Website Analysis - Part C

What is the appeal for you as a user?

The main appeal from Topshop is the convenience element. The clothes can literally come to you without you having to step front outside the door. For women, one problem with IRL shopping is changing rooms, what you try on in the shop, often looks completely different once you get home. So trying on clothes in the comfort of your own home is a great appeal. Also, you can view the latest fashions, and find really good fashion websites for new tips, and what is happening in the world of fashion. With reference to techno/social determinism, technology enabled us to have the freedom and opportunity of online interaction. However, the expediency the internet has given us produced us to create opportunities like online shopping. Social determinism has enabled us to mirror existing elements of our culture, and incorporate them into the internet for our convenience.


(Article I have quoted from for my Website Analysis)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0OGT/is_3_5/ai_n16619676/pg_4?tag=content;col1
Online Shopping: What factors are important to shoppers? Journal of Academic Business and Economics. March 2005 Chuleeporn Changchit, Shawn J. Douthit, Benjamin Hoffmeyer

Website Analysis - Part B

What it is about on a cultural level?

Topshop.com is a convenient way for people to shop online, to see the latest fashions, and to be referred to the latest fashion news.
In terms of some of the issues we have covered within the unit so far –
Online communities – this aspect isn’t so much relevant to Topshop.com, yet you still have to register and become a ‘member’ so to speak. From registering you can then have a personal account with Topshop and you’re able to purchase items. There is also the ‘wish list’ where you can add items you ‘wish’ you had; this is only for account holders. Therefore there is still a community feel in that being a member is being part of something and you have additional privileges.
Users also have the freedom to use the site to shop without the pressures of being in real life; they can sit in the comfort of their own home. With reference to a Journal “This capability creates a different dynamic in the consumer-business relationship, placing more control in the consumer's hands.” (Online Shopping: 2005) Although there are control and moderations, the internet still allows for freedom to be increased.
However, with reference to ‘freedom and the internet’ the Topshop website automatically opens as the ‘U.K shopping site’ but users have the option of transferring to the U.S.A website, therefore we can see here how ‘freedom’ is predominantly provided by the U.K and the U.S.
There is another element… celebrity culture. Kate Moss has her own range within Topshop, and this also can emphasise the British culture because Kate Moss is world known for being one of the most famous British models. Furthermore… Cheryl Cole is reportedly set to do her own clothing range in Topshop, which will also be available online.

Website Analysis - Part A

http://www.topshop.com/
How is your chosen website structured?

Topshop.com is structured to reflect and portray the real-life store so users can have a shopping experience closet to that IRL. The layout of the homepage allows for user to choose an interactive route around the website. Down the left hand side there are the different sections of fashion users can look in (all hypertexts) which is structured in a convenient way to suit the user and what they are specifically looking for. In the middle there is an image of a model, along with other images in relation to other links users can look into. Although that some would argue this approach is “non-linear” (Lister page 27) for this website it allows users to choose exactly what section they want to look at. On the right hand side there are other hypertext links to other fashion options i.e. ‘London Fashion Week.’ When the cursor if on the options, the image in the middle of the homepage changes to one that links in better with the hypertext link. This adds to the interactivity of the website and allows for users to do more than just shop online, which fits in with how the structure of the site is done so in a way that users get more out of their online shopping experience and are allowed more options then they would necessarily have in real life. “Potential customers take a different role with their ability to be more active in determining what information is viewed.” (Online Shopping: 2005)

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0OGT/is_3_5/ai_n16619676/pg_4?tag=content;col1
Online Shopping: What factors are important to shoppers? Journal of Academic Business and Economics. March 2005 Chuleeporn Changchit, Shawn J. Douthit, Benjamin Hoffmeyer

Week 6 - An example of C of P

From looking around online I found of an example that could be classed as a ‘C of P’ when applying it to Wenger, and what I’ve read up about C of P so far in general.
This website is set up by ‘Christine’ and on the homepage is welcoming people to join up. What initially made me see this is a community was in how she explained what the site was about – i.e. the members of the community have two things in common – “1. We have a real passion for making jewellery 2. We all have a spirit of sharing and helping each other.” Now this wouldn’t be my particular preference for a community site, but I think what is said straight away does imply what we’ve been reading. There is also mention that there are ‘amateur and professionals’ which furthers that fact that anyone is welcome – and its all to do with the fact that the users have the interest of making jewellery.
I’ve posted the link – it’s a bit of a random site but I think it still highlights the main factors of what is entailed within a community of practice.

