I looked at the web forum discussing the reality TV show 'The Hills'
http://community.realitytvworld.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/rtvw2/community/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID100
The forum showed the titles of the posts, the most recent one first, and the first line of each post. Under each title there was the number of message responses which each post had received. One user starts a thread, perhaps with a question, and others' messages appear to the side. The user who wrote the comment in the first place can then reply to these messages and so continue the discussion.
All members have a name. Some are perhaps real names, others obviously aren't, for example 'goldie100.' The majority of users have an avatar next to their name; usually some sort of picture but never of themselves. Although this is, to some extent, witholding their identity, it is important to consider that these people are talking to others who they don't know, and so, perhaps to some extent, have the right to withold their identity.
Using an informal language the users chat and ask eachother questions about the show. The users talk about the characters in the show as if they know them, which I found strange. The friendly tone aids the forum to appear a place of fun discussion for people with similar interests. Only a minority of users give much away about themselves or their personal lives other than their interest in the show, however it is possible to tell who is perhaps male or female due to their name, or what they are discussing.
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If Turkle says that the internet allows freedom and people can now express their opinions on the net then why do you think people withold their identity on these forums? Do you think its because people still don't feel entirely comfortable with letting strangers know their details, or because they don't actually feel like they have freedom to speak, and are still scared that they are going to be judged by their opinions?
ReplyDeletealthough i understand about questions as to why are peope witholding their information however if people are coming on the inet to discuss things about the characters on the Hills does it matter if they arent fully saying who they are? because they havent come to discuss who they are, but to discuss the Hills. Although, obviously if they wanted to get in touch with you outside the forum then you would want to knw their real identity but does it matter if you are in the forum?
ReplyDeletei agree Hannah, if they are just having talking about their favourite programme in the forum is it not just more ‘fun’ to have a different name and a picture next to it, isn't it just harmless? I think in this case it just seems like something that doesn't require needing to know someone’s full identity it’s just something fun. However there will always be question to why people don't just use their real names. I am not sure whether there needs to be though.
ReplyDeletei agree Hannah, if they are just having talking about their favourite programme in the forum is it not just more ‘fun’ to have a different name and a picture next to it, isn't it just harmless? I think in this case it just seems like something that doesn't require needing to know someone’s full identity it’s just something fun. However there will always be question to why people don't just use their real names. I am not sure whether there needs to be though.
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