Once Gerhard Haupt had announced the forum's continuation, the HKW's decision was welcomed in many an e-mail. In the forum itsself, several members gave their opinion on this. Pedro Meyer felt that it really would be necessary to "crank up" the discussion at its restart, whereas the "moderator" would have to function as an "animator". Tom Vincent, who had written an introductory statement, felt "a bit ashamed" that he had not contributed again, and thanked all the active participants in the name of the "as-yet silent observers". Héctor Zetina from Mexico confirmed that, for him and certainly many others, the English language and a certain shyness are the main obstacles to more participation in the debate.

Andrey Martynov from Novosibirsk drew our attention to the Folding Fans travelling exhibition, a project he is presenting on his website, and, in a later posting, he informed the forum of the conference "Internet, Society, Personality" in St. Petersburg (Feb.1-5, 1999).

Charity Ellis reported on the experiences with the Internet she and Paul Jorgensen have had through their project "One People". During their travels, they meet artists and representatives of cultural organizations, interview them and publish the summarized information on the website. Charity emphasized the character of the Internet as that of a tool, "which is all that it really is anyway. A tool for communication." She expressed a lack of understanding for the "many participants' degree of unimaginative and unempowered pessimism on the potential of the internet's future. While I fully realize that computer use is NOT accessible everywhere, I agree with Olu Oguibe, that it will be." Rather, the key must be "how we choose to lead the internet into this beginning for future exchange."

In a short commentary on this, Pedro Meyer seemed surprised that, in discussions on the significance of the Internet, references to the limited possibilities of Internet access are made over and over again. "Would any one ... please tell me, what if anything is something that EVERYONE has?"

During his trip through Southeast Asia, Sam de Silva noticed that Internet access was not a problem in the tourist centers. It is mostly used by the travellers, while the residents remain in the roll of the passive audience. Sam would like to participate in a project that would make it possible for young people in remote regions of the world "to express their culture using video, images, sound and text - through the internet. However, he has his doubts about this, because "if they are using the internet - they would also only be talking about the same things I would - television, and shops and money." He is especially interested in "groups of people who are making noise and are perceived as a problem to the establishment" and for whom the Internet "has become an invaluable tool for enabling these like-minded groups ... to exchange their stories, develop relationships and implement strategies."

Pedro Meyer reacted to this by sending in "a most thoughtful obituary written by my friend Shahidul Alam from Bangladesh" that he believes deals with many of the questions raised by Sam.

Cristina Ferran Jadick, a Cuban-American artist, wrote: "Through the world wide web (and this website) I've been exposed to research and discussions that heretofore were completely out of my sphere of influence." She listed a series of questions, which she in part answered and put up for discussion, for instance: "What are the potential benefits or detrimental effects of internet globalization? What can be done to control/minimize the negative effects of internet globalization? How can barriers to internet access be removed/lessened? What cultural value systems will be put forth on the net and take root globally?"

Britta Erickson began her first contribution "questioning the idea that the impact of the internet will be enormously different from that of earlier communication innovations." In addition, she asked: "Is it the sense that there is a possible global community/discourse that is significant, or is it the actual interchange that is significant?" And further "(...) will this communication surge turn out to be such a big deal either philosophically or materially?"

In her second contribution, inspired by the necessity expressed in the forum of introducing oneself first for the benefit of a better general understanding, Britta Erickson describes, among other things, how and with what matter of course her children's generation is growing up with this medium in the schools in Silicon Valley, California connected to the Internet. And she also relates how the Internet opens up new possibilities for her for more effective work as a specialist for contemporary Chinese art. In spite of everything, she is sceptical: "But in spite of all this, I just am not sure I buy into the idea that there is, or can be, globalized culture."

Pedro Meyer answered that she should not be worried, because "globalized culture is as possible as having all the females and the males in the world think alike." He is certain that... "as the internet becomes larger, each cultural representation will have their own presence on the web, with each group having their own language and cultural values very much present." As confirmation of this, he wrote about how different the social perception of a McDonald's hamburger in the world can be. "If we find that such a lowly food product has such a diversity of interpretations as I have described, can you imagine what the internet will offer?"