http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/

Week 6 - New Media Cultures as a C of P

New Media Cultures can be seen as an example of ‘Communities of Practice.’ Although there are tutors, I wouldn’t say their authority is as prominent in comparison with other subjects. This could be because they have their blogs too? Therefore we have more in common as we seen to be interacting and working in the same way i.e. commenting on each others blogs. We have the same shared goal in that we want to complete this unit through the posts we are making on our blogs. Our joint enterprise is us working together and defining the unit through the constantly changing world of technology. In terms of other members of the ‘community’ we can support and help each other say if one member doesn’t quite understand a certain reading and someone else does.

The social capital could be applied to the position of the tutors, however, within this status they are also giving us feedback, and commenting on our work not necessarily as tutors, but giving their opinions as a member of blogger.com. Maybe the comments and the interaction through our blogs could be seen as the ‘negotiation’ between the members in constructing the blogs? Together we are creating liability for New Media Cultures as a community.

Week 6 - C of P, Organsational units, Joint Enterprise...

The differences between C of P and ‘Organisational Units’... and Joint Enterprise.

I think Wenger may have meant that ‘organisational units’ have more of a stronger hierarchy of importance. Communities of practice do maintain an element of power i.e. a teacher, but they don’t diminish other members of the group from having any power. For example, in ‘Dance Mania’ the teacher would sometimes ask for our advice, or take some of our ideas and link them in with the dance she was teaching. Therefore, talking about social capital and Lesser and Storck, the following quote links it with the effectiveness of how my C of P worked, 'change that results in greater knowledge sharing, which in turn positively influences business performance.’ (Wenger) They believe that there is a behavioural change in C of P through the ‘social capital’ – the leader which provokes positive outcomes.

I would describe ‘organisational units’ more like the positions within jobs for instance, you certain job titles and you work to uphold that title. You have different departments, department leaders, secretaries, deputies, and bosses, all which have a specific hierarchical structure which can’t necessarily be deferred from. As communities of practice are described by Wenger as ‘informal’ it could be said that ‘organisational units’ differ in that they have more formalities within its structure.

In terms of joint enterprise – because joint enterprise is resulted from all members of the community, alike mutual agreements - I wouldn’t apply this to Organisational units. I see organisational units as having existing structure, which isn’t necessarily to do with the members, but is already apparent and has to be adhered to in a particular and agreed way.

Joint enterprise is essential to a community of practice in making it work, because it entails working as a community. It “is the result of a collective process of negotiation.” (Wenger: Chap 2) therefore every member’s contribution is equally accepted as part of the community continuation. The collaboration of all members’ views etc allows the community to be defined in a particular way to “develop around things that matter to people.” (Wenger)

One last though… However… can organisational units still be communities because they still work together to attain goals, work towards targets etc…
Wenger would argue that they are not because communities of practice constantly work together, not when they are just working towards targets. What do you think?

Week 6 - My C of P

I can apply Wenger’s ‘Communities of Practice’ to when I use to be a part of a dance club back home called ‘Dance Mania.’ The club started over ten years ago, and is still going on today. Classes were held once a week, and there were many different classes for children of all ages, teenagers, young adults and adults, with one dance teacher called Lisa. Everyone was there to learn new dance routines to prepare for two dance shows every year, one in summer, and one in February. Although everyone was there to learn, not everyone HAD to participate in the shows. It was also a change to socialise as although we were learning, I still made friends within the dance group. ‘Power’ was held with Lisa, the teacher, however if group members were struggling, had missed a week, or had newly joined fellow group members would help the others to catch up or learn the routines. Therefore this can be applied the quote from Wenger - “These practices are thus the property of a kind of community created over time by the sustained pursuit of a shared enterprise.” (Wenger: C of P)
My Community of Practice applied to the 3 characteristics of C of P by Wenger-
The domain – the interest of learning to dance/learning dance routines.
The community – one teacher, but everyone would help each other.
The practice – attending the lessons and working as a ‘team’ in preparation for two yearly shows.

