for a peaceful resolution in its conflict with the United Kingdom. Visit Democratic Dialogue at www.democraticdialogue.org

After reviewing the site, what type of group conversations do you think occur at this think tank, secluded from the turmoil of the Irish-British struggle?

Exercise 3 Subject: Brainstorming and the Internet

Of all the things that the Internet is capable of, its capacity to help users "shop" for information is one of its best attributes. Brainstorm a topic for your upcoming informative speech using the Internet. Find something truly interesting and challenging.