"We are now entering the finale module, covering online communities and social networks. Thinking back to what we have discussed so far this semester, how do the topics of online language use, online relationships, and online identity/self-presentation relate to the phenomenon of online communities? What connections can you make between the previous modules and this last one?"
How do they relate?
This is somewhat rhetorical because they are the exact same thing... Online communities are all of these things combined into one crazy commenting shat talking forum known as the internet. It's like a smorgasbord of angry opinionated assholes with no filter at all... I like to picture a gigantic party of people with masks on, some are monsters and creatures others use their real faces. I see it like this, when entering the party the host says... no matter what you will not be harmed and after you leave the room (page/blog/SNS/whatever) nobody will ever be able to contact you again unless you want them to. Imagine the things that could go down at that party.
The internet needs all these people (animals/or whatever else people make themselves look like) because without these crazy loons, "the family", internet trolls, or honest people there wouldn't be an online community. All of these identities are what creates the internet world. fake accounts such as the "Catfish" nut job on facebook are what internet identities are all about. The fact that you don't have to be what you want to be, you don't have to show how horrible your life is. People don't have to see a fat lonely depressed person who lacks in social skills and freezes when talking to a real person, when they are one quick google search/cut & paste away from making themselves a skinny smoking hot blond that is oozing confidence, screams sexy, likes walks on the beach and sex with multiple partners. (Yeah... I went there)
I think language is something that can tie all of these things together. Language makes you what you are, you can tell a lot about someone by their lingo, especially the internet lingo. Things like (...) as I like to use would steriotypically imply that this person uses a keyboard a lot for chat and likes to help the reader understand the thought process as they are typing. Someone who used ( :) :( ;) ;( >) >() and many many more) show their emotions and show they can be cute and quirky... The language is what makes people choose if they like you or not. Internet language has to be the most tweakable language possible... You can always mash that backspace button and say something else, this leads to people NOT saying the wrong thing. Take my girlfriend for instance, I am constantly saying things that upset her on accident because I assume things her mind doesn't decode like mine. This type of thing doesn't happen when we are chatting on the internet... I can always think before hitting enter... is this ganna get me in trouble? and then change something I don't like... These types of language also help to create a happier "internet" when it comes to the online communities. There are a lot of people who otherwise may have issues with one another in real life, that can sign on to an IRC chat room and be best buddies with that person. Another great thing about internet communities is you can turn them off whenever the hell you want. If you live in a neighborhood you can't shut your annoying neighbors dog up or make his alcoholic wife stop beating him up... But on the internet... you can just close that laptop up... and any problems are GONE... I know this is more of a riskay post but I feel as though it's more real, and can better explain things that a lot of the readings covered but didn't really fully apply themselves to... For many reasons because, and I know I always come back to this but it's true... They are old studies... I believe personally that any study done before 2006 should be thrown out because things have change DRAMATICALLY from then to now on the internet... It's not a history class it's a current event based class... I don't think we need to be using studies done in 2000 for a class in 2011... Just doesn't make sense to me... These colleges need to get more studies up because this is very interesting information I just feel as though a lot of it would be very different if you applies them to the internet by today's standards... I'm sorry the post was long but that was a very loaded question to comment on...
D-Whizzle Droppin knizzle...
Oh yeah... and thanks for letting me make up the chat session I made 200$ that night and I really needed it... BTW we have some videos up if you'd like to hear what we were doing :)
How do they relate?
This is somewhat rhetorical because they are the exact same thing... Online communities are all of these things combined into one crazy commenting shat talking forum known as the internet. It's like a smorgasbord of angry opinionated assholes with no filter at all... I like to picture a gigantic party of people with masks on, some are monsters and creatures others use their real faces. I see it like this, when entering the party the host says... no matter what you will not be harmed and after you leave the room (page/blog/SNS/whatever) nobody will ever be able to contact you again unless you want them to. Imagine the things that could go down at that party.
The internet needs all these people (animals/or whatever else people make themselves look like) because without these crazy loons, "the family", internet trolls, or honest people there wouldn't be an online community. All of these identities are what creates the internet world. fake accounts such as the "Catfish" nut job on facebook are what internet identities are all about. The fact that you don't have to be what you want to be, you don't have to show how horrible your life is. People don't have to see a fat lonely depressed person who lacks in social skills and freezes when talking to a real person, when they are one quick google search/cut & paste away from making themselves a skinny smoking hot blond that is oozing confidence, screams sexy, likes walks on the beach and sex with multiple partners. (Yeah... I went there)
I think language is something that can tie all of these things together. Language makes you what you are, you can tell a lot about someone by their lingo, especially the internet lingo. Things like (...) as I like to use would steriotypically imply that this person uses a keyboard a lot for chat and likes to help the reader understand the thought process as they are typing. Someone who used ( :) :( ;) ;( >) >() and many many more) show their emotions and show they can be cute and quirky... The language is what makes people choose if they like you or not. Internet language has to be the most tweakable language possible... You can always mash that backspace button and say something else, this leads to people NOT saying the wrong thing. Take my girlfriend for instance, I am constantly saying things that upset her on accident because I assume things her mind doesn't decode like mine. This type of thing doesn't happen when we are chatting on the internet... I can always think before hitting enter... is this ganna get me in trouble? and then change something I don't like... These types of language also help to create a happier "internet" when it comes to the online communities. There are a lot of people who otherwise may have issues with one another in real life, that can sign on to an IRC chat room and be best buddies with that person. Another great thing about internet communities is you can turn them off whenever the hell you want. If you live in a neighborhood you can't shut your annoying neighbors dog up or make his alcoholic wife stop beating him up... But on the internet... you can just close that laptop up... and any problems are GONE... I know this is more of a riskay post but I feel as though it's more real, and can better explain things that a lot of the readings covered but didn't really fully apply themselves to... For many reasons because, and I know I always come back to this but it's true... They are old studies... I believe personally that any study done before 2006 should be thrown out because things have change DRAMATICALLY from then to now on the internet... It's not a history class it's a current event based class... I don't think we need to be using studies done in 2000 for a class in 2011... Just doesn't make sense to me... These colleges need to get more studies up because this is very interesting information I just feel as though a lot of it would be very different if you applies them to the internet by today's standards... I'm sorry the post was long but that was a very loaded question to comment on...
D-Whizzle Droppin knizzle...
Oh yeah... and thanks for letting me make up the chat session I made 200$ that night and I really needed it... BTW we have some videos up if you'd like to hear what we were doing :)
Wow..online communication is translated in many ways, but we have to learn to live with it, or just ignore and not use the internet.
ReplyDeleteI loved the analogy of the party with the host. I could not agree more with this comparison. Often times in chat rooms...such as the mom one I am following for the assignment...there isn't a lot of reason for these women to lie about their selves, however, I feel like they most often put themselves in the very best light they can...people can do whatever it is they would like...online.
ReplyDeleteAs you say, things do change on the internet quite fast. Not only the internet but also technology. Look at the iPhone. When it came out it was a game changer and now every smart phone works like it does. Google has it right in that they are leading the video blog arena with YouTube. As people get more comfortable with video, that will be the preferred medium for post responses and then everyone will dress up in character before making a video post.
ReplyDeleteD-Whizzle, your analogies, are how I view people/things on the internet or SNS...very scary. I'm very careful about my interaction on the internet.
ReplyDeleteNikki, that's true people really never have a reason to lie but they do it anyway. Remember that movie we watch "Catfish." I don't think anyone would make their self look bad on the internet. I mean who wants too.
ReplyDelete