A post on Techno/Social Determinism

General Thinking ...
I hope I’m not sounding too repetitive but as it was mentioned in the lecture again about how techno and social determinism affect how freedom is perceived on the net. Habermas would argue that civil society has advanced through to new media in that society itself articulates new principles etc, “it’s the production and exchange” (Sparknotes) therefore the public are producing and developing technology to fulfill their own new media needs. There is also the argument of direct democracy where the audience/public/users all make a direct effort and role in the production of what is entailed in the newest of media, and to stop businesses trying to “make everything (as) controllable as mass media.” (Lecture page 3)
A question – Internet anarchists – is this supporting techno-determinism because it can be seen that there is not a hierarchy (so to speak) within society influencing and shaping technology? The freedom the internet provides shapes society.

As a counter point though, the internet to some extent mirrors society, because you have the freedom to write what you like, but there are still regulations and rules, just like the existent ones in ‘meatspace.’ Also, another point made in the lecture is that the status quo of society is maintained and on the internet because the majority of websites are in fact all in English, therefore giving British and American dominance reflecting the hegemony of society – “seeming natural to the vast majority of the empire.” (Lecture page 6)
Additionally, within reference to this weeks lecture and copyright, companies within the internet use copyright as a means of control. Copyright allows to a certain extent what can be published on the internet. This mirrors how other types of media are controlled by a dominant source influencing what the public are exposed to.

I hope this makes sense!!

Week 5 - Bruns C

I think there will always be produsage on the internet, not necessarily the future of the net, but it is more than a trend. Commercial forces may exploit some of the produsage on the internet, but all in all I think they will co-exist for some time. One main reason for this is the need our society has to ‘informational news.’ (Meikle, 7) There has to be an allowance for producing back out what we’ve consumed from society and produsers do this. Internet users escape within this media to find like minded people, to gain the ability to voice their opinions with things they don’t agree with and have the availability to research a world wide range of information (among many other reasons) and this in my opinion will see the existence of produsers for while.
In saying this…
However, is there such a thing as too much information?? As produsers will there come and time where they is too much production coming from users?? Will the effect of produsage become saturated?

Week 5 - Bruns B

Moderation functions online are a way of controlling what is put on the internet. I wouldn’t describe this as defeating the purpose of ‘free for all’ sites like Wikipedia as such because I would explain it as being inevitable. There is a constant need for regulations IRL therefore there is bound to be some reflection on this in cyber societies. There also has to be something put in place because the internet would most likely get majorly out of hand if there wasn’t some sort of restraint to follow by. In my opinion I’m quite glad they do have these functions, with new media having such a large impact on today’s society, I agree that there should be a certain amount of control with these services. I agree with the statement by Bruns that if users don’t have some sort of system to adhere to then “cohesion is likely to be lost.” (Page 4) without some guidelines to follow, it could easily get out of control. The internet still allows for a great deal more freedom of speech in comparison to other media, conventionally our society is used to having policies so I wouldn’t say it’s defeating the object.

Week 5 - Bruns A

My understanding of …
‘Produser’ – A produser is a producer and user of the internet. Someone who uses the internet for finding information, playing games etc and who also produces the internet in the sense that they are contributing to new media. Examples of this can be BlogSpot, because people are adding to what the internet has enabled us to do in terms of our freedom. I think this links in well with the concept of the internet being ‘open architecture.’ People can build on from what has already been built; therefore they are using existing knowledge to further the ‘building’ more.
‘Produsage’ - The “collaborative and continuous building and extending of existing content in pursuit of further improvement.” (Bruns page 2) From the examples given in the reading, Wikipedia and the SIMS I would describe Produsage as something that is produced but is carried on/built by the internet users. It could be seen as someone putting the scaffolding up, and then the users construct the building… if we’re still talking about the internet as open architecture.
‘Intercreativity’ – To me I see inter-creativity as what created ‘open source software’ etc by interlocking what the internet has produced, and the freedom that is available to users. Therefore it’s been produced and produsers are using this intercreativity to build and create their internet. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts when talking about immersive interaction, Habbo Hotel is an example of how users can use the software to ‘build’ in their virtual worlds.
XXXXX Furthering this there is another ‘Virtual world’ on the internet called ‘Second Life.’ I thought I would just mention this to link back to previous topics, I find the name of the world quite explanatory whereby it is making people aware that by interacting on this game it can be their second life, making it seem quite dominant by using life, but still maintains the word second, implying people shouldn’t neglect their first, ‘meatspace’ life. Just a little something extra there.
www.secondlife.com

