精美英文欣赏:因特网的魅力何在?(上)（在线收听）

What Makes the Internet Attractive?

因特网的魅力何在？

Cyberspace communications, including email discussion groups, chatrooms, bulletin boards and blogs, offer people an opportunity to experience a form of social contact, with no real social presence.

网络通信，包括电子邮件讨论组、聊天室、布告栏和博客，让人们有机会体验社交的一种形式，没有真实的相见。

Some people find it so attractive that they do not know when to stop.

有人觉得这样很有吸引力，但是不知道什么时候结束。

Others might think the Net a cold place, and yet it need not be.

有些人可能认为网络是个冷酷的地方，没有必要。

In the cold isolation of our large cities, where people often live separated from kin or lonely in the crowds, the Net can become a surrogate social-life—a vital source of interpersonal contact.

大城市人与人之间是冷漠的，人们和亲人们分开，孤独地在人群中，网络给社交生活建立了平台——人际交往的重要资源。

An on-line communication is an easy way to meet new people.

在线交流是认识新朋友的简单方法。

Certainly it is very low-risk due to the essential informality of on-line conversation.

当然由于在线交流关键的非正式性，风险非常小。

Rather than being required to keep a single conversation with one or more people, relationships usually form out of numerous, often short exchanges.

与保持和一个人或者多个人对话相反的是，人际关系的形式多样，通常是简短的交流。

In a way, it reminds us of commuters who take the bus.

从某种程度上说，它像是每天乘坐公交车往返上班的人之间的关系。

They see each other frequently but each meet is fairly short.

他们经常看到对方，但是每次见面都相当地短暂。

In situations like this the pressure is minimal. If you'd rather read the paper than chat then you just do it and don't worry about it.

在这种情况下压力是最小的。如果你更想看报纸而不是聊天的话，你就可以这么做，不用担心什么。

But, over time, many people form lasting relationships this way.

但是，随着时间的推移，很多人凭借这种方式建立了长久的关系。

In the on-line environment, just like any other social situation, the basic element is human attention.

如同其他社会环境一样，在网络环境中，基本元素是人类的关注。

In the public forums, you communicate with groups that may have as many as several hundred people involved—even if they don't all make comments.

在公共论坛，你会在多达几百人参与的小组中与人交流——即使不是每个人都会发表评论。