I suppose the charms of virtual places center on access to its inhabitants, who often are cut from the cloth of innovators. This population-selection mechanism of cyberspace (based on the current user profile) increases the probability for diversity, at least of initial exposure. The challenge of the virtual world is the ease with which one can form new relationships. There is a potential for taking relationships to what Williams-Hawkins (1994) calls the "honeymoon stage" and then dropping the relationship when any of a number of conflicts or missed obligations arise.

The second lure of virtual places is not the serendipity of new encounter but the convenience of re-newed encounter. This convenience is only a benefit when one seeks renewed encounter and only happens when a social contract usually, but not exclusively, drawn in physical space bestows the desire on the participants.

Sometimes diversity and convenience of renewal lead to positive outcomes. This link illustrates convenient diversity that allowed a multidisciplinary course in Authoring Collaborative Multimedia. to come together in Spring quarter of 1995 at Ohio State University.

In general, I get in and out of virtual space quickly, and do not linger. Others are no doubt better equipped to address the lures of virtual space, and I solicit their responses to this topic at

Acker.1@osu.edu