Virtual Communities: who, where and why?

Hi all! What can I say? To get straight to the point: I need your help. I have been strolling over The Net for 2 years now and I am happy about it. Great medium, email is a fabulous thing. Since I am a student in masscommunications, I 'analyse' the Net, Usenet, IRC etc. in a certain way. I see the way people communicate with each other and the way companies try to get connected with their customers. Few of them are doing a good job, at least, that is how I feel. Since I read an article in BusinessWeek on virtual communities I have been reading and about this subject a lot. It's fascinating to see how many people can develop relationships through computer-mediated communication. Places like The Well and ECHO are good examples of Communities in Cyberspace. Can these places replace communities IRL? I doubt that. I am a member at Eminds, been tasting the atmosphere and I can say: it's a good taste. But my friends IRL will not be 'neglected'. The literature I have read on communities, the growth of the Net, life in a MUD etc. has all become ingredients of a thesis on the existence and commercial potential of virtual communities. Can companies be succesful at making their website into a virtual community? What are they doing wrong now? Who are the people participating in virtual communities? Has it become their primairy medium? Theory and other research provides answers, but not to everything. I have a few questions of my own. I have put them in HTML: not an easy job. I need more sleep... Now they are lying there on two servers, just waiting to be read through and answered. I hope people who read this message can find the time to surf over there and help me better comprehend the ins and outs of life in a virtual community. The two URL's: Thanks for 'listening' and perhaps for cooperating in my thesis! I'll be back here soon! Have fun :) p.s. Criticism and remarks, good or bad, are always welcome! email: aaronp@dds.nl