Week 5: Meikle – D and E

Can open news be quality news? There is a great deal of ‘quality’ news on the internet, however, as discussed within paragraph 18 there are issues with priorities of what’s seen on the internet. In terms of ‘quality’ I think stories can still have quality to them, but unlike the news like BBC the reliability of the source can be questioned, due to the fact that anyone can become a journalist through websites like indymedia. We don’t know who is writing the stories, and the stories aren’t going through the same processes that BBC for example would do.
Then there is the factor of them being edited.
The fact the news is edited can raise the question is open news ever really open? With all the information, stories etc being on the internet in front of all online users they can easily be edited and changed into different formats. Therefore although people may see this as open news, there are still restrictions in how they are actually expressed over the internet.
Does this mean that 'open' news is mirroring what is going on with other types of media, i.e. gatekeeping?

Week 5: Meikle – C and F

DIY news online is part of the internet culture, I wouldn’t necessarily say that it’s an alternative culture. Within society today, people have been given the opportunity through the internet to express themselves; therefore it is a development of our culture. In terms of the news, it gives people the chance to inform others of their take on the news. When referring back to internet users being ‘researchers’ I think when people are on the internet, they are essentially looking for peoples opinions and not the mass media news. When it comes to other types of media, people can’t add, retaliate or adjoin their thoughts. Blogging could be seen as another example of this is in how users express themselves and the ‘news’ but from their perspectives. The net is “enabling changes to the nature of news and newsmakers” (Meikle 20) and could well “facilitate new types of media institution,” (Meikle 20) because of the constant developments that keep going continuing to enable anyone and everyone to contribute in some way to society. Indymedia is also an example of ‘Civil Society’ as we are shaping technology in order to get our opinions seen.

Week 5: Meikle – A and B

To me I would class online news as being the websites for BBC, ITV etc, consequently news channel websites. I’m aware that may seem narrow minded in saying that, but I think even though I have grown up with technology progressing, if I want to see, hear or watch the news I would go straight to bbc.com. However, I am aware, and do agree with what Burnett and Marshall say when they identified a “shifted boundary of what constitutes as news.” (Page 9) With reference to the internet and news, I think to some extent people don’t necessarily want mass media news, they want opinions and are looking for views on on-going social issues that they can read, and reply with their own views. A new chance compared to usually just being told the news. XXXXX
In terms of indymedia, it’s a specific site where people have the chance to be journalists, and recognised for it. This is a further expression of the ‘freedom’ that the internet has given us. Therefore, there are ‘new kinds of journalists’ because “audience members are transformed into researchers.” (Page 8) People online read and research the internet and as a result of this want to post their views for the world to see, and this is possible for internet users.

Lecture Week 5

One quote I found interesting is from the book ‘An Introduction to Cyber-cultures’ and it links in with some of the topics raised in this weeks lecture, where Terranova would say that the internet acts as a “’high-tech gift economy’ where labour is freely given, where ideas and products can be freely circulated in ways that are profoundly anti-capitalist.” (Bell, 2001, 20) Moreover, this is supported by Lessig (lecture) who promotes open source software; manipulation etc providing it’s all free. This could be a contradiction to what was mentioned in the lecture about Chomsky believing that capitalists work in a way to make media work as to not undermine capitalism through the structure of what is put through on the internet, for the use of commercial gain within society. However, this is concerned more with traditional mass media where everything could be manipulated through the one way channel of information. Another point that interested me was this notion of “attention economy.” How the internet is a more complex than other media because there isn’t a direct source of communication whereby the audience are acceptant or not. XXXXX
I would still say that although there is an unlimited amount of freedom on the internet what is shown can still be edited, re-formed and manipulated in different ways. Users are free to write what they want, but it may not always be the case that it stays that way when on the internet. This demonstrates how essentially the internet is democratic - with it being produced by culture, yet there are still controlling elements which come from political production. XXXXX
There are just a few thoughts from this weeks lecture.

