The first interesting thing I found in chapter 3 is the flaming. “Walther et al.(1994) defined flaming as messages that include wearing, insults, name calling, negative affect, and typographic energy,” (Baym, 57). I, too, think that most of people are more likely to be nice than flame, and that people usually overestimate the amount of flaming because bad things are always more memorable. It also depends in the group, if the group you are interacting with is aggressive and they all its members use flame, then you will be more likely to use the same language to please your friends since this is the norm in this group, and become more acceptable and welcomed. On the other hand, if the group is nice and none of its members use flame, you will do the same because this is the norm in this particular group. In addition, if people use flame in his or her ordinary life they would use it online because it also depends in the people’s background, personality, and the level of education.
Another interesting topic is the use of nonverbal social cues. For example, I use the acronym “LOL” a lot, but I never seen or use “ROFL,” (rolling on the floor laughing), I like it and I am going to use it from now on. Another example is the deletions (leave out pronouns, vowels, punctuation). I think everybody does that today in texting or posting in Facebook or Twitter. In Twitter, for instance, we have certain amount of words to tweet, so we have to make it short. In Facebook, I have hundreds of friends, so I really don’t have time to write a lot and in full sentences or check the spelling, grammar, and punctuation. After all, as long as we write something that everybody can understand and be there to share our thoughts and ideas it really doesn’t matter and your presence would be appreciated.
The last interesting thing in Chapter 3 is the fact that web pages can be set to appear in 32 different languages. I think this is can help us to communicate and make more business with the other part of the world. Additionally, if someone has a second language beside English why not use it to socialize online with family members and friends who can not write English. I have a Mexican friend in my Facebook page who always post in Spanish . Even though I’m not Spanish but if a post attracted me, I can use the translator to translate it into English to understand the post and be able to share. In addition, I can use my mother language to write something for my Mom who lives overseas and can not read English.
The Baym article said that flaming behavior exhibited via CMC was overestimated. This may or may not be true, but I do think that CMC may entice at least some people to flame when they ordinarily wouldn’t face-to-face. Dr. Markman has an article that explains how anonymity is a driving force behind online trouble-making. Just look at the commenters on the Commercial Appeal website. I guarantee you many of those people wouldn’t say the things they say if they knew their real-life identity would be exposed. And they sure as heck wouldn’t say those things to someone else’s face.
The term flaming evolved out of CMC activity. I think it’s obvious that flaming behvior does occur in media other than CMC. But if the behavior was exhibited the same way and in the same amount, than how did the term develop in the first place as it relates to CMC?
I totally agree with you ,Tim, that people “wouldn’t say the things they say if they knew thier real-life identity would be exposed.”But the thing is that it is easier to flame through the internet, where you can hide your identity, and say whatever you want to say to whomever you like.
I completely agree that those who engage in “flaming” would most probably not be the type to act that way in real life. The fact that you can hide your identity so well in online communication is definitely the driving force behind these aggressive and inappropriate comments. I wonder if people use the internet to anonymously get out pent up aggression or frustration they can’t release in the real world. Or perhaps these are mean people no matter what the medium! According to the citations in chapter 3, the most recent study on flaming was done in 2000 (its possible I missed something, but I’m fairly certain.) I think it would be extremely worthwhile to do a new study on this issue, and see what the situation with flaming is currently on the internet.
You brought up lack of time in conjunction with deletions and acronyms, and said it is ok as long as everyone you are sharing that message with understands. While I do thing that most people have a basic understand of this “text talk” lingo online, there is real evidence that some (teens for example) use these tactics to hide the true meaning of their messages from parents and others online they may not want to be able to interpret their messages. This “meaning management” allows them to converse online and hide their true messages from others. While they post these messages to “mass communication” channels like facebook, it allows them a type of interpersonal communication.
Thanks Meagan, Yes, I meant that it is okay to use acronyms like LOL, and deletion like “plz” instead of please and so on. These things are acceptable to everybody who want to interact on Facebook, for example, but don’t have much time to write a lot and in details. Though, I think you pointed out a very good point about the creativity of our high tech. teens which can make the parents loose their control on them most of the time.
Meagan, you brought up a very interesting point, and maybe people should know more regarding it. Also, I agree with rsasali, sometimes when you do not have time, but you have a lot of friends you tend to make things short but still understandable. I use to be a text addict when I was in high school. I would even have friends, just to text, and I could get so many texts at once that responding had to be fast and short. I strayed away from that since that was when I was 16, and I maybe now I receive less than 15 texts a day now :( mostly from close friends, family and my fiance, but I still kept the habit of deletion, because of the time issue or maybe just out of habit.
You and I seem to have found similar interesting topics. Great minds think alike, I guess. Seriously, though, the use of different languages seems to be a major factor in today’s society. One of my campus teachers even said that our generation can’t afford to be ignorant of other languages. We may need to learn other languages to get by in the U.S.A. nowadays and in the future. My parents have stressed that one of their regrets is that they have failed to learn enough of another language to feel secure in various situations.