A social aggregation of individuals who develop personal relationships because of their common use of computer mediated communications (CMC), that is, they have become acquainted and continue their association in cyberspace. Such communities appear after the participants carry on discussions over periods of time and discover that they have common interests. Members of a virtual community have no bond other than their interest in the topics of their discussions. Virtual communities are not formed because of geographic, political, or any of the other boundaries which have previously denned communities. Yet they are real, and often lead to meetings, picnics, personal associations, and acts of mutual support. Members have carried out fund raising for a community member in need, met and married, and sent flowers for weddings and funerals.