Thinking about...Cyber communities
and the blogging phenomenon
The practise of blogging is a particularly prevalent mode of
communication in our modern, Western society, and has created a community
culture in a world beyond our physical space. According to Lim (2012), blogs
have become a vehicle to produce a new communication sphere, allowing
individuals to broadcast their own social and political commentaries and to build
networks of individuals of similar interests. And that network should not be
underestimated.
When we think of cyber communities a range of ideas may come
to mind. Perhaps we initially think of our network of Facebook friends, most of
whom we don’t speak to but somehow seem to know they are dating Danny Smith,
the hunky but kind of inept boy from our old high school, planning a holiday to
Europe with their best friend, and getting paralytic drunk every single weekend.
Maybe we imagine our community and pseudo-family on “Family life” that we
develop a kind of unnatural soft spot for. Or maybe it is our cyber community
that we battle, converse and collaborate with in the realm of “Dungeons and
Dragons” (Ah no, I don’t play it…). Whatever community you can most associate
with, it is true to note that these cyber communities go beyond simple online
interaction. It becomes a place of identity and escapism.
For example, in July 2006, three cyber communities met in a
face-to-face event that served as a gathering for like-minded Indonesian Muslim’s
to discuss the importance of cyberspace, specifically the blogosphere. In this
case, the rapid expansion of the Internet enabled these Muslim groups to engage
globally with a community of like-minded individuals with a cultural understanding
of each other (Lim, M, 2012). Cyber communities can be therefore seen as
cultural (Bell, D, 2000), not just in the sense that people are given the
opportunity to connect with other people of the same ethnic background, but through
the way it shapes the volatile nature and culture of society, and contributes
to creating a global community.
The internet sifts through content to allow individuals to
find others who are of a similar mind-set, and encourages them to converse
about certain ideas and interests. Blogs in particular allow people to express
their personal thoughts on a global platform, interacting with people who are
interested in them and their opinions. Almost like e-harmony, except without
the desperate desire to escape spending Saturday nights alone with a tub of
ice-cream. Instead, anyone can engage, broadcast, have cyber arguments with
people they don’t even know. You can’t get better than that.
Sources:
Bell, D, 2000, ‘An Introduction to Cyber Cultures’, Routledge,
London
Lim,
M, 2012, ‘Life is Local in the Imagined Global Community: Islam and Politics in
the Indonesian Blogosphere’, Journal of Media and Religion, vol. 11, pp 127-140
Image: http://massively.joystiq.com/screenshots/dungeons-and-dragons-online-unlimited/#/0
Image: http://massively.joystiq.com/screenshots/dungeons-and-dragons-online-unlimited/#/0
Blogging has definitely created a community culture. To put it simply, blogs have become a new way to communicate. Online is a place where people can create an identity, whether that identity is the same as they’re real one or an online identity we will never know.
ReplyDeleteFacebook is definitely a good starting point and I really like the examples you have used to support your argument. It is a positive thing when people from all over the world can relate and share information regarding similar issues of interest via blogs. When they can have a professional discussion about some of these issues, they can even enforce action.
I really like the structure you have used to shape your piece but I feel as though it could benefit from another image and some scholarly sources maybe refer to another reading. Hyperlinks would also give your blog more definition and help others understand the concept.
Great post Sarah.
ReplyDeleteYou can really hear your personal tone coming through your piece, which makes it sound very original and individual, and more engaging.
I like the example you have provided of how the blogosphere enabled a small ethnical group to join in person to collaborate on ideas and interests. You're ability to join this example onto the fact of how the Internet sifts through information to match appropriate sources to the individual is relevant, and made me think of how true that is. I follow a few music blogs, because I have used search engines to try source info on music in the past.
Hi Sarah
ReplyDeleteI like your writing. It makes it really relatable and easy reading when you include little funny remarks. I agree with all of your points on the blogosphere creating global and cultural communities, enabling people to share and express their individuality and participate in that of (each)others. You show good critical ability and you contribute with a lot of personal observations and opinions on the theme.
I would have loved for your post to be more interactive and include more mediated sources, but great and interesting reading.
enjoy!
Hi Sara
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement regarding blogging and network, but why is it a prevalent mode of communication in the western society in particular. I thought blogging has become so popular and has become a new culture for both the west and eastern society. I also like the example you have provided of how the blogosphere enabled people to interact and share personal perception on particular interest / news across the world. Nevertheless, I thought the third paragraph may do better further expanding the example.
The final paragraph is also very interesting to read but thought the idea / sentence may need to be re-ordered. Overall thanks for the interesting post.
You are spot on in your identification of the range of cyber ‘communities’ which have arisen through the blogging phenomenon. It is also interesting to consider the nature of these cyber ‘communities’, something you hint at with your explanation of how individuals become part of, and later engage with these groups. It seems that the cultures which arise from the blogosphere are somewhat artificial, as they are usually the digital versions or extension of ‘natural’ cultures, such as your example of the Muslim communities in Indonesia. Good use of examples, referencing and imagery to support and complement your discussion. Well done.
ReplyDelete