From M/Cyclopedia of New Media
Introduction
- Newsgroups, bulletin boards, message boards and discussion forums are all forms of asynchronous online conferencing. These forms of online communication are examples of public interaction. With these forms of interaction, people are connected through a common interest more so than each other personally (although closer interaction is often achieved though these forms of communication). Interaction is posted for the public to view.
Features Important to Social Interaction
- Threads – Communication via these public domains is organised in broad interest groups. Underneath these broad groups are numerous simultaneous ‘threads’ or discussion topics. It is under these topics that interaction occurs (Whittle, 1998). Users choose according to special interest, curiosity or on the strength of the other users posting comments. Therefore, it is a way of grouping those users with collective interests allowing for a more stimulating interaction.
- Asynchronous – As with email, interaction within a public domain such as newsgroups, bulletin boards, message boards and discussion forums is defined as asynchronous (Suler, 2003). A simple search though any such archives will show that because of te delay in response, threads can often last anywhere between a few days to months even possibly years. For such reasons, interacting with others in this medium is often difficult if just confined to the postings. It is often very difficult to gauge a person’s personality through such sporadic postings (Whittle, 1998).
- Sense of community – The advantage of frequent use and postings on forums is that users begin to recognise and identify with those with whom they share. From this a small community is evident. A quick trawl through any thread will highlight hierarchies, connections, close bonds and users who are openly disliked (Whittle, 1998). This can work to the new users advantage. Because threads are archived, it can make their transition than chat, as a new user can see how others interact with each other and decide when to join into the discussion.
- Nonetheless, the hierarchy’s often give people a sense of realism, perhaps mirroring their working environment or other personal relationships. The need to be constantly aware of the possibility of offending other user’s posting and those simply reading is extremely high.
- Transference of specialist knowledge – One of the unique features of public interaction via these domains is the opportunity to transfer knowledge. With wide ranging topics in any number of intrinsic interest niches, the rewards of reading or engaging in discussion with other users with high knowledge on a subject area are astounding(Chayko, 2002). However, as with most other interactions online, anonymity plays a large part in influencing the degree to which those giving information are qualified to do so and how much of that information is true.
Concerns
- As already mentioned, one this type of online social interaction is susceptible to similar problems as any other viz. anonymity and security. Furthermore, another concern is that users heavily involved in the inner workings of a community-based thread find it difficult to see the transition from their face-to-face relationships and those which they uphold online.
Bibliography
Chayko, M (2002) Connecting: How we form socail bonds and communities in the Internet age, New York : State Univeristy of New York Press. ISBN 0791454339
Suler, J (2003) Email Communication and Relationships. Retreived September, 1 2004 from http://www.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/emailrel.html
Whittle, D (1998) Cyberspace: The Human Dimsension, New York: W H Freeman & Co. ISBN 0716783118
Related Wiki Links
Online Social Interaction - Chat(MSN)
Online Social Interaction - Email
Online Social Interaction - The Virtual Community
Online Social Interaction - Behavioural Effect of Frequent Usage
Back to Online Social Interaction
Back to Elizabetta Sorbello's Main Page
Elizabetta Sorbello 19:25, 28 Oct 2004 (EST)
