WELL, The

WELL, The

▪ Internet community
in full  The Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link 

      long-standing Internet community that features message-board-style discussions on a wide variety of topics. Founded by Americans Stewart Brand and Larry Brilliant, The WELL's origins trace back to 1985, when it began as a dial-up bulletin board system (BBS) located in San Francisco. Since then it has become one of the most respected discussion forums online.

      The WELL is divided into conferences where members of the site may generate a topic and explore issues pertinent to that topic. The conferences cover broad areas of interest, such as art, hobbies, and religion, with more-specific topics within each conference, such as local governments and television shows. Discussions may be public or private, and some may not be contributed to or viewed by members other than those who have received invitations from the topic creator. The WELL is one of the few message boards where user anonymity is prohibited, which allows viewers to discern a poster's identity at any time.

      When Internet use increased dramatically in the early 1990s, The WELL's online community became a benchmark for subsequent discussion-based Web sites. Notably, American software engineer Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.org (Craigslist), used The WELL to develop many of the ideas that were eventually realized in his own Web site. The WELL has also been utilized by other groups, such as fans of the musical group the Grateful Dead, who used the Web site to communicate with one another as they followed the band on tour. The slogan “You Own Your Own Words,” or “YOYOW,” encapsulates the guiding philosophy of The WELL, and it informs members that they will not only be recognized and given proper credit for their submissions but will be personally responsible for their submissions as well.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Well — Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la; originally… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well enough — Well Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well off — Well Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well to do — Well Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well to live — Well Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • The Clancy Brothers — and Tommy Makem The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in the 1960s. Background information Origin County Tipperary County Armagh, Ireland …   Wikipedia

  • The College of William & Mary — in Virginia Established 1693[1][2] Type …   Wikipedia

  • Well — Well, a. [1913 Webster] 1. Good in condition or circumstances; desirable, either in a natural or moral sense; fortunate; convenient; advantageous; happy; as, it is well for the country that the crops did not fail; it is well that the mistake was… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • The Price Is Right (U.S. game show) — The Price Is Right Format Game show Created by Mark Goodson Bill Todman Directed b …   Wikipedia

  • The Relapse — The Relapse, or, Virtue in Danger is a Restoration comedy from 1696 written by John Vanbrugh. The play is a sequel to Colley Cibber s Love s Last Shift, or, Virtue Rewarded . In Cibber s Love s Last Shift , a free living Restoration rake is… …   Wikipedia

  • The Order of the Stick — Principal characters, from left to right: Belkar, Vaarsuvius, Elan, Haley, Durkon, and Roy …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”