Week 4 - Topic 3

Over the last few years the way music is consumed has changed dramatically due to file-sharing, online downloading and new material being networked. To some extent, people don’t have to pay for music anymore because of programmes like ‘limewire.’ Even with buying music off iTunes, people don’t have to go out and buy music anymore; it’s literally at a click of a button. It’s not just popular music available; there is a varied amount of music available from over the decades.

It has changed popular music in the sense that anyone online could potentially ‘make it’ and have a number one hit because it’s compiled with sales and downloads, therefore any band who is online and has the capabilities to get their music downloaded could entered in the charts. Kate Nash is an artist who was spotted on social networking site ‘MySpace’ by Lily Allen, therefore the chance to spot new musical talent is also available at a click of a button. I believe that this will continue to develop and go on changing popular music.

There will always be media companies because some elements are integral, but the need for them is decreasing because of the convenience with distribution and production of ‘cultural products’ directly. In saying that, over the next few years will there be something more even more ‘new’ to produce/distribute/consume music?

There seems to be never-ending progression.

Week 4 - Topic 2

User generated content sites allows anyone and everyone to share with the world, really what ever they want to. It is a chance for people to express themselves without being edited like other types of media, which links back to Turkles’ idea of the internet and freedom. From discussions I’ve had or heard when it comes to sites like ‘YouTube’ it’s more about creating fun for other people to view over the internet. It’s become such a phenomenon that there’s even a Channel 4 programme devoted to the most recent, most humorous videos added to ‘YouTube.’
In terms of social-networking sites, the most popular one between my seminar peers is ‘Facebook’. I’ve been on Facebook for about two years, and initially joined as the impression I was given was it was a site mainly used by University students, however, since joining from what I’ve noticed is that the age ranges of Facebook have increased to young adults – middle aged users. Facebook can be called an online community, if applied to Preece’s summary of most online communities then Facebook does involve “joining and leaving the community, receiving and reading messages, composing and sending messages, searching for messages, information and people on archives, and consulting additional sources i.e. web-pages.” (Online Communities, 2001, page 218.) Moreover, when looking at communities Facebook allows for people to join networks which are sorted through means of things like; city, workplaces, different regions, school, and social events.

Week 4 - Topic 1 - Blanchard B/D/F

There are definitely different roles people can take on as members of a community. Lurkers are part of a community because, as described by Nonnecke and Preece 1999 “others become so familiar with the community that they feel they belong to it in-spite of their bystander behaviour.” (Preece, 2001, Online Communities, page 87) However, because they aren’t actually participating are they taking on a role within the community? As part of a community it’s fair that people want to know what’s happening, but without contributing I don’t believe they can be seen as an active member, although there is no doubt they do exist. Linking in with ‘Virtual Settlement’ it seems to emphasise the need for interaction. The discourse of online communities does entail interaction and some kind of dialogue. “… public interaction among a minimal number of participants.” (Blanchard) XXXXX

However, as a counter point, community can be in the eye of the beholder, people have the choice to make what they want to out of what is being offered to them. Alike what was mentioned in interaction in last weeks blogs, people have a longer amount of time to contribute to the communities’ topics etc. An example of this can be for new forum/online community users who “want to assess the community’s ambience and get a feel for the style of interaction.” (Preece, 2001, Online Communities, page 100)

Week 4 – Topic 1 - Blanchard A/C/E

Right, I am merging some of the questions together but have identified the different points I’m making!

