I will start by saying that my blogger, Joanna, may be outside of the norm because she is a professional blogger. However, I find that she does fit the profile set by our readings in most cases, maybe even to an exaggerated extent. Baym argues in chapter 5 that reduced cues and social risk influence users to be more honest online. Joanna is excessively honest, revealing things about herself that break down digital distance and make the reader feel personally connected to her through revealing posts. Because she makes her living through her blog, she is the product she is selling and has incentive for revealing more about herself and her personal life in order to attract readers. Posting between 5 and 10 times weekly, Joanna’s post have a wide range of subjects spanning from fluffy posts about life in New York to more disclosing accounts of marital intimacy. As Baym acknowledges that the more space there is to fill online the more truth is revealed, I have come to find that Joanna may need to write about her private matters not only to connect to her readers, but simply to have subject matter to fill the amount of content she needs to generate. Additionally, on Fridays, Joanna has a weekend prep posts that focuses solely on links to other content. This content can range from products she recommends, to humorous YouTube videos or posts by other bloggers. In this way she confirms her own image by connecting with outside content or individuals.
Walther’s article brings up the issue of self presentation as we alter it depending on the situation and relationship to the person we are interacting with. Obviously we act differently towards our bosses and professors than we do with our friends and families. In Joanna’s case she is presenting to a world of strangers in the same space as her friends and family through her blog. However, because she makes her living from her blog, she has more incentive to present in a way that attracts new readers, essentially strangers. Walther argues, “When CMC users are motivated to do so, these processes allow them to manage impressions and ultimately exceed parallel FtF partnerships in social orientation or intimacy, according to the hyperpersonal perspective.”. From this I gather that Joanna may be crafting an image through her more personal content to create what feels like a personal relationship with each of her readers (simulating a FtF connection) and provide incentive for them to continue to follow her blog.
Turkle’s article largely focuses on users who are either “working through” their own personal problems or “acting out” through the medium of MUDs. While I couldn’t find much parallel between the figures in his article and my blogger, Joanna, I did find the article useful in understanding how many non-professionals might use digital space to work out issues of their own identities. His example of Dr. Jekyll/Mr.Hyde was helpful in understanding the difference between self presentation versus self display, and I can see this from other bloggers in the spot light. Several years ago a blogger who goes by “Perez Hilton” created a bully style image in which he made fun of or revealed information about celebrities. At that time he was more of a caricature, playing an exaggerated bad guy role. While he still makes a living reporting celebrity news, his image has softened extensively. Several years ago when bullying was first big in the media spotlight he vowed to stop his abuse of celebrities and refocus his gossip blog. His example has played itself out much like those featured in Turkle’s piece.
I think Baym makes a good point that we might be motivated to reveal more about ourselves online because their is more space to fill. Conversatons offline are more focused on an exchange of information between two or more participants. When writing a blog, it can be all about ourselves or any particular topic we choose to talk about. This might give us more freedome to be more open. It certainly gives us the real estate to do so.
Professional bloggers throw a whole new set of parameters into the mix! People amazingly cultivate this following that allows them to sell books, be on television shows, and do all sorts of things with thousands of people cheering them on. I agree that it does really take a toll on how translucent they can be. They can no longer say 100% of what’s on their mind if they have an audience that they are writing for (versus writing a blog to please themselves).
I agree with Ms. Joanna in that CMC users are able to communicate with more people at once than with face-to-face conversations. However, I’m not sure about CMC’s meaning more on the level of intimacy or social orientation. Sometimes, people use technology to deliver news that may be uncomfortable to deal with when facing the other person. For example, if someone seeks to end a relationship, they may want to send a text or call rather than just tell the other person in the flesh. While “convenient”, this method could label the dumper as a coward, which is why some things are better left to be done face-to-face.
CMC is a great way to communicate with otehrs especially when you have info to extract and want to feel comfortable while doing it. Most people feel they can have better conversations on social networks and blogging because it gives them the freedom to be themselves without showing facial expressions or coming off as rude. The new way to end or even begin relationships sometimes begins with a simple text….crazy lol. But, people feel more comfortable being them during CMC.