2). How do anonymity, group size, and proximity influence participation and communication in CMC groups?

These factors influence participation and communication in CMC only because we all have our own opinions on what or who a person can be. When you meet someone through CMC and have a lot in common with them, talk to them on a daily basis, and have a sense of dependency on them you would probably have a positive image of the person even if you haven't seen their face. The best example I can give about how we create an image of others through CMC would have to be issues with customer services of companies. Sometimes when we send an email to something such as Best Buy or Toys r Us and do not receive a message back we could develop a negative image of the company (possibly because when we send questions to a company, it is usually important or urgent to us). Some people would say that best buy or toys r us after not hearing back from the companies, are unreliable and lazy (this is because they are large companies that rely solely on sales and need people to stay alive and kicking). Now if we knew the majority of the people that work for these companies personally, then we would be a bit more lenient on the companies actions or use a scapegoat of a new worker making an error. If these companies treat us well that would very well be another reason why we could end up lenient for a company that others consider bad.