Sam de Silva agreed with Pedro Meyer that there are great differencs between people "... but what concerns me is the way the marketing forces (not market forces) are so effective in their campaigns throughout the world ... They seem to understand what makes us tick - what makes us desire - what makes us consume." In the context of the Net, he pointed out that "more and more people are interested in portal sites. These are websites like Yahoo! that provide gateways - portals - to all that the user - the 'global' user - wants to experience. If its on Yahoo! it must be what you want to experience."

A lot of interest was shown in Ricardo Basbaum's posting "dialogues in and out the net". In view of a form of communication by which we do not meet physically, he asks: " What kind of psychology is transmitted through this limited type of interaction? ... the majority of the messages concentrate on describing oneself, in a self-statement with presentation purposes. Should we speak of a kind of narcisism? ... what makes this interaction so pleasureable for everybody is the feeling for a wide and open space where we can attach ourselves, feeling free to express what we do, who we are, what are our believes, etc. So, is the internet a place where to expand individuality?" The sites on the WWW are competing for attention in a kind of "game of seduction". And for that reason, Ricardo is interested in "the possibility of exercising ourselves in a new communication game" offered by this forum. As a result, we invent "new practices of seduction and communication, ... a new psychology which involves (and transforms) the old forces of attraction, repulsion, grouping, etc combined with new tools, a new pragmatic. That's what fascinates me."

Pedro Meyer feels that, in such a dialogue form, it is only normal and a matter of politeness to introduce oneself first. "By all doing this, you can pick up from others what you want to discuss, who it is that you respond to." "... but then why does this not happen on a regular basis? that of responding to others. And here is a key, as I see it, to this issue." ... "We need time, lots of it, in order to generate such dialogues that are mutual, reciprocal and multidimensional."

Cristina Ferran Jadick wanted to add something to that. "When we use the internet to communicate with each other, we do not have the benefit of the usual visual (gestures, facial expressions, body language) and oral ... cues. Therefore,on the net, the autobiographical information ... serves as a functional equivalent... by giving us the background to develop a perspective from which to interpret the words we're reading."

Pedro Meyer was not sure if he had understood Cristina's question. In the context of her statements in her previous posting "Internet Globalization" on the privilege of having Internet access, he believes it is not worth developing feelings of guilt. One is not only privileged in that, but also in terms of health care, the possibility to work as an artist, etc.. "I try within what is in my power to do, to use my 'privileges' in a constructive manner."

Hans Braumüller briefly explained what Cristina might have meant and, in reference to the ecological problems and the "technological separations between the north and the south" she mentions, added that these are "not natural given", but rather an "expression of a process of colonialism, imperialism and history, made by humans, so can be changed by humans."

Anjali Arora expressed her enthusiasm for the possibilities the Internet offers her. ("This is a revolution ... one of the finest things to happen to humankind"). She believes that, "in developing countries like mine (India)", the Internet would contribute to more transparency and "to ridding our societies of their wheeler-dealers and corrupt leaders". It is "truly a very democratic medium", ... "The critical factor here is the individual, and his will to make things work for him." "The graduates who pass out of India's premier Management and Technology institutes" are not only coming from the elite, but often "from extremely humble backgrounds".

José Tlatelpas wrote: "I think that the art and culture published in the web are not, by themselves, a different culture and a different art. The web works as a media to distribute the cultural products and services and, in the process, affects its development, style and way, not the essence." That is why "the Internet culture is not properly the culture itself, but a style or a mode of the main culture." The Web "is powerful, but it is limited ... but it is alive and dynamic. We are also limited users, and we find ways to be, however, borderless, hopeful, renewing." From this he derived his suggestion to create an "International network of alternative cultural organizations in the web". For example, it could contain a "bank of photos, writings, critics, art" and a "coordinated network of magazines and distribute our press releases in a much more powerful way." ... "we should also try to profesionalize our work. I do not mean comercialize..."

Sam de Silva asked right after that: "why don't we 'setup' an exhibition - through wish we can express - artistically or otherwise - what we think? ... perhaps it could be part of a physical conference/event also..."