"Couch Surfing" refers to the practice of moving from one friends house to another. The couch surfing network is a hospitality exchange where travellers stay on hosts 'couch' for free during their travel around the world.
Services provided. Interactivity of site.
- Provides a service of linking people up with free accommodation at other members houses
- Holds registration of peoples interest to couch surf or host.
- Has a secure messaging system for people to get in touch with each other without giving out personal information until a person is ready to do so.
- Holds peoples 'profiles', in which other members can give 'feedback' about the person.
- Gives information about 2 annual events for people to participate in.
What people are seeking from this site.
- People may register and use this site for the intended function of exchanging accommodation when travelling.
- They may also use it to connect with people they are otherwise not likely to meeting.
- This site allows members to meet people with similar interests (travel)
Potential ethical issues that may arise in this community
- The site creators have had to be very astute in the way the site is set up in regards to the sharing of personal information. Due to the high security risks relating to people welcoming strangers into their homes, the site has 3 methods of ensuring security. The 1st is that every user has a profile on which others can give 'feedback' on another member. 2nd is a credit card verification system showing that a member is actually the person they say they are. The 3rd is a 'vouch' system where members can vouch for others that they know and have met.
Benefits this community holds over traditional notions of community e.g. communities reliant on geographic proximity
Interestingly the vast geographic expanse of this community is the essence of what brings it together.
Without the technology to bring it together the communication would happen very slowly. This site and its function is maximised by technology becoming more efficient. Wireless, universally available, fast Internet means users can be more ad hoc about their plans, leaving the organisation of accommodation until later and later.
What this community can not provide that traditional communities can:
The way in which this online community differs from other online communities is that it is a 'linking up' service for people to meet others face to face. It therefore does not try to replace the traditional idea of a community; it probably enhances a persons real life community.
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Nice blog Tracey. I like the real world links you've identified with this community.
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