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Internet communication sites engage with the non- virtual world in an interesting way; while operating online, these sites construct communities which impact real life events. This delicate balance allowed for the creation of alternative travel sites, for instance Squattheplanet.com (STP.com) and similar forums which encourage global or local travel on limited budget and resources. The site exists online, allowing travelers to retrieve necessary information or communicate with fellow squatters or housing families regardless of location and time. The communications on such a site help people locate homes, places to eat, and stay safe while traveling. Furthermore, they provide the comfort and social connections humans require. Constant travel across countries, or worlds, means leaving behind friends, family and all sense of communal ties, a situation which can become isolating. Squattheplantet.com provides members with something constant and unchanging, providing a sense of stability.
Online relationships operate in a similar manner to a normal community by providing support, aid, and information, even a space for self expression. STP provides a space to create an online profile; using these profiles people can create a traveling identity and format relationships with other like minded individuals. These profiles are less interested in relationship status and gender than they are experience with travel and being on the road. One reason I think this occurs is when people travel what becomes important in their ability to survive and go from one place to another; by focusing on these ideas the online community decides what traits and skills are important and reinforce their own social norms and values. Furthermore, it allows people to create a traveling identity. While running around the world, people are disconnected from any ties and traits they were once associated with and are given the chance to create a new persona. Because the site connects travelers to actual people, the new personality has a chance to become actualized. This is a major difference between this site and other social networking systems. Something like Facebook does not necessarily facilitate actual human contact. This site connects people from all over the world, in a virtual and physical manner.