Communities in my opinion can be classed as a collection of likeminded people, with similar interests who are able to offer advice and support for other members of that community. There are so many various groups online; it’s hard to say that they are all communities because the word ‘community’ implies more than just an interaction of a group of people, it seems to involve more ‘togetherness’ which is why it may be hard to apply it to online communities because the technological aspect diminishes the real-life connection which has been associated with communities for so long now. XXXXX
This isn’t to say that online communities do not exist because they quite clearly do; it’s just a case of distinguishing between actual communities and online groups.
XXXXX
In relation to McMillan and Chavis (1986) and their 4 characteristics, with reference to the fourth one I can agree with their need to have a “spirit of community” (Blanchard) but I don’t 100% agree with the need to have an “emotional connection.” I think there needs to be a certain link between the members, but I wouldn’t say it’d be as much as emotional, but just to have enough interest to be involved throughout the community. However, this could just be me still relating emotion to more real life situations as I wouldn’t say I have ever really felt a sense of community online. I am part of/ a member of Facebook etc, but I wouldn’t class that as a community. The closest I have to a community online is to be part of the Lincoln network, but that comes with being a student at the University, to me a community can be more of a choice you make to get involved with.
XXXXX
This can be linked to the Julie/Julia Project as it was found that “81% of the respondents were female at an average age of 38 years of age.” I think this shows how online interaction will sometimes consist of people of the same gender and age, because they are likeminded in their interests. Personally I don’t really think of this as an online community, I would class the project as a group of people with an interest in the project, wouldn’t you?

Week 4 - Topic 1 - Lister C/D

Following on from my previous blog, are people given too much freedom on the net? I think that the ‘dangerous materials’ that are online agree with the statement that there is too much freedom given, and creates a negative portrayal of the internet. I wouldn’t say that these materials are too prominent on the internet, because they aren’t plastered all over the internet, but they can be accidently found which is why there should be precautions taken i.e. blocks on websites to protect children from finding these sites. Although internet users are aware of these dangers, it is still scary for online users and people interacting. Is a new public sphere online creating more dangers online?

I think anyone online can produce different online cultures, but how much are they actually influenced by other factors that are already existent online? There are so many websites, forums, groups online that it’s easy for people to influence and manipulate others. The internet as a medium allows for everyone and anyone to put their views and opinions online, it’s not like other Medias where there is only one source of information being circulated. However in terms of ‘ordinary’ net users, I wouldn’t say they are necessarily taken as seriously in what they are saying even though they have the ability to voice it.

Week 4 – Topic 1 - Lister A/B

Online communities allow for people to feel empowered as there is the option for such a varied number of users to get involved. “There’s always another mind out there.” (Lister, page 173) This emphasises the point of cultural variety, and although online communities are criticised for not being localised, at the same time people who may not agree with their surrounding groups, can go online and find likeminded people and be part of a community.
It is here where the internet can provide a ‘public sphere’ because people can interact by talking of societal issues etc from all over the world. However, it’s been argued that as a public sphere online has become too much and isn’t taken as seriously as before, this is identified by Habermas 1989 “mass media has played a key role in the dissolution of a healthy public sphere by replacing a discourse of critical reason with entertainment and spectacle.” (Lister, 177) This is obviously applying mass media to the internet.XXXXX
This is a counter point in what Lister says about a “lack of diversity” (174) there is however the factor of ‘disempowerment’ as there is a “lack of diversity of age, ethnicity and social class.” (174) still apparent. It can be argued whether communities are real because they don’t necessarily mirror a real life community. XXXXX
Moreover, as mentioned in blogs from last week people are able to voice their opinions and beliefs without the added pressure of in real life where sometimes you are ‘put on the spot.’ Therefore people are more empowered in that they can express themselves freely; however are people able to express themselves too freely, can online interaction create too much empowerment??

