Researchers have been investing the language used in presenting online identities when interacting with other people. The research of CMC settings has disclosed that people have a trend in which they represent themselves. Huffaker and Calvert look at the age, gender, racial and sexual identity that is portrayed among teens through blogs and chat sessions. There are cues in which blog writers and website keepers are using that enlightens the reader as to who they might be in real life or what they may or may not look like in person. In some cases, bloggers are giving personal information outright, such as where they live or their age. According to Huffaker and Calvert’s article, about 92% of bloggers give a name to their readers. However, in some cases, a writer may be ambiguous and according to Huffaker and Calvert there are trends to watch for as a reader.
One certain characteristic of computer mediated communication that is insightful is emoticons. Huffaker and Calvert reported on Witmer and Katzman’s finding about the signals found through emoticons. “In a case study of 3,000 online messages, Witmer and Katzman
(1997) found that females used more graphical accents, including emoticons, to express emotion in their discourse than males (Witmer & Katzman, 1997), a pattern that is also reflected in adolescent males' tendency to deny their feelings, including sadness (Ruble & Martin, 1998). In an analysis using instant messaging dialogues, males rarely use emoticons in conversations with other males, but do use them with females, while females use an equal amount of emoticons in both male and female conversations (Lee, 2003). I found this part of the research to be interesting because it seems like in most conversations women are more likely to use expressions and extensive emotions and explaining when the speak. I think it is fascinating that it translates through with the use of expressions on the computer.
According to the article, Ethno-Racial Identity Displays on Facebook by Sherri Grasmuck, Jason Martin and Shanyang Zhao, there are other aspects of identity other than a name, age or gender that has reason for attention as well. Studies have looked at race and ethnicity and how it affects the internet dynamics and communication. I don’t feel as a reader that I am too concerned about race or ethnicity of the author of the material I read. I feel indifferent when it comes to knowing too much about someone when I read online, however, if I was getting into a relationship of some sorts I would obviously care what the background of the other person was. I believe that the nature of the setting or environment constitutes the need for more information when necessary.
The little section towards the end of your post about how in most conversations "women are more likely to use expressions and extensive emotions and explaining when they speak" makes me think of a dave chapelle stand up act where he talks about how women use more descriptions and words in their stories than men. He basically told the same story for the point of view of a man and a woman but the women's story was much longer because she kept explaining how certain things made her feel while the man's story was about 2 sentences long because he showed no emotions about it. i guess the way Lee (2003) described the way man and women talk on the internet also describes the way men and women talk face to face.
ReplyDeleteYes, females are known for identifing themselves, or expressing their feeling by emotions. However, I read alot of pages where men are doing the same thing these days. I do believe that it is done for fun and games though. Also, females are known to be talkers, so they can go on and on with a subject that they want answers to. I believe it is a way of getting into your business on a slick side. Males are known for shutting down when the questioning get to thick and they dont want to answer. The answers then become short and narrow.
ReplyDeleteTo me, online cmc follows real life. Men put on a facade of being rough and tough, but when they are with their wife/girlfriend, they soften and loose some of the hardass attitude.
ReplyDeleteI agree Niki, backgrounds mean a lot. When women post on blogs they tend to text too much. So it is in person we go over board when talking. The men don't talk that much in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think most women talk alot because they are looking for some type of connection...
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