"Basically, I compare self-representation communities in internet (LJ, blog, myspace and so on) with building of neurons inside the brain of a newborn child (programmed cell death).
First, a quick-'n'-dirty introduction to neuroanatomy (skip if knowlegdeable):
A typical neuron looks like a Cyclops head (nucleus) with hairy tentacles that receive signals (dendrites) and one long hand (axons) ending in several fingers (axon terminals). The brain of a child consists of too many neurons, they are connected chaotically; after some time a relatively stable network of information-transmitting cells is built, and most of the inactivated unsocial neurons die. It is called ‘programmed cell death’: a neuron with very few connections receives a certain command from a neighbour cell and commits suicide.

Now I start the Livejournal metaphor-model:
Every nerve cell (call it a livejournal user) can communicate with other cells releasing transmitters (comments): activating (positive comments) or inhibiting (negative comments) chemicals. The signals (interesting links, videos, rumours) are spread inside networks according to pre-established activation patterns (typical sharing information with friends). Every user is given some time to integrate; but after some time the feedback, doesn't matter whether positive or negative,  becomes essential, and outsiders whose posts nobody reads, die off (not_literally....they just lose interest in writing). “I am being read, therefore I exist.” Social isolation in real life causes depression and eventually leads to suicide – a virtual network can be a safety net."

Drei Jahre nachdem ich das geschrieben habe bin ich offiziell ein Neuron :)