Week 4 - The Lecture

Online communities are an opportunity for people all over the world to get together and become part of a “virtual community” as Rheingold would say. There is the inevitable stereotype of a community being towns and villages meeting once a week to discuss the goings on within the neighbourhood, but online communication allows this to be furthered, where geographical state doesn’t need to necessarily be an issue. Being online has advanced us from associating a community with solely where we are in the world, it can be “talk of groups with common interests, shared goals, activities and governance.” (Preece, 2001, 9) These factors described by Preece can be applied to online communities. I do agree with Levy in that an online community “offers nothing less than the rebirth of the social bond through real time direct relationships among all people.” (Lecture) Therefore traditional communities can continue to exist.
XXXXX
A question raised in the lecture is that … is technology creating the ability for online communities to exist, or have we created them to help assist us in our lives? Have we allowed ourselves to continue the social bond in communities into online interaction?
XXXXX
Here is a quote that I found quite interesting by Winston Churchill, which also links in with last week’s topic of the ‘open architecture’ of the internet…

“There is no doubt about the influence of architecture and structure upon human character and action. We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.”

I think this shows how techno-determinism has affected us in that social-determinism is now playing more of a role in how we use the internet to create online communities connecting more people which isn’t possible in real life.

Week 3 - Topic 3 ... The Guardian

For this topic I looked at The Guardian online and was quite surprised at how negative and angry the comments seemed to be. I have always associated the Guardian as a respectable newspaper, but some of the comments shocked me because I didn’t anticipate people to ‘rant’ as much as they did. That’s probably naivety on my part because there will always be controversy and disputes between what is raised in the press and the public, I just hadn’t connected it with responding to a newspaper. XXXXX
Screen-names – out of the 7 comments posted on the story I looked at, only 2 had screen-names containing their actual names, and even then they were just forenames. I raise the question that although these ‘comments’ are purposely used so people can voice their opinions, do their screen-names act as a way of hiding so people can’t tell who they are. The posts are arguing/questioning against the actions of the police-force, one comment was actually removed from the site. Therefore although people are voicing their opinions and expressing themselves in a strong manner to get themselves heard, they still don’t have complete freedom in what they are saying/typing, linking into the power of the media. XXXXX
I think the users who comment online, would discuss these issues with the same opinions offline, more so however within a ‘group’ with the same opinions, alike the comments that other people would be leaving. I don’t think they would be as passionate about the subject if they weren’t in the knowledge that other people around them would be backing them up. Additionally, it is easier to get carried away online because people don’t know who you are. XXXXX
Here's the link, if you wanted to know what I was talking about....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2009/feb/05/police-giant-snowball?commentpage=1

Week 3 - Topic 2 - Online Identity and Relationships

When taking part in online social interaction, in whichever group, you are bound to enhance the characteristics most related to what that group entails in shaping your identity. This may happen subconsciously but people will express themselves in ways to fit in, to ensure that they are part of that group’s interaction. In a way this can be seen as manipulation, but then again the users want to be manipulated to be accepted by the group. Online I probably come across more confident when talking over MSN or Facebook than I actually am in ‘meatspace.’ You become less reserved online because I think it’s easier to be, you can think about what you want to say etc. As I’ve mentioned before in a previous blog, I think altering personalities online is bound to happen because people want to enhance their personality traits, but when false identities are created and they become out of hand I think it becomes morally wrong. XXXXX
I can identify with why people don’t use their full names on the internet, with all the risks about it is understandable. People don’t walk around with name badges on all the time do they? The factor of privacy in the real world does pass over into online interaction, especially when you don't know 100% who they're talking to. There are so many risks with online communication, i.e. paedophiles, identity fraud etc… This sometimes can over-shadow the good things of CMC.

Week 3 - Topic 1 - D and E

However much new media and online is a major part of our culture in today’s society, I don’t think cyber-identities can constitute for an alternative ‘normal social reality.’ In saying this, as new media progresses I’m not saying that one day the ideology of ‘normal social reality’ won’t become that of an online ‘normal social reality’ but as it stands now, people in my opinion living as solely a cyber-identity aren’t living in reality. As formerly discussed users on cyber identities are often portraying different characteristics to what they would be doing in the real world. Although being online allows an escape and withdrawal from society, it can’t replace the real world. Cyberspace isn’t a “separate or distinct realm… (it’s) part of our already existing social reality.” (Lister page 168) This ‘second paradigm’ explained in Lister furthers my views as Cybersociety isn’t a separate world, therefore it can be retreated to but not lived in as such. XXXXX
When it comes to relationships online there is no question that they exist and are real, but they aren’t the same as offline relationships because there is no ‘meatspace.’ Online users can build relationships online, but a relationship online, and one offline are different. Obviously they can be combined, there is a great deal of evidence that relationships start off online, and then become offline. This section from ‘Who Am Me?’ I think distinguished why offline and online relationships differ (it’s a bit lengthy sorry!)

“It is as if they are seeking to underscore that although today's machines may be psychological in the cognitive sense, they are not psychological in a way that comprises our relationships with our bodies and with other people. Some computers might be considered intelligent and might even become conscious, but they are not born of mothers, raised in families, they do not know the pain of loss, or live with the certainty that they will die.”

Sorry if that’s a bit deep guys but I think it portrays that online relationships may involve a connection, but it doesn’t necessarily have the emotion from a real life offline relationship, consequently showing their disparity.

Week 3 - Topic 1 - B and C

“Some people are leading double or multiple lives in cyber-space, even with different gender identities.” (Jones: Cybersociety 2.0: 1998) Being able to not be seen allows people to experiment with their own personalities, in a way that they would not do so in a ‘meatspace’ situation. I think it can give people confidence to say things they wouldn’t say, and generally express themselves in a way they don’t feel they can do in real life. Personally, I can see this in a positive way until people online lie about their identities. To an extent I understand why people do this, and it does allow people to disconnect and experience new identities, as described again in the lecture its can create a “better self.” However, I agree with the post-modern views - “technological embodiment of a post structualist theory” (Lister page 167) when the element of escapism is taken over when seen to be real-life. Moreover, when screen-names etc aren’t just an expression of another part of someone’s personality, but are in fact a false identity. This is evident within the case study in Lister page 168, the “Cross Dressing Psychiatrist.” Although an experiment, when it genuinely goes on so much over the internet I think it becomes a problem. What we can’t see for ourselves makes it hard to trust!
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With reference to the lecture, in real-life people do have to ADAPT their personalities to suit certain situations, whereas online I think the difference is that people can CHANGE their personalities and sometimes transform them into different people, i.e. changing their age, sex, gender etc which people can not possibly do in real life situations.

Week 3 - Topic 1 - Open Architechture

The net can be seen as “open architecture” in the sense that it is constantly open, and there are no plans for it to finish being built. Additionally, it is open for all users of the internet to add and build on. In my opinion, the internet has become more “open” as it has progressed because the online population are constantly contributing to the internet as a whole, networks are expanding. “The quantity of human labour and ingenuity that has gone into building net-based communication systems in a very short space of time is unprecedented.” (Lister page 164.) This quote sums up how the expansion of networks and online communicating or CMC has worked in unison to create such a massive online construction. XXXXX

Within this construction I think there is something that could be described as a hierarchy of authority within the structure of the internet today. Big businesses and more established sites will have more power within what they are adding onto the internet, they are the sites which were able to initially start building upon the foundations of the internet. However, with the large expansion of different networks more and more sites and networks are able to contribute to the “architecture”. There is so much information on the internet; unlike other media information is supplied in so many more ways rather than just one channel.

In relation to Lister … Is the internet just one big architectural base? Or has by users being given their chance to build upon this base, created many more?

Week 3 - The Lecture

After reading through the lecture materials one point stood out for me in particular, in how new media generally “combines the officiality of written text and the informality of the spoken word.” (Lecture 3) There seems to be casualness about e-mails, MUD’s and speaking generally online. I know personally I sometimes have the bad habit of writing how I would speak when it comes to writing essays etc, this is influenced largely from talking on chat sites over the internet, i.e. msn, you get used to chatting online but mirroring a face to face conversation, and this comes through when writing. When speaking online, even in situations where there needs to be a formality, new media interaction I think is labelled sometimes with a more relaxed approach. This links in with one of my previous posts about the convenience of new media, and this could be how it is now perceived as more relaxed because of its expediency.

I just thought I’d blog on this point as it can tie in with last weeks and this week’s forthcoming blogs!