Why, now that we are beginning to tap into the vast power of interconnectedness known as the Net, do we find ourselves becoming increasingly disconnected? Though the question is not new, the irony of this fact remains ever so strong. Online social communities are growing as fast as our offline communities are shrinking. And what do these virtual communities offer?

Some are offering paid "services" with names like SuperPoke where users can post a silly picture to their friend's publicly viewable web space. There are, however, very real benefits to such online systems. The ability to find old friends and keep a line of communication to everyone who you know. But what else? Walking through these virtual neighborhoods, one cannot help but feel lonely and isolated. Short broadcast messages... "I had such a bad hair day today!" An animated graphic of a virtual Santa Claus dancing in the snow. It is as if the product intentionally instills a sense of emptiness while providing a mechanism to fill the void, temporarily of course. A host of other psychological devices are also put into play. Users earn points, ratings or virtual gold as they use the product -- entitling them to use the service more.

What do people really need the Internet to do for them? How can we harness the natural powers of interconnectedness without thinning the roots of people over generations of its use? Or, to state it less arguably, how could we use the Net to deepen the roots of individuals and help them to grow thicker and wider branches?