This weeks readings were very very interesting, and it brought up points, that till this readings I had not given much thought to. The first thing that intrigued me came from Gerrand’s article. It brought up the problem with Global Reach’s assumptions concerning bilingualism and multilingualism. It basically assumes Internet users will use the internet in their first language. It also tends to show the estimates toward overestimating the use of minority languages. This causes a problem because it ignores other bilingual non English speakers who use English websites for business or for personal use.
The next thing that I came across that struck my interest was dealing with race, gender,rank, physical appearances, and other public features are not evident online. In the reading it mentioned that people would become “depersonalized”, losing their sense of self or other. This would make media less sociable and not a good tool for effective bonds. Then on the other hand they mention how anonymity was going to result in a redistribution of social power. I do not think there is one single side happening right now, I think we have a little bit of both.
The last thing that caught my attention was “flaming”. I believe it caught my attention because I have seen it so many times, but I had no idea it had a name. One of the possibilities they associate flaming to be caused by is missing social cues. Meaning, there are somethings we are taught not to do or say in public, but on the internet, or online anything goes, because you are anonymous, and there is no accountability. However, it is a fact that people will be more nice online than to flame. I think this is true for the most part. I think about facebook because you have your name and your picture, so you are not so anonymous, unless it is a fake profile. Most people are friends and family. Once in a while you have people flaming each other, but most people are not on there to be bullies.
People are different, some of them they fake everything and others are trustworthy. We cannot generalize something here because what apply to you doesn’t necessarily apply to someone else. Thoug, I disagree with the saying that people become “depersonalized” and this would make media less sociable and not a good tool for effective bonds. I’ve been using Facebook for years and never had any problem;instead, it helps me strengthen my relationships with old freinds and family members. the only thing that I really don’t like it when people lie and fake everything, their names, pictures, and even their thoughts by cutting and basting other people’s work as if it was their own.
Anonymity is an interesting phenomenon, particularly as it applies to CMC. As you mentioned, Baym said it could result in a redistribution of social power. On the other hand, people seem to seek out like-minded groups online and avoid anyone with differing opinions altogether. I believe it was in the second chapter that Baym referenced the famous cartoon in the New Yorker, with the dog seated at a computer and telling another dog that “On the Internet, no one knows your a dog.” That can be good and bad. As we continue to evolve in the way we use CMC, it will be interesting to see how socialization and anonymity plays out.
I don’t know about people being more nice on Facebook. I have seen a lot of times on my page where people I am friends with are feuding with their families and you will see like 50 comments and you can go and read their whole argument and dirty laundry that they are putting out there for everyone to see. I have also seen people call out their signifigant others or other people and fight with them through comments. Personally, I think they need to pick up the phone and discuss their issues with them rather then putting them on facebook. Another thing I forgot to mention in my post is that flaming is a big part of wrestling. I go to a lot of local wrestling events and of course the wrestlers have Facebook pages. I have quite a few wrestlers on my page and each week which ever wrestlers are fighting will be on each others page making comments. There is not always cussing, but they do call each other out. I believe this is pretty much publicity for the match to get people to come. So in this case, flaming is good for wrestling.
I never knew that it was called flaming as well. I liked your statement that “there are somethings we are taught not to do or say in public, but on the internet, or online anything goes, because you are anonymous, and there is no accountability.” Why do we feel that way? If you was taught not to do something just because your environment change you shouldn’t change. What would actually happen if the internet developed accountability? If you actually do things just because it is allowed over the internet but it’s not what you were taught are you actually “depersonalized?”
I feel that “flaming” does occur often, but not in the way that people who are on the outside looking into the connected world seem to think. As you alluded to, I’d say that the majority of people avoid such behavior on Facebook. However, as we all know, this sort of behavior is extremely prevalent on YouTube. Even though it isn’t difficult to personalize a YouTube account with a website, avatar, as well as videos, Youtube accounts are often devoid of such content. As such, people feel more free to feed the “flame.”
Flaming is avery ineresting topic and completely un called for on the internet. You are right to say most people are taught was is right and wrong for interpersonal communication. But onthe internet, it seems as if almost anything goes. People and ideas get slandered way too often on the internet because of this “flaming.”