how to connect with fellow eccentrics

[Laura Weldon]

Technology has freed us from associating only with people we happen to meet by chance or group association. We can connect across all sorts of boundaries using Yahoo! Groups, MySpace, ning.com, blogs and more. New skills and perspectives are learned, friendships are made and ultimately the world becomes smaller.

My children are members of special interest forums. They converse and share information with friends of all ages from all over the world on such topics as acoustics, tractor repair, animal husbandry, handmade guitars and computer case modifications. Often these forums diverge from the topics and members learn about one another's country, politics and sense of humor. I too have made friends online. Sometimes we find that these online friendships turn into real friendships.

My friend Jerry is an innovative knitter. He creates his own designs and shares them on several forums. He's also a literate and witty guy. Apparently has made him quite popular. When he was planning to drive across the country he let folks on these forums know he wouldn't be posting for two weeks. A clamor went up----people wanted to know the route he was taking, if he could join them for dinner, if they could host him for the night, if he'd stop by their yarn shop, if he'd agree to visit their knitting group. Despite his attempts to protest Jerry ended up taking a trip across the country eating meals and staying in the homes of people he'd only "met" online. They gave him handspun yarns and homemade scarves. I don't think he'll ever forget the power of these virtual friendships.

How have you or your children connected with like-minded or different sorts of people? Do you search out and contribute to forums and social networking sites? How about your children? Have you set up field trips or activities with strangers using a blog or other technology? How have these connections worked out for you? For your children? What does it mean when we connect in this wider way?

[Urmila Anna Samson]

I was a gregarious person until my first child was born and circumstances took us to live on the outskirts of a city I'd been away from for a decade. (Beautiful place, no complaints.) The feeling of loneliness and isolation was completely dispelled by being in touch with people via the internet. However, this is the first time I am on a site of others who are into learning in freedom. I look forward to it.

More importantly I wish to be in touch with Laura regarding her book.

[Laura Weldon]

Our children are the first generation to grow up connected via the Internet to a world of people and information readily available. It's something we couldn't have imagined. I hope this book can benefit from voices of people from all over.