The document discusses the importance of online communication for college students and its role in facilitating intercultural relationships. While the internet allows for cross-cultural connections, scholars debate whether it is easier or more difficult than in-person relationships. Some argue that online relationships are less influenced by social and cultural biases since visual cues are absent, while others believe developing meaningful online relationships can help overcome first impressions when people meet in person.

1. Importance of Intercultural Relationships Online
 With being a college student, especially at IUE, online communication is very
important.
 The Internet enables us to form cross cultural relationships, but is it easier or
more difficult than in real life?
 Martin and Nakayama (2010) argue that “online communication is both similar
to and different from real-life relationships, and it both facilitates and inhibits
the development of intercultural relationships” (p. 401).
 Some scholars believe that online communication can only help intercultural
relationships due to the lack of us being able to filter verbal cues. Since we
cannot see who we are talking to, the online relationships are less likely to be
based upon normal social and cultural norms, prejudices or stereotypes.
 McKenna, Green and Gleason argue in Martin and Nakayama (2010) that “If
one can develop a solid online relationship, not based on physical attributes or
attractiveness, by the time the online friends meet in person, these line of sight
data don’t matter so much” (p. 401).

2. Importance of Intercultural Relationships
 When being a student online we do not
know each other’s race, sometimes
gender, appearance, sexual orientation,
and much more. We only learn these
things if people are willing to disclose this
information.
 Online communication allows people to
concentrate on what their peers are saying
versus how they look or smell.
 How would you feel if this woman was in
your class? Now what if she was in your
online class, you never knew what she
looked like, but she proposed intelligent
and well-thought out responses, would
that make you feel different?