In the Mariam-Webster dictionary, culture is the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations. It is a group of people who have some sort commonality; for example: attitude, customs, beliefs, ethics, and also value systems.

But we are living in a society where many of things are done on the internet so how does culture fit into our digital age? Some cultures readily embrace change. Cultures have utilized the web, among for other things, to facilitate information sharing between members. It has become a means for exchange. And through this sharing between members, some cultures have been formed and are continuing to form online. Online-cultures have many similar qualities to real world cultures; stories, rituals, symbols, language, organizational structures, control systems and shared customs, beliefs and value systems. However I would argue that they have 4 main differences:

• It has to rely heavily on the notion of information and knowledge exchange.
• Allows members to expand weak ties (across the world)
• It is a “cognitive and social culture, not a geographic one.” (from Howard Rheignold’s Daily Life in Cyberspace, 1993)
• It is “the product of like-minded people finding a common ‘place’ to interact.” (from Rob Kitchin’s Theoretical Perspective: Approaching Cyberspace, 1998)

In Dr. Thomas Schalow’s Community Cultures: Differences between Online communities and Real-World Communities, he states

networks have their own cultures, which tend to be recreations of the real-world cultures of their members. …networks can amplify certain aspects of real-world culture and focus the online culture in a particular direction…

GameTZ front Page. Source: GameTZ

So how does GameTZ fit into the being an online-culture? GameTZ has the stories of its history; when it was created, who created it and the process it took to get to where it is today. Its history has been passed down and even appears on the community webpage and a record of all transactions are kept:

The entire history of every detail is recorded. The state of your deal is tracked and presented at every stage.

There are also rituals and customs in this culture. Not in the same process you would think of in a real-culture, but rituals nonetheless. The ritual and custom is the process in which a member of the culture goes about trading something with another member, the rules if you will. The symbols and language of this culture are somewhat one in the same. The symbols are used as their language. Small icons appear that represent and stands for words or phrases. The culture also has an organizational structure and control systems. The organizational structure is defined as the unwritten lines of power and influence that indicate whose contributions are most valued. In GameTZ some members contribute (meaning trade) more and are thought of highly. They are not questioned as much. Members have commented

“…only trade with silver/gold stars+.” “As you make trades at GameTZ, you will build a reputation that has real value.”

The control system in place is the transactional tracking, rating and feedback system. This help controls the atmosphere so that members do not get scammed. This control system makes bartering safer than shopping. A member bargains their trade so they makes sure they get their worth.

This culture has shared beliefs and values in their common love of books, video games, movies, music, etc. and in the sense that they believe in what the culture stands for. And more importantly GameTZ is a “cognitive and social culture,” they believe in the sharing of their information. It is not one based on geography and is a product of liked-minded people. They use the internet for interaction, and the internet is the sole form for which